204 THE BEA80N WHY. 



' Wlio satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed 

 like the eagles." PSALM cm. 



878. Why do we feel drowsy after eating heartily ? 



Because, while the stomach is in action, a, great proportion of 

 the blood of the body is drawn towards it, and as the blood is 

 withdrawn from the other parts of the body, they fall into a state of 

 languor. 



870. Why does blood flow more freely to the stomach 

 during digestion ? 



Because the energy of an organ is increased by the flow of blood, 

 which supplies the material of which our organs are composed, 

 and in which the vital essence, supporting life, resides. 



880. Why does excess in eating bring on indigestion ? 



Because the power of the stomach to digest food is governed by 

 the amount of food required by the system. It seems to be an 

 instinct of the stomach to hold back food which is in excess, and by 

 indications of pain and disturbance to warn its master that excess 

 kas been committed. 



881. Why is food digested in the stomach ? 



Because it enters the stomach in the form of a paste, produced 

 by the action of the mouth ; and directly food enters, the gastric 

 juice, which is formed by glands embedded in the coats of the 

 stomach, trickles down its sides. This is a more powerful solvent 

 than the salivary juice it is like the same kind of fluid, only much 

 stronger, and it soon turns the food from a rough and crude paste 

 into a greyish cream (chyme). The heat of the stomach assists 

 the operation, and the muscular threads of the coats move the 

 cream along, in the same manner that the muscles of the oesophagus 

 brought down the food. 



The cream is passed towards the door which leads outward from 

 the stomach (pylorus) ; but if, in the midst of the cream, there are 

 any undissolved particles of food, it closes upon them, and they 

 return again to the stomach to be further changed. 



882. Why does indigestion bring on bilious attacks ? 



