76 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



. 101. Fermentation in the stomach. The stomach cannot be 

 abused in any way without suffering in all its actions. It gives expres- 

 sion to its suffering by pain, headache, heart beating, and a host of other 

 bad feelings. It makes the whole body weak and sick. Its imperfect 

 action also permits fermentation to go on, which makes the food sour. 

 Living germs like those producing alcohol and vinegar are continually 

 being eaten. In health, the acid of the gastric juice destroys them, 

 but when anything weakens the acid or prevents it from reaching the 

 germs, they grow and produce vinegar and other acids, and also gases. 

 The result is a sour stomach and " wind on the stomach," which comes 

 up and out of the mouth as though it were vomited. This is a sign 

 of indigestion. 



The gas distends the stomach and presses it against the heart, so that 

 the beats are felt ; and then the heart and not the stomach receives the 

 blame. A sour stomach is at first the result of improper action, not the 

 cause ; but, once developed, it may cause a greater disturbance, and 

 then there is only a step to actual stomach disease. 



102. Drinking while eating. A great part of the work 

 of digestion consists in mixing food with water. When 

 dry food is eaten, the gastric juice must be produced in 

 large amount before digestion can begin. A glass or two 

 of water, either alone or with tea or coffee, aids the action 

 of the gastric juice. If the water is not used in place of 

 saliva in moistening the food, or is not employed to hasten 

 the act of swallowing food, drinking during meals will be 

 beneficial. Many drink too little liquid. 



103. Hot or cold food. Food either too hot or too cold 

 hinders the production and action of the gastric juice and 

 disturbs peristalsis, so that the movements of the stomach 

 may not resume their natural course until a long time after 

 the temperature of the food becomes that of the body. 

 A glass of ice water may remain perceptibly cold to the 

 stomach for from one quarter to half an hour, and its 

 effects upon the movements of digestion may last much 

 longer. 



