The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-14

one Shouid NeNer EAT When hurried
Excited. Angry, Anxious, Grlevec
Worried or Shocked, For al Thos
Times Digestion Cannot Take Place,
A wise man has said, "ClrculatioI
follows attention" That Ia, wheneve
there is need for the activity OF any
function the organ which performs tha
function receives an increased flow OF
blood, For instance, man has takel
a long walk and arrives home tired ant
ravenously hungry, As he enters the
house he catches the aroma OF cook
ing food What happens? Why. tc
use vernacular phrase, ''hls mouth
waters" The attention Is directed 10
the need Of eating, and the organs en-.
gagged In eating and digestion at once
begin TO get greatly increased supply
OF blood.
II Is out OF the blood that these di.
gestive organs manufacture their vari.
Gus fluids by which each organ accom-
pllshes Its special part In the work Of
digestion: so when an increased quan.
tity Of blood Is poured into them each
organ begins at once to make large
quantities of Its peculiar fluid
The sallvary glands are In the mouth,
under the tongue mostly, and when 4
greatly increased quantity OF blood Is
sent to them they at once elaborate ard
pour cut into the mouth a portion OF
their contents; so the hungry man who
smells the odor of cooking food waters
at the mouth. Thus the mind governs
the body.
Now, the action OF the glands OF the
mouth which produce saliva Is exactly
like the action Of the. glands elsewhere
In the body which produce gastric
Juice, pancreatic juice, bile and other
fluids, through the associated action
.of which the process of digestion IL
carried on. When the hungry man
smells the aroma OF food there is n
rush Of blood 10 all the digestive or
gans, mouth, stomach, small intestine
and liver. AS a result of this Increase
Of circulation there Is suddenly poured
out more digestive fluid, not only sa-
Iva, but the others as well. The gas
trio juice begins to flow, the pancreas
and liver get ready, and the entire d.
gestive system is prepared and able TO
take care OF any food which is reason
able In kind and quantity.
The point Of greatest Importance In
all this is that these fluids are poured
out only when the mental condition Is
right-when there Is In the mind
desire for food II there should be any
feeling Of dlsincliuation for food. IL
there should be even an Indifference
to food, the food taken under such cir
cumstances would not and could not
be properly digested.
II there is In the mind any feeling
other than desire for food, II Just pre-
vlous to eating or while eating any
thing should occur TO disturb or dis
tract the mind then there would be
immediate arrangement of the circula- |
ton. Under these circumstances the |
blood would be withdrawn from the dl- |
gestive organs and the elaboration OF |
the fluids Of digestion would cease.
Then, Of course, the body would be In
no condition to receive or digest food. |
Suppose that our friend returning
rom his long walk greeted at the door
)y the odors of fragrant viands a few
later is handed telegram in
'orming him Of the sudden death Of
lis only son in distant city. What
happens then? At once there Is a pro-
ound change In the circulation The
Hood which a moment previously was
nassed at the stomach and other or
rams Of digestion, all ready to take
are Of the meal, is at once switched
If to the brain. The man flushes and
hen pales. His muscles lose their
'ower He drops into chair. Per-
Iaps he weeps Hunger? 1t Is the
asst thing in his thoughts Il cannot
at!' he cries. ooh, my son, my sonr'
And the same perversion Of the cir
ulation occurs in anger, anxiety, wor-
Y, Jealousy, haste, excitement or any
ther state of mental pain or nquie-
lde. All these conditions simply put ,
ne digestive organs for the time "out
{ business" Food taken under such
onditions cannot possibly be digested.
instead 1t will ferment, putrefy in the
ystem and will be the cause of dis
omf0rt, Of disturbed function, Of dis
lse, perhaps of death.
Does this seem extreme? Let me
III you story. A great, strong, big
roasted, energetic man comes in from {
days fishing He is delightfully."-
red, hungry as bear" At the ho-
j he finds waiting for him a telegram :
ad news He says, Il can't eat" His
lends persuade him. He eats a hearty
eal. In two hours he is dead. It is \
true story. know Of a score Of such
Lses.
And from all this what can we learn?
q can learn this: We must not eat
hen we are hurried, excited, angry.
ieved, anxious, worried or shocked, ,
r food at such times will do us only
lrm-will perhaps send US with in
.corous promptitude to that bourn
ON which no traveller returns. Fool
ken under such conditions will not G
QpSt but will nrornntIv hoo,in "a 40 |