The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-06-24
A Nap After A Meal.
From London Chronicle.

FROM London chronicle
The majority of people take a meal of
some kind between the hours of II and
daily, says a physician. With number
of persons this meal assumes the form of a
substantial dinner, while with others it
amounts to nothing more than light
luncheon. In either case, however, the
repast requires to be digested, and this
necessitates some modification of the activ-
tiles of the brain, since neither that organ
nor those concerned in the processes of di-
gestion are capable Of good work when an
attempt is made to put forth their energies
simultaneously.
The exceedingly complex processes of
digestion and assimilation whereby dead
animal and vegetable matters are trans
formed into living human tissues demand
for their rapid and healthy performance an
increased circulation of blood in the stom-
ach and ancillary organs as well as a con-
centration of nervous energy in the same
region Now, increase of circulation in
one organ or set of organs entails diminu-
ton in the others. Consequently the sup
ply of blood to the brain is curtailed imme-
diately after meal has been eaten, and
since the blood is the life the higher func-
tions of that great organ are performed
only with difficulty if at all
A tendency to drowsiness, confusion of
thought and inability to make any great
mental effort are among the results Of
diminished cerebral circulation. These
feelings are, therefore, experienced by
most persons after meal, and they are the
more pronounced in proportion to the
greater amount of digestive energy ex-
pended.
Since brain work of good quality cannot
be produced while the processes of diges
ton are in active operation it is wise not TO
attempt it. 1t is never prudent to thwart
the benefcent intentions of nature Many
persons struggle against the mental and
physical lethargy that accompany the earlier
stages of the digestive act, apparently un-
der the delusion that all time given to the
important business of building up and re
pairing their tissues is time wasted. So
far from this being the case, well spent
postprandial interval tends to the preserva-
tion aud prolongation of life.
If a tendency to drowiness is felt sleep
should be allowed to prevail, for the pro-
verbal forty winks' is justified by sci
ence A ten OF fifteen minutes nap after
a meal, curiously enough, will enable many
brain worker to arise refreshed who
might have spent an hour or two in vain
aud mentally confused struggle against the
"drowsy god A cup of tea or coffee
about an hour after light luncheon will
facilitate and expedite the last stages of
gastric digestion and so assist in the rapid
establishment of mental vigor and clear
ness Of mind.
There are some persons who instead Of
resting after luncheon or early dinner take
some form Of exercise, such as walking or
cycling. If the meal has been at all sub
stantial muscular exercise must tend to
retard and weaken digestion by withdraw
ing a certain modicum of nerve energy to
the lower limbs aud the centers which gov
ern their movements and diminishing the
circulation in the alimentary canal by in
creasing it in the legs aud arms. Unless
their digestive powers are very keen people
who take active exercise after food find
that the process of digestion is thereby only
prolonged.
On many grounds rest after food is more in
accordance with physiological requirements
than exercise, and the afternoon nap, so
scoffed at BY the needless, is measure to
be not only defended but recommended
1t is practice beneficial not only to diges
ton, but to many Of the other functions Of
the body Rest is the one thing needfnl
in this restless age, and it is never so neees
sary as in the small hours of the afternoon.
Among the many generally unsupported
benefits conferred on the post meridian
sleeper rest of the heart and systemic cir
culation must be placed in the front rank,
Now, the more rest, within the limits of
health, the heart is able to obtain the more
efficiently and the longer will it continue
to carry on its work, for the heart is, with
most people, a much oyerworked organ,
aud any indulgence given it will be repaid
several times over.
Another very important organ which OBJ
tains much needed rest during the after
noon nap is the eye There is no reason
why people should be constantly laying
waste the powers of the organ of vision,
the optic nerve and the visual centers of
the brain itself by continual gazing at what
ever trivial objects chance to present them
selves within the field of vision. Even the
most casual Of things seen entails an
expenditure of nerve energy, and an ad-
justment of accommodation, wear and tear
of the exceedingly fine and complex ocular
mechanism and corresponding exhaustion
of the nerve cells constituting the visual
eenters of the brain, all of which must tend
ultimately to curtail the period during
which the visual sense should be at its best.
Bald Men Immuned.