Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-21
THOSE LATE SUPPeRS.
Some Of tn Digestible Foods and Some Ct
the others.

Many people have an idea that il is
injurious to eat just before going To
bed. but doctors laugh at the sugges
ton and often prescribe light supper
as a cure for insomnia and many other
ailments.
1T stands to reason" says one we'll
known authority on nerves and diges-
tive disorders that as in the daily
routine Of the average person five
hours elapse between the three ordi-
nary meals. and as the stomach in a
healthy individual is empty three
hours after digestion begins. it is
neither wise nor necessary for the
stomach to remain empty from say .
o'clock in the evening till s o'clock the
following morning, period of eleven
hours. should there be n craving for
food during the interval. Some physi-
ulOgists hold that the stomach should
be allowed this period Of complete rest.
and that in consequence ii is better to
go to bed fasting rather than to salts
fy the craving for nourishmeEt; but if
the food eaten just before retiring Is
Of an easily digested character. the
tax put upon the stomach is not SUM-
GENTLY great to deprive it Of the rest
which is necessary for its proper action
the succeeding day.
Nothing better can be suggested
than a glassful of milk. but it should
always be at blood heat. cold liquids
taken into the stomach at such time
will do harm rather than good, for II
that case the blood is not drawn 70 the
stomach with the same rapidity and IN
the same quantity as it is when warm
LIQUIDS are taken. In great many
instances. long continued insomnia
may be completely cured. after an IN
terval of say a couple Of weeks. by tn"
steady adherence to such regime.
The habit Of taking a bottle Of cold
beer previous to retiring for the night
is not a good one although many
people indulge in il for the purpose Of
promoting sleep. The hops contained
in the beer undoubtedly have sopo-
rife effect. but the stomach is chilled
by the cold fluid and the sleep pro-
duced is not of Il natural character.
Then. too, the beer is merely absorbed.
without requiring the action Of the di-
gtstive processes: it congests the liver
and kidneys: and the effect the next
day is one Of depression. which would
not have occurred had some food OF
light character requiring digestion
been taken in its place.
Welsh rarebit. the favorite evening
dish of a large class of people, when
eaten late at night. is about as diges
tive as leather. and many a devotee AZ
its shrine aWakens the next morning
with sick headache as the result Of
his indiscretion. Cheese i'll any form
is indigestible at night.
"A broiled English mutton chop. o"
small lamb chops. with creamed pnta-
toes. while not a very fashionable sup
per. is as good as any that can b.
taken. from the standpoint Of the ply
stefan. ana the Fascinating large, cold
bottle and small hot bird will not 40
any particular harm, if INDUCED in
only occasionally
Raw Oys tiers produce no bad effects
if eaten at night. the soft part of them
being very easily digestcd. though the
hard part is much less s.. Fried oYS-
ters ana clans should BE- tab.o,i at
night. and the same may be said Of all
other fried foods. oyster stew, the
favorite supper Of good many people.
can be taken with impunity by most
people. when made without the addi-
ton of milk it is more dig"stible-
though less nourishinG. boiled milk not
being as easily IssimiIated as milk i'll
its natural, uncoOked state.
AS a general rule, fruit is not
wholesome at night. Sour wines
liquors and brandy. if drunk in small
quantities during Of Immediately after
4 late supper. are quite harmless ana
act az aids to digestion; but if taken in
excess. they act as dep:essants and di-
gcstiOn is thereby delayed