Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-13
HEALTH AND TIME TABLES.
Why Chicago 5u~burbanItes Have the Dys-
pepsia-Change for the Better.

Why Chicago 5~uburbanltes Have the Dys-
Pepsia-Change for h Better.
Nearly everybody asks any physician
whom he may know and causually meet
if there is much sickness in his %neighbor-
hood. This is quite rational, because that
is a subject upon whieha physician should
be well informed, and one in which he
certainly has an interest. In response to
an inquiry of this sort the other day, L
doctor who lives and practices in one Of
the pretty suburban towns on the Illinois
Central railroad made a reply something
as follows:
The general health out our way was
never 50 good as now, particularly among
the men. There is less dyspepsia and in
digestion, and fewer of the many troubles
following in the wake of indigestion. A
reason for this is easily found. 1t is in
the change of running arrangement Of
suburban trains which went into effect on
the Illinois Central about three months
ago. This sounds strange to you, no
doubt, but it is quite rational Under the
old train arrangement there was a time
table which every one consulted with a
view to selecting the train he wished to
take Sor the city. Nearly every one Sc
lected a certain train as the one by which
he intended regularly to travel, II made
his household arrangements accordingly.
Thus catching the train became an every
morning struggle with many men. They
did not seem to think that q later train
would do just as well.
Somewhat unreasOnably, but quite uni
versally, they permitted the certain train
habit to so grew upon them that they
made themselves and others miserable if
by my chance breakfast was late and
their favOrite train likely to go without
them. This was partly the result of habit
and partly an effect of that desire to have
the household affairs run right up to the
scratch, which so many men possess,
| along with a little bit of tyranny and a
disposition to grOwl. There was also one
wish to meet certain cronies sure to be on
the favorite train. As every s~uburbanite
knows, a result of this train-Catching
mania was undue haste at the breakfast
table. If the fire happened not to burn
Just right, or the cook was a trifie slow,
or the wife was delayed by attending to
the wants of the children, and the meal
thus made n few minutes later than the
appointed hour, in nine cases out of ten
the tcain-catCher attempted to make up
the lost time by swallowing his breakfast
so much the quicker. II any meal should
be eaten lcisurely it is the breakfast.
This is the fuel upon which the human
machine is to run through five or six
hours of toll and activity. If the fireman
of the locomotive fed his tlre-box as many
Of the passengers used to gorge their
StOmachs there wouldn't be steam enough
to draw the train into town. The stom-
ach is inconceivably more delicate than a
locomotives fre-box. Breakfasts gulped
down with the mind in a furry and with
ears listening for the locomotive whistle
do as much harm as good, particularly if
the examining be followed by a run to the
station. No wonder our s~ubarbanites
were troubled with indigestion and dys-
pepsia.
Now, however, the trains run almost
as frequently as street cars, and few peo-
pie exert themselves to catch any certain
train. The best evidence OF this is the
fact that the old COteries are broken up.
Formerly the same faces could be seen on
a train every day. Everybody got to
know everybody else, at Leaf by sight
Now the cars are filled with strangers,
the old familiars being on earlier trains
or to follow by later ones. Breakfasts
are eaten more leisurely and in better
temper, with less furry and rush. House
keepers, relieved Of the anxiety about the
train which the lord and master must
catch. are learning to make more of the
breakfast. Better appreciation, better
appetiteS, and better digestion follow as a
matter of course. There is a better be
ginning of the day for all concerned.
There is time for fruit, for conversation,
| for the children to be made ready for APP
pearance ut table, and for decency and
orderlineSs. All this takes but a few min
utes longer than under the train catching
hustling arrangement, but they are prec-
iOus moments in many a household
Chicago Herald.