The evening times., 1900-05-02
THE HUMAN CANAL.
To the Editor of-rhe Times:

To the Editor of-The Times:
From TAe Evening Times cf April %
clip an extract showing the harry in which
Americans attend TO work. and even their
eating This excerpt from a valuable edi-
torial on "A Nation in Hurry" touches
upon matters OF such vital importance as
to require further consideration by the
people. Here # is;
''DF Frareis Lieber, one of the great Gerusn
scholars who helped in the formation Of the
American college. was wont 10 say positively
that instruction in any science should be
given until al Least IN hour after the midIay
meal But American rush cut 70 iurchcon
snatch bite Of something. eat in FIVE min
utes hearty meal which should require thlrrv-
i've, and then nsh back 10 their business Ameri-
can women eat their luncheon IN haste, anxious
70 get back 10 their work OF their social engage
ments, and rise from the table only 70 engage
in active employment Of brain or hands Then
both men and women wonder why they have dys-
pepsia and nervous prostgation-"
The most important canal in the world
is the alimentary canal. 1t is the most ex-
pensiye. too. and the most abused Com
pared with il the Suez and the contem-
plated trans-isthmian channels dwarf into
utter insignificance.
The most important station in this canal
is the stomach. 1t is mighty workshop,
a great chemical laboratory. which manu-
factures the various materials and prod
ucts requisite TO the complex human
structure. II can do this manufacturing
and meet the demands UDon it only by
utilizing the crude materials and employ
ing the forces given to IT,
At the entrance to this canal and 10 pre-
side over its Offices and products, are Ger
tain sentinels OF sight smell and taste,
and above them a superintendent called
mine. all of which are so placed as &c
guard the highway Of life. It would natur-
ally be supposed that nothing contraband
Of war-nOthing common or unclean-nOth-
ing injurious in any sense, would be given
entrance 10 this royal pathway Of ter
restrial existence.
What are the facts in the case2
The right OF way is violated in every
conceivable manner In quality. in guam
tity, in regularity, in times in environ
ments. in every condition Of health and
happiness this violation consists In fact.
the average human being is disposed to
treat this important ca1aI as if 1t had
no rights that civilized person should
respect.
A noted physician has declared that the
American people are digging their graves
with their teeth, and the eccentric but
astute Sidney Smith averred that every
man who has attained the age OF seventy
years has eaten forty wagon loads more
than he needed
Good cooks have more to do with the
physical. mental. and moral health OF The
community than physicians and preachers,
and pure food is infinitely more important
than all the medicines prescribed by doc
tors or furnished by druggists
DR.. Lieber, in the foregoing quoted
paragraph states a fundamental truth
when he suggests that mo instructions
in any science should be given until at
least an hour after the midday meal" His
statement needs to be greatly enlarged so
as to read: mo reading. study. or taxing
mental effort should occur for AT least
an hour after any hearty meal The fail
ure to observe this caution is a prolific
source of indigestion, biliousness, head
ache nervousness. and general i'll health.
If the stomach is given fair chance. IL
will digest the food that has been judi
cously given it for that purpose; but let
il be given fair showing in the premises.
few days ago | saw a Government
clerk W.T. cigar in one hand and large
section o. greasy shortcake in the other.
The cake was hastily gulped down. and the
cigar vigorously smoked Immediately af-
terward. Within a few minutes he was at
his desk, busily engaged at work Is Il
strange that he should be afflicted with in-
digestion and ultimate nervous pros
tration? Would il avail anything To- him
to go TO some other climate but take his
injurious practices and habits with him
And yet. poor deluded mortals imsgine
that they can, perchance, find seme Sc
questered spot where the laws OF physical
being the immutable laws Of God can DE
violated without ineurring the inevitable
penalties. How woefuliy they have de-
ceiyed themselves
II / were permitted TO make a motion,
with the consent Of the powers that be,
should establish the universal rule in the
Government departments o. having a fell
I hour for noon meal, and confne the hours
of work from TO II and from l to Z. MoEe
work and better quality OF it, too would
be done than under existing conditions AL
sick leaves might then be dispensed with.
because the prolific source OF illness soI' i
be removed.
J. FRAISE RICHARD.
Washington, April go.
Marrf.,.~e Licenses TSsuad