Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-06-30
No. 81
THE PROPER DINNER HOUR.
What Physicians Say About a Hearty
Midday MeaI..Why Such a Prac-
tice Would be Dangerous
10 Active Men.
From the New York Commercial

From the New York Commercial
A good deal of attention has lately been
attracted by declaration made, in paper
devoted to the study of proper food for man,
that good health could only be secured by
taking hearty meal at midday The writer
went on to say it was better for business men
to take time for a substantial meal at mid
day than to snatch the hasty lunch that is
usual, for the latter proceeding was simply
inviting fate. This opinion has attracted the
attention of some of our morning contempo-
raries, who seemed to agree with it. There
fore Commercial reporter was sent on a tour
among well known physicians Of this city to
ascertain whether it is advisable and health
tul for active pushing men to stop in the
midst OF their days work and consume a
hearty meal. The majority of those spoken to
laughed at the theory thus propounded. An
eminent physician living in the upper part
of the city, said the reason why a heavy mid
day meal would be injurious while the even
ing dinner was really healthy, was that busi-
ness and professional men were generally in
such hurry in the middle Of the day that
they could not spare time to masticate the
food they ate, much less allow it to digest,
before rushing again to their work. He had
visited restaurants in the lower part of the
city between II and o'clock in the day and
had seen respectable men grabbing and swal-
lowing food the same as hogs at a trough.
This method of eating was decidedly un-
healthy, and it would be far better if they
would merely nibble a hard cracker during
the middle OF the day, for they would have
to masticate that and take a little time over
it. 1t was far healthier in his opinion, for
professional men to dispose of hearty break
fast, say from to 8 o'clock in the morning,
eat lightly during the middle of the day,
then take time for their dinners after their
days labOrs were over. A dinner at about 5
or o'clock, eaten slowly and enjoyed amid
pleasant family surroundings, interspersed
with cheerful conversation, was far more pro-
ductive of health than all the midday meals
which could be thought of. A heavy mid
day meal would unfit professional men for
carrying on any business in the afternoon as
it would make them heavy and sleepy, for
nature requires some kind OF repose to aid
digestion.
Another well known physician said the
system of eating in this country was ridicu-
lOus, as any person of common sense would
see. The majority of persons thrust three
heavy meals into about ten hours, and leave
the body without a fresh supply of food for
the remaining fourteen hours OF the day and
night. He thought two good meals, morn
ing and evening, would be the proper plan,
with perhaps light lunch of crackers and
glass of wine at about l o'clock in the day.
This would allow both of the heavy meals
% digest before the next was taken. As to
leavy midday meal for men who have to
ear around as the next moment were to be
heir last. it is perfectly ridiculous, as the
ood, instead of digesting and forming blood.
muscle and brains, would act as a block to
hose forces of nature-choking up sewer,
IS it were.
Other physicians expressed similar opin-
ons, the same ideas being given, only in
itferent phrases and modes of expression