Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-06-02
A#NAP AFTER A MEAL
ONE OF THE BEST ITEMS IN THE
LIST OF LIFE PRESERvERs.


The majority Of people take meal of
some kind between the hours Of 10 and
daily, says Il physician. With n num-
Der of persons this mcnl assumes the
form Of substantial dinner, while
with others 1t amounts to nothing more
than ablight luncheon. In either case,
however, the rcpast requires to be d.
Ecsted. and this ncccssltates some mod
ification of the activities of the brain.
Since neither that organ nor those con-
cerncd In the processes of digestion arc
capable of good work when IN attempt
is made to put forth their energies ST.
multnncoisly
The exceedingly complex processes OF
digestion nnd assimilation whereby
dead animal and vegetable matters
are transformed into living human It's
sues demand for their rapid and
healthy performances nm increased cir
culation of blood I'm the stomach md
nncillary organs as we'll as n conccn-
trntion OF nervous energy In the snme
region. Now. Increase Of circulation in
one organ or set OF organs entails
diminution IN the others. Consequently
the supply of blood to the brain Is cur
tailed immediately after meal has
been eaten. and since the blood Is the
life the higher functions Of that great
orgon are performed only with diff
Guilty if Mt MI.
tendency to drowsincss. confusion
of thought and inability to make any
great mental effort are among The re-
suits of diminished cerebral cIrcula-
ton. These feelings arc. therefore, OK
pcr!enccd by most persons after
meal ana they are the more pro-
nounccd In proportion TO the greater
amount of digestive energy expended.
Since brain work Of good quality can
not he prohTccd willie the processes of
digestion are in active operation it ia
wise not 10 attempt It. 1t Is never
prudent to thwart tho benoflcont inten-
tons OF nature. Many persons strug-
gle against the mental and physical
lethargy that accompany the earlier
stages OF the digestive act. apparent
~ under the dclusion that all time
given to the Important business OF
building up md repairing their tissues
Is time wasted. So far from this be-
Ing the case, IL we'll spent postprandial
interval tends TO the preservation and
prolonEation of life
II tendency to drowsincss is felt
sleep should he allowed TO prevail for
the provcrbial "forty wInks" Is tusti-
hod by science. y ten or fifteen min
utes' nap after meal. curiously
enough, will enable many brain
y.i-o fN
have spent nn hour or two in vain
and mentally confused struggle against
the 'drowsy god." 4 cup Of tea or
coffee about an hour after light
luncheon Will facilitate and expedite
the last stages of gastric digestion and
no nssiSt in the rapid establishment
OF mental vigor and clcarness OF mind
There nrc some persons who instead
OF resting after luncheon or early din.
ner take some form OF exercise, such
MS walking or cycling. If the meal has
been Mt all substantial muscular excr-
else must tend to rctard and weaken
digestion by Withdrawing certain
modicum Of nerve energy to the lower
limbs and the ccntcrs which govern
their movements and diminishing the
circulation In the almcHtnry canal by
increasing II In the legs and arms. Tn
less their digestive powers are very
keen people who take active exercise
after food find that the process of d.
gestion is thereby only prolonged.
On many grounds rest after food is
more in accordance with physiological
requirements than exercise, and the
afternoon nap, so scoffcd Mt by the
needless. Is measure to he not only
defended but recommended. 1t is II
practice beneficial not only to digcs-
ton. but TO many OF the other func-
tions of the body. Rest Is the one
thing ncrdful in this restless age. and
1t IS never so necessary as in the small
hours Of the afternoon.
Among the many generally unsus-
pectcd benefits conferred on the post
meridian sleeper rest of the heart and
systemic circulation must be placed in
the front rank. Now. the more rest,
within tho limits Of health. the heart Is
able to obtain the moro efficiently and
the longer will it continue to carry on
its work. for the heart IL. with most
p PScPiS' a. iHW.i p'tt " vi hcu vi Sull, ulltl
any indulgence given 1t will be repaid
several times over.
Another very important organ which
obtains much needed rest during the
afternoon nap is the eye. There is no
reason why people should be constant.
~ laying waste the powers OF the or
gan Of vision, the optic nerve and the
visual centcrs OF the brain itself by
continual gazing at whatever trivial
objects chance to present themselves
within the field of vision Even the
most casual Of things seen" entails an
expenditure OF nerve energy. and an
adjustment of accommodation. wear
and tear Of the exceedingly fine and