178 
DEGLUTITION OR SWALLOWING. 
general habit of very rapidly eating or rather “ bolting ” the 
meals. There is another evil attendant on this practice,—that 
much more food is swallowed than is necessary to supply the 
wants of the system ; for the sense of hunger is not so readily 
abated by food which has not been prepared for digestion; 
and thus the feeling of satiety is not produced, until the 
stomach has already received a larger supply than it is well 
able to dispose of. Imperfect mastication of the food is very 
apt to occur, in persons who are losing their teeth by old age 
or decay; and where these are not replaced by artificial means, 
the next best remedy is to cut the food into very small por¬ 
tions, before it is taken into the mouth, and to masticate it 
there as thoroughly as possible. 
Deglutition. 
192. In the Mammalia, the cavity of the mouth is guarded 
behind by a sort of moveable curtain, which is known as the 
veil of the palate (fig. 107); and this hangs down during 
Veil of the palate 
Pharynx 
Nose 
Tongue 
Salivary glands 
Os hyoides 
Larynx 
___ Thyroid gland 
(Esophagus 
lilt ■ 
Trachea 
Fig. 107.— Perpendicular Section of the Mouth and Throat. 
mastication, in such a manner as to prevent any of the food 
from passing backwards. This partition, which does not exist 
