THE DIGESTION 21$ 



for digestion, about three or four hours have passed. A 

 portion of the starch and proteid has been digested and 

 a small amount of each absorbed by the blood vessels. 

 The fats have not yet been acted upon. 



384. It is essential that the part performed by each 

 prior organ should be well performed, for this determines 

 whether the changes in the food in the next organ shall 

 be easily and completely accomplished. If the food is 

 thoroughly masticated in the mouth and the saliva well 

 mixed with it, this alkaline condition excites the flow of the 

 acid gastric juice, which otherwise would be scanty. If 

 the gastric juice is strong and acts freely upon the food, the 

 acidity of the food as it leaves the stomach and enters 

 the small intestine, excites the flow of the alkaline intes- 

 tinal juices. 



385. THOUGHT LESSON. Indigestion. 



I. A Fetid Breath. 



1. Name three causes of bad breath. 



2. Let us investigate whether indigestion could cause a 

 bad breath. In what kind (two qualities) of weather does 

 meat spoil the quickest? 



3. Suppose that meat or other food is put into a stomach 

 with its gastric glands exhausted and its muscular walls 

 tired out, what will be the rate of digestion, and what 

 might happen to the food ? 



4. Odorous contents of the stomach (e. g. onion) can be 

 taken by the blood to the lungs. 



After answering mentally the above points, write in a 

 few words a logical statement of how indigestion may 

 cause a bad breath. 



II. A Coated or Foul Tongue. 



1. When the doctor visits you, at what does he first look ? 



2. What sometimes forms on old bread ? 



3. Do you think such a growth possible on undigested 

 food in the stomach ( 309)? 



