Evening journal., 1899-11-11

FOOD AND THE MANNER OF
TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AFFECT
HEALTH, LIFE AND COMFORT.
In the Norm American Review for
November there is a suggestive discus
sion by Louis Windmuller of the reck-
lessness of the average American in re-
gard to his diet. Errors of diet engender
disease, yet few persons will take any
pains to avoid them. THE ambitious
American, says Mr.. Windmuller, lis
apt to consider time spent on the care
OF his body as wasted. To him fortune
is of greater Importance than health
Though it is well known that those
who wish to enjoy a long and happy
life must eat little at time and eat
that with deliberate satisfaction heI
scarcely permits all his daily meals toI
absorb as much of his day as is re-
quired for one meal" The quick
lunch counter is one of our character
istic institutions. along with the use of
ice water in great quantity 10 wash
down bOlted meals. Not a few Ameri-
can business men omit the luncheon
altogether under pressure of affairs.
custom OF taking ones meals I'm al
leisurely manner, in a quiet, retired
place, among cheerful people. is much
better. since social enjoyment and de-
hberate mastication promote digestion
In the family circle. at meal times es-
pecially," says the writer temper
should be subdued and unpleasant con-
yorsation avoided. A woman of tact
refrains from increasing at such times
the burden of her husband by tale of
woes, even IL he should be weak
enough TO brood over complications. III
may not be a symptom of disease to
think while eating, but serious occupa-
tion Of the mind when one is so en-
gagged must eventually lead to disease.
Eating too much is equally danger
Gus. The capacity of the stomach is
limited to the quantity of food there is
gastric juice TO digest. The surplus fer
ments End after a time produces
obesity and disease. Gormandizing is
promoted, says the author by the prac-
tice OF our best city hotels and Summer
resorts OF furnishing q great quantity
and variety OF food for a fixed price,
Instead Of letting guests pay for what
they consume. and no more. Too Of
ten. we are told. the greedy boarder
after beginning his breakfast with fruit
and porridRe. orders fish. steak. chops
eggs and rolls with tea or coffee. Hisl
luncheon. introduced with SOUP and
fish, Is followed by roasts and game
the waiter-anXious for fees-supple-
menting this with a formidable array
Of vegetables and entrees. In solemn
silence, as If doing penance. he resolute-
ly attacks one after the other. washing
down his discordant menu with copious
drafts OF water cooled to q temperature
90 degrees below that OF the stomach
One such meal is burden enough for a
day, but II is repeated in the evening
at dinner and followed at night by
light supper-a second or third meal
being taken before the first can digest.
such feeding, OF course, produces stu
pldity and discomfort What next?
When our American glutton." SAYS Mr.
Windmuller, finds himself in distress
through overeating he resorts to drugs,
the continued use OF which weakens
HIS organs till they lose their vitality"
One abuse leads to another. whereas
IL the custom were to serve
at fixed prices portions of food
which must be paid for as
ordered. persons too economical
20 pay for what they do not need would
be saved from overindulgence." Soup.
fish, entrees, roast one vegetable.
cheese and wine-this menu enough,
the author thinks, for a sensible man.
As regards what one should drink.
Mr. Windmuller is sufficiently catholic.
Water is best If OF assured purity. But
so little water is Of assured purity that
natural mineral waters. in cases of
doubt, are to be called for. AS for ice.
II is quite likely to contain microbes
and ought not to be added to ones
glass. After water a light. pure. nat
ulal wine, or seasoned spirits, or pure
beer is recommended A temperate use
OF absolutely pure spirits promotes di-
gestion, but most persons are too weak
to restrain their appeties. and for this
reason most persons will best abstain
from all stimulants. THE influence Of
liquor says the writer. largely de-
pends on how We take IT, Good when
we slowly imbibe it. encircled by con-
genial friends. it becomes poison when
in haste we recklessly toss of one glass
after another Hence radical objec-
ton to the American "barroom, -
where one drinks standing and neces-
sarily gulps down FOR the effect" under
circumstances least favorable to the
safety Va tht olOudin. water promotes
digestion. The average man requires
five pints day. half of which he COM
monty gets in his solid food. The other
half be must get in the form of pure
water, pure wine. OF water mixed with a
little alcohol. But right here the hy-
gienist's trouble begins. since nearly
every beverage offered the American is
contaminated with sewage or adulter-
ated. OF twenty-six bottles Of American
beer tested by our Department Of Agri-
culture six contained salicylic acid
which is added to arrest fermentation
Or two foreign beers, one made in Bre-
men, contained the same poisonous
substance. OF seventy samples Of Amer.
lcan wine eighteen contained salicyli,
acid and thirteen contained another
deleterious acid. Whiskies. wines ant
beers as offered for the consumption
OF the masses, are often sophisticated
to such an extent as to be unwhole
some Much the same Is to be said o
milk as sold IN large cities and othe
foodstuffs, such as molasses, vinegar
nal vigilance is the price OF immunit,
from slow poisoning at the hands o