128 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



of the body, but this view is not founded upon definite 

 experiments. The nervous system of children is easily 

 impressed by tea and coffee, and their bodies cannot stand 

 the stimulation and extra work which these substances 

 induce. When long and fatiguing work must be done or 

 great exposure endured, then tea and coffee are valuable 

 stimulants. 



206. Adaptation of man's stomach to certain foods. - 

 Green vegetables, fruit, and grass contain the proper 

 quantities of food elements to support man's life, but 

 man cannot digest them readily. Lower animals eat the 

 food and expend their digestive energies on it ; finally, 

 when man eats it in the form of milk, eggs, or meat, it 

 needs but little further digestion. 



SUMMARY 



1. Grain is the main source of vegetable food. 



2. Grain albumin, or gluten, is digested at more expense 



of time and energy than the albumin of animal food. 



3. Grain food contains much starch, and must be eaten 



to supply this element. 



4. Grain food is more liable to ferment than animal food. 



5. Bread is the form of grain most available for digestion. 



6. Boiled preparations of grain contain the same food 



elements as bread. 



7. The most valuable of the grains which are usually 



eaten boiled are rice, cracked wheat, corn meal, and 

 oatmeal. 



8. Cake and biscuit may be considered as forms of bread. 



9. Beans and peas are rich in albumin and starch, but 



require a great deal of energy in their digestion. 

 IO. Potatoes are poor in albumin but rich in starch. Their 

 digestion requires much energy. 



