CHAPTER XXVI 

 THE HYGIENE OF NUTRITION 



In the last chapter it has been shown that the diet 

 must conform to certain requirements. It must furnish 

 sufficient protein and it must be adequate as a fuel 

 supply. It has been shown that kind as well as quantity 

 of protein must be considered. Obscure needs must be 

 met by suitable offerings of extractive substances and 

 salts. There must be plenty of water. It remains to 

 speak of still other matters related to individual nutrition. 



We need to remind ourselves that nutritional dis- 

 turbances may arise from conditions not directly con- 

 nected with the diet. Chief among these are mental 

 states. A brief period of agitation may easily lead to 

 an indigestion. From what has been said of the nervous 

 government of the alimentary tract this should not 

 excite surprise. The failure to enjoy a meal is likely 

 to mean a failure of gastric secretion or at least a delay 

 in its establishment. The motor reactions of the stomach 

 may also be interfered with. When the gastric, juice 

 fails to make its appearance the food is decomposed by 

 bacteria instead of being digested in the normal way. 

 Products may be formed which are sufficiently poisonous 

 to cause nausea, or the effects may be more in the line 

 of gas formation with pain. 



When the working of the system is upset the stomach 

 contents may be retained for many hours instead of 

 being passed to the intestine. When they do reach the 

 lower part of the canal they are still subject to bacterial 

 decomposition and the products continue to cause 

 trouble. If the normal absorption is delayed, fermenta- 

 tion runs riot in the intestine and pain and flatulence 

 are to be expected. If nitrogenous food reaches the 



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