The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-11


Dyspepsia has sometimes been
claimed rs the great (lnerican disease.
A Scotchman general phas shifting or
IA cold; an Irishmsn II s,nothering about
the heart, and an Englishman, as he in
creases in red blood, is worried about
his liver. But your average American
is dyspeptic, except that for variety 1t 10
now quite common to speak oft a. .
little touch Of malaria. We think that
there are some very good reasons why
indigestion, in some form or other, il .
very common complaint. 1t has cer-
tainly become characteristic OF the
nineteenth century, essecially in Amer.
lea, TO do work in a somewhat hurried
way. There ia q development OF the
nervous susceptibility at the expense OF
those forces which have to do with di'
gestion ard assimilation. Not only does
this make greater demands upon ali
mentaton, but in itself 1t interferes di-.
rectIy with the process of Digestion
This has been tested by feeding persons
when under continued excitement, and
10y comparison Of the activity
oi digestion in two dogs fed precisely the
same aud killed, the one after three
hours of violent exercise. Besides, how
ever, this general law the habit OF ra-
pidity tnds it's most active indulgence
AT the table. We once had occasion to
wait in large eating house OF New
York city to watch the process OF eating.
Ii was marvellous 10 See how many
would finish meal in ten minutes;
how many more in fifteen, including
baked apple dumplings as dessert.
Even many Of those who stayed longer
spent so much time in waiting or talk
ing, that the act of eating was itself hur-
ried Nothing that man does in life
should be more deliberate than that Of
| eating. This wonderful mechanism OF
| supply cannot be too closely studied;
| hos the glands of the mouth are sup
| piled with juices and lubricants so that
| there may not enter intO the stomach
any drinks at all, or any food either
so dry or 40 nnmedicated as TO he indi-
| gcstibie. II one had no teeth, very
| much would be gained in the eating OF
| soft food by moving it about with the
tongue. so IA TO stir well into it these
marvellous fluids which the chemistry OF
nature has provided. Then the teeth of
all varieties, shapes, sizes, with cutting
| edges, with grinding surfaces, are un-
eu,Iall.d by any mills of human con-
structjon The muscle which operate
| them are used to crack walnuts by many
| a child who does not use them to IDasti-
cate food, The origin OF very many
eases of dyspepsia ~ just In the fact that
| the mouth a. the mixing and grinding
| pare of food ~ ignored. A well-vhewod
| slice of cucumber is not 80 indigestible
| as many think but such slice lodged
! whole against the mucuous membrane
| OF the stomach may stay there long
| time and become source OF irritation.
| II food il well chewed and thoroughly
| mixed, the juices and the motion OF the
| stomach seem to take comparatively lit
tie heed of it's composition. Food thus
| prepared for healthy stomach can be
| OF very composite admixture and yet not
| indigestible. 1t is soon so soitened' ana
| chymtied as in little quantities at a time
| 10 find its way through the pyloric end
| Of the stomach, ready for those other
| processes which take place in the upper
| intestine When the stomach is irritated
| the muscles here often act in spasmod-
| ic manner, and stirring and peristaltic
| action is greatly disturbed. The number
! that recover from dyspepsia, when they
| find ont the errors of method they have
| committed, is so great as to show that no
part of the human system is more In
| clined TO keep right il only it has =
| chance. The great trouble is that, 30
| often ailments. which are direct result
| of errors in modes Of eating or In the
materials used, are attributed to some
other causes Heart palpitation very
often occurs from disturbed digestion.
SO. called liver complaint is generally.
form of NAL assimilation, and 1t Is only
by adapting foods to the stomach and
upper intestine that AZ a rule, we relieve
| hepatic COMPOSITIONS or derangements.
No greater progress has marked medical
chemistry and physics than that which
concerns the relation of foods to alimen-
tation. The physical trainer has 80 come
10 understand it and TO apply 1t directly
and successfully in all physical contests.
There never has been time in all the
ages when it was so possible to get right
food, 10 secure right preparation OF 1t ny
cooking and mastication, and to get
from it physical forces, mental energy
and capacity for all progress. There are
some Christians who would greatly de-
velop their graces by bringing their re.
llgion to bear upon physical duties, and
there are mnltitudes Of others who would
improve in duty. comfort and capacity
by remembering that indigestion is gem
orally not inherited, but Is a positive TO.
ken Of personal bIunders.