A THREATENED FACTORY 219 



centre in the spinal cord, the sphincter which guards 

 the vent is relaxed, while the muscular coat of the rectum 

 is thrown into an expelling contraction. The act is 

 started by an effort of will, but it is conducted and 

 completed by an automatic mechanism. If the machinery 

 breaks down, the fault is most likely to lie in that part 

 which is under the control of the will. If we neglect 

 the signal of uneasiness, if we contract irregular habits, 

 then the rectum ceases to be sensitive to loading and 

 therefore fails to issue warning messages. 



There is also a minor matter which requires mention 

 before this chapter is closed — one which is linked up 

 with the condition of the human alimentary system. 

 Philosophers love to speculate as to what man is likely 

 to become under our ever-growing civilisation. They 

 picture him in the future as a great brain wrapped in 

 a body from which the grosser animal qualities have been 

 moulted. They think of him as living on a concentrated 

 nectar diet, one which will supply his body with a body- 

 fuel already prepared for use. Man is to become, so it 

 is said, an ethereal creature which will live, burn, and 

 grow a brain fit to sound the utmost recesses and secrets 

 of the universe. Great and kind thoughts are certainly 

 worth living for ; thinking can certainly comfort the 

 evening of life. But he who believes he can make man 

 happier by feeding him on nectar and reducing his 

 alimentary tract to the condition of the feed-pipe of a 

 motor cycle is doomed to a disillusion, for the greatest 

 zests of life are centred round the supply of our daily 

 wants — wants created by a robust digestive system. A 

 nectar-consuming ethereal mortal will never be a match 

 in any circumstance of life for the man or woman who 

 is blessed with a sound alimentary outfit, such as we 

 have inherited or should have inherited from long-past 

 ancestors. 



