Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-09
THE CANAL PROBLEM.
Care Required for the Alimentary
Tract.

| To the Editor of The Evening Star:
| Statesmen and the press have given
| much serious thought to the construction
| of a trans-is thmian canal. The merits
| and dement's of competing routes have
challenged the highest powers of earnest
thinkers, and yet in the opinion Of some
the problem remains measurably I'M
solved.
Without attempting at present to enter
upon any controversy on the subject OF
| the relative merits of these competing
routes. 1 desire to affirm boldly and de-
liberately that the most important canal
| in the world Is the alimentary canal.
Touching this one 1 desire to record
| few observations so simple and trans
parent that they will be accepted as really
automatic. OF this canal let 1t be noted
| that: l. It is the oldest one in the world:
1t has existed in man, beast, bird and
reptile ever since the earth has been
habitable by air-breathing types of ex-
tstence; it's antiquity antedates the noted
seven wonders Of the world. 2. 1t Is the
shortest canal in the world; In the adult
man. lord Of creation, its average length
is only about thirty feet; compared with
the Suez canal or the projected Panama
route it is thoroughly insignificant. 3. 1t
is, as nature intended in it's construction.
the best fortified or guarded canal In the
world: at it's entrance are three admira-
BILE sentinels, sight, smell and taste.
whose special functions are to protect
and guard admitting nothing of a detri-
mental nature; lest these sentinels might
be deceived in some manner, a general
supervision has been stationed in the
watch tower above the entrance to this
canal-the mind-to afford still further
safety. A. 1t has, as one of its stations,
the most wonderful chemical laboratory
in the world-the stomach; 1t receives,
and by the aid of salivary, gastric pam
IL h nd
manufactures the most wonderful pro-
ducts in the whole domain Of nature
muscle. bone. sinew. brain, nerve skin,
fiber-in short, all the various complex
elements Of the human structure receive
their material, crude or manufactured,
from this remarkable laboratory. 5. 1t Is
the most abused canal in the world; de-
spite all the magnificent equipments with
which 1t Is endowed and the excellent
precautions for its proper use and preser-
walton, the biped known as man, classi-
fled as rational being and highly civil
lized treats this canal, and especially the
chemical laboratory, the stomach, as If it
had no rights that deserve the semblance
of recognition; he treats 1t as II 1t were a
| veritable garbage vessel or ordinary dump
ing ground; In the quantity. quality, fire.
quency and irregularity of food taken he
treats 1t most outrageously; probably the
eccentric Sidney Smith was not far wrong
when he declared that every man who has
attained the age of seventy years has
eaten forty wagon loads more than he
needed; perhaps an eminent physician did
not misstate when he affirmed that the
| American people dig their own graves
with their teeth; is 1t not unwise and un-
kind to charge up typhoid or maIarial
fevers to the uncooked microbes that
float innocently down the Potomac river?
Would 1t not be wise to seek the causes
in this much-abused canal? g. 1t must he
apparent to all that 1t Is the most ex-
pensiye canal in the world; the aggregate
expenditures for the solid and LIQUID ma
teria1s that traverse this canal would as
found the average mind; the products of
all climes, the fruits, the grains. the
meats. the beverages the condiments of
all countries, the transports from all
lands and seas and rivers-all these find
ultimate access to this important canal
These facts being conceded, 1t must be
apparent to every intelligent being that
more personal attention deserves to be
given to the legitimate use of this canal
This function can be delegated to no one
1t must be supervised and controlled by
the occupant of the tower above the
mouth. He only can properly care for
and utilize and preserve 1t.
J. ERAISE RICHARD.