Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-03-18
INTERNAL INACTIVITY.
II. j. HI. Kellogg, OF the Battle Creek
Sanltarium. on Its Causes.

sanitarium, on Its Causes.
A very common cause of inactivity of
the bowels is in the use of condiments,
indigestihle foods, rich cake, pastry,
pickles and all highly-seasoned dishes.
They cause indigestion, and consequent
irritation of the lumbar ganglia, and
this irritation of the nerves leads to
diminished supply of the lubricating
material which moves the contents of
the bowels along.
! Another prominent cause is the free use
of flesh meats. Meats are stimulating,
and when taken in considerable guam
titles excessively excite the sympathetic
nervous system. Albuminous material,
the chief nutritive component of meat,
stimulates all the vital processes, just
as the bellows increases the flame in a
CRATE, and this leads indirectly to an in
active state of the bowels.
The free use of sugar and the readi-
ness with which sugar ferments, and
thus leading to the fermentation of
other foods in the stomach, are fur.
Their cause of irritation to the lumbar
ganglia. The use of free fats has the
| same effect. They are apt to undergo
decomposition when taken in large
/ quantities. They interfere also with
!
ly undergo butyric acid fermentation.
! This is particularly true of butter, rich
cheese and oils in Il free state, because
they are almost certain to contain
germs of fermentation, which, when
given the warmth and moisture of the
stomach, and albuminous material to
feed upon, grow very rapidly. For
this reason persons with slow di-
! 6Ct oSr fho
use of butter to avoid this nerv-
GUS irritation. am speaking of rancid
fats, and butter is nearly always that,
for it is as difficult to keep sweet as
milk or meat, even if it is sweet to start
with. l am not speaking of pure fats.
The use of ices, ice water and ice
cream afford other sources of irritation,
particularly the latter, since it takes
long time to digest, and the process is
necessarily imperfect, considering its
material and temperature.
Concentrated foods are harmful in
that they do not furnish sufficient bulk.
All frugivorous animals require GER
tain amount of bulk in food in order to
stimulate the action of the bowels. l
am not speaking of food which ought to
be digested, but which can not be from
the Sophistication of cookery, but coarse
grains, fruits and the better class of
vegetables should form a part of
healthful diet. AS an illustration of the
office of bulky material, read an ac-
count of the taking of a cargo of horses
and mules from New York to the West
Indies. Before they had been three
days out a heavy gale swept all the hay
overheard. The animals were fed upon
grain alone, and the horses soon began
to siclen and die, while the mules kept
we'll. 1t was soon discovered that the
mules had taken to gnawing the floors
of their pens. This hint for supplying
bulk was taken, and a lot of lumber
was made into shavings and fed with
the grain. Some of the horses were too
fastidious to eat shavings, and they died,
but the rest were taken through in good
shape.
Fine flour bread is Objectionable be-
cause it does not furnish enough coarse
material, the woody fiber of the bran
being absent. There is too little coarse
food eaten by those who pay more at
tention to luxury than they do to
health.
Too little food will also produce an
inactive state of the bowels. There
are many invalids who suffer because
:,
there not being enough to stimulate
the muscles of the stomach and bowels
to activity. Analogous to this is the
fact that the heart does not contract
with necessary vigor unless there is
bulk enough of blood to stretch its
muscles.
Any thing which tends to indigestion
will bring about an inactive state of the
bowels. So late suppers at social gath
erings may be regarded exceedingly
pernicious.
Tea and coffee act directly ON the
bowels, tending to inactivity. The act
i've principles of both tea and coffee are
astringent and narcotic, and.their relax
action upon the nerves can not fail to
lessen peristaltic motion. Baking pow
ders have tendency in the same direc-
ton, especially those which contain
alum land all cheap baking powders
contain it to large degree) as a sub
titute for cream of tartar, because
alum is cheap and cream of tartar
rather expensive. Alum in an as
tringent, and serves to contract the
blood vessels just as it Fuckers the
mouth, and this tends to lessen the sup
ply of digestive fluids.
The use of too little fluids is an ex-
ceedingly common cause of inactivity
of the bowels. Water is very necessary
as deturgent. 1t also stimulates the
glands, which make the various digestive
fluids, as well as enters into them
Helen l.. Manning, Reporter.
A Queens Witty Rebuke.
| foo Init 1iff1o 1-r,0yx-11 set hot haSiIac