The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-10-18
A NAP AFTER A MEAL
ONE OF THE BEST ITEMS IN THE
LIST OF LIFE PRESERvERS.

The POssprandial Restful Dose In
IN Aid 10 Good Health and More In
Accord with Physiological Re-
Quirements Than Exercise.
The majority Of people take a meal Of
some kind between the hours of II and
2 daily, says a physician. With num-
Der Of persons this meal assumes the
form Of a substantial dinner, while
with others 1t amounts to nothing more
than a light luncheon. In either case,
however, the repast requires to be d.
gested, and this necessitates some mod
if1cation Of the activities Of the brain,
since neither that organ nor those con-
cerned in the processes Of digestion are
capable Of good work when an attempt
is made to put forth their energies 81
multaneously.
The exceedingly complex processes of
digestion and assimilation whereby
dead animal and vegetable matters
are transformed into living human It's
sues demand for their rapid and
healthy performance an increased cir
culation Of blood in the stomach and
ancillary organs as well as a concen-
tration Of nervous energy in the same
region. Now, increase Of circulation In
one organ or set Of organs entails a
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
organ are performed only with diff
Guilty If at all.
| A tendency to drowsiness, confusion
Of thought and inability to make any
great mental effort are among the re-
suits Of a diminished cerebral circula-
ton. These feelings are therefore, ex-
perienced by most persons after q
meal, and they are the more pro-
nounced in proportion to the greater
amount Of digestive energy expended.
Since brain work Of good quality cam
not be produced while the processes Of
digestion are in active operation 1t Is
wise not to attempt it. 1t is never
prudent to thwart the beneficent inten-
lions Of nature. Many persons strug-
gle against the mental and physical
lethargy that accompany the earlier
stages Of the digestive act. apparent
" under the delusion that all time
given to the important business of
building up and repairing their tissues
| is time wasted. So far from this be-
ing the case, a well spent postprandial
interval tends to the preservation and
prolongation of life.
If a tendency to drowsinC"s is felt
sleep should be allowed to prevail, for
the proverbial "forty winks" is justi-
fed by science. A ten or fifteen min
utes' nap after a meal, curiously
enough, will enable many a brain
worker to arise refreshed who might
have spent an hour or two in vain
and mentally confused struggle against
| the "drowsy god" A cup Of tea or
coffee about an hour after a light
luncheon will facilitate and expedite
the last stages Of gastric digestion and
so assist in the rapid re-establishment
Of mental vigor and clearness Of mind.
There are some persons who instead
Of resting after luncheon or early din
ner take some form Of exercise, such
as walking or cycling. If the meal has
| been at all substantial muscular exer-
else must tend to retard and weaken
digestion by withdrawing certain
modicum Of nerve energy to the lower
| limbs and the centers which govern
| their movements and diminishing the
| circulation in the alimentary canal by
| increasing it in the legs and arms. Un-
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 scoffed at by the
needless, Is a measure to be not only
defended but recommended. It is q
practice beneficial not only to diges-
ton, but to many Of the other func-
lions of the body. Rest is the ono
thing needful in this restless age, and
it is never so necessary as in the small
hours Of the afternoon.
Among Luc uI<auy SCuCA any uAAOOo
pected 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 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 overworked organ, and
any indulgence given it will be repaid
several times over.
Another very important organ which
obtains q 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 centers 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