The farmer and mechanic., 1915-10-05
EATING
JOHN ID. BARRY
i'm Washington Herald.


Of undertaking is more and more ap-
parent. Children can overeat with
with comparative impunlty; but even
their vigorous organisms, clamorlng
for nourishment to be used IN CROWN,
occasionally rebel. Those VINO re-
act violently from overeating are for
tunate. Nature, by giving swift pun
ishment, teaches care.
1t is those who can eat with COM
parative impunity that are in the
greatest danger. The Over-WOrked
stomach gradually leaves part OF its
work undone, letting poison accumu-
late in the system. Eventually the
poison is likely to break out into dis
ease, perhaps scarcely traceable TO
food, seemingly unrelated in some in
stances, less physical than nervous or
mental.
The mind often becomes like mir
ror, rejecting the ill-health Of the
body. How absurd, then. to doctor
the mirror. And yet this kind of alb
surdity we are constantly falling into.
To leave the table with the feeling
that one could eat little more is an
excellent mental and moral discip-
line. Perhaps the physical benefit is
the least important, great as 1T Is
sure to be. But there are times when
one forgets or loses all sense OF pre-
caution and overeats shamelessly. Al
terward the stomach makes it's pros
test 1t says: II never want to eat
again. You have given me altogether
too much work to do. Now let me
alone"
If we are wise. we will follow the
advice. We win skip at least one
meal, perhaps several meals. Incl
dentally, we are likely to find help by
drinking water. In this way we may
escape punishment, either speedy or
slow. But we shall do we'll not to
take advantage of our ability to pro-
tect ourselves. If we do, we shall
find nature growing more and more
resentful.
Fasting has it's risks: but it also
has it's rewards. The old religions
knew and took advantage. Though
they emphasized the spiritual effect
they appreciated the value Of the
physical discipline.
But among those who fast in order
to obey a rule imposed from outside
there Is likely to be rebellious feel
ing that limits, or altogether de-
stroys, the advantages. Sometimes
this attitude makes people sick
Through thinking that fasting Is 6
hardship, they make it a means o.
weakening themselves. If they enter
ed into II sympathetically, they would
find almost certain benefit-thAt Is
those Of them who were PHYSICAL!
able to meet the test. And all relig
ions discourage the unfit from fast
fng-those whose reserve Of strengtl
is so slight that it needs to be con
stantly sustained with nourishment.
Just now there Is method o
treating the sick, and the weak, usu
ally those suffering from nervous dis
orders, known as overfeeding. It
absolutely physical, taking no &C
count Of the mind or the spirit, excep
as these are sustained by the ply
siQue. Often the results are excel
lent. They lift a depleted system t
the place where 1t can draw o
strength to maintain itself and to &
on increasing its vigor by means of
normal regimen.
But il has the disadvantage
working without the cooperation {
the mind and of the sympathie
With some more sensitive physique
It may make food revolving and lea
to a reaction. not only defeating itsel
but doing positive harm. Much d.
pends, of course, on the way it
done. There are certain kinds of foe
that. taken in small quantities, supp
a large amount of nourishment. E
their use the patients may be overf<
without rebellion on the part of II
stomach or the Consciousness. But IL
sense Of being fed up like a Than
giving turkey may in itself be ner
Gus depressant, working a harmful i
fluence on the physical processes.
There are many cases where peop
go to practitioners and say that
long period they have been on
strict diet and, after being told to
home and eat whatever they pleas
follow the instruction, and to the
amazement experience no discomfo
The sense Of power seems to op
open springs Of power within. Wo
derful as the change seems, if
could follow it we should probat
find 1t not wonderful at all. but nc
NAL.
We all know people who say th
they dislike this kind Of food or tn
If we ask them why we may find tn
they don't even know what the 70
tastes like. Prejudice has kept the
even from tasting it. Occasiona
something happens that makes tn,
resist this prejudice. Perhaps til