The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-01-17
ON DIGESTION.
Mrs. M. f. DE Hart, Md, Lectures
at the Tabernacle 10 women.

Mrs. M. f. DE Hart, WI. D.. Lectures
at the Tabernacle 10 Women.
Mrs. M. F. De Hart, MD, delivered the
second of a course of free lectures to women
at the Tabernacle yesterday afternoon.
There was a large audience, that listened at
tentively to a most interesting discourse.
DR.. De Hart said in part: Our subject to-
day is Digestion. the process OF rebuilding
the house we live in. That there is a soul
which inhabits these human bodies, using
them to further its ends and to accomplish
its objects, l think none can doubt. This in
visible tenant looks out from its windows;
the eyes, using them to inform itself OF ex-
ternal obiects-it listens with attentive ears
to the voices of nature, that it nay learn its
appointed lesson; and though it speaks with
these material organs words concerning this
earthly life, yet 1t gives unmlstakeaoie EVIL
dence that this is not its whole mission.
This material organism, which serves as its
instrument, ministering to it through the
senses, is its temporary home, and while by
means of this it holds communion with the
external world, it also seems as a screen or
projections refuge, behind which 1t can
hide from the too-oppreSsive noise and too
glaring light of life, as well as from the dis
tr,rbing snd unpleasant scrutiny of uncon-
genial companiOnS. 1t can retire behind
this material curtain to reflect on all 1t has
learned and to commune with Its divine
source, while the world rushes on outside its
| doors. Thus each individual stands alone,
isolated from every other human being,
| though in the midst of a crowd, connected
| only by the spiritual bond which makes all
children of the infinity. Ii obedlent to the
heavenly vision and faithful to the ideal,
which is a part of every souls equipment,
| we shall evolve a spiritual life, which is fol'
us the end and object of the universe, and
we, too, shall hear with the poet the voice
hat says,
Build thee more stated y mansions, o my
Soul,
As the swift seasons roll.
Leave thy ~low-vaulted pastt
In continuing, DR.. De Hart explained thai
to arrangements of the digestive system
were due not only the many affections di-
rectiy attributed to them, bat many dis
orders of a remoter nature, since to this
cause were often due dullness of intellect,
~irritability of temper and melancholy. In
digestion is also a fruitful cause OF intern
perance.
TIL elements that compose the human
| body are water, which comprises three
quarters of the entire bulk, sodium, carbon
| ate and phosphate of lime n iron-inor-
ganic-and the organic principle OF the
| albumenoids (casein, albumen and hbr1n),
fats, g and starch. The ideal foods are
! naturally those which contain these ele-
ments in their most easily digestible form.
To this ideal, eggs and milk are nearest.
An adult in full health, and exercising, re
quires, to maintain that health, a daily
ration of meat, 16 ounces; bread, 10 ounces;
butter or fat, 81 ounces; water, 33-s
pounds; that is, a little less than "a pounds
of solid and 3 pints Of liquid food. DIR. De
| Hart told the foods in which were found the
various principles of the body, and showed
that it was no less necessary that these be
present in an easily digestible form. Marble
might contain lime, and yet not be a desir-
able food.
DR.. De Hart briefly described the process
Of digestion from mastication and insal1va-
ton throughout the system. She added
that the requisites to good digestion were:
Healthy organs; good food that is, contain
ing the principles of the body in an easily
digested form; regularity in eating: not
eating while under the influence of violent
emotions; refraining from exercise too soon
after meals; taking time to eat, and room to
eat. This last point was illustrated by charts
to show how the over-pressure OF stays
affected the digestive organs. Cooking,
said the lecturer, has for its real purpose tc
render foods more easily digested, but the
heterogeneous mingling that civilization has
taught often circumvents this aim.
The next lecture will be held next Tuesday
afternoon on the subject of Dyspepsia"