HUNGER AND THIEST. 15 



of nutritive principles. Its first manifestations are, perhaps, 

 best expressed by the term appetite ; a sensation by no means 

 disagreeable, and one which may be excited by the sight, 

 smell, or even the recollection of savory articles, at times 

 when it does not absolutely depend on a want in the system. 

 In the ordinary and moderate development of the appetite, it 

 is impossible to say that the sensation is located in any dis- 

 tinct part or organ. It is influenced in some degree by habit ; 

 in many persons, the feeling being experienced at or near 

 the hours when food is ordinarily taken. If not soon grati- 

 fied, the appetite is rapidly intensified until it becomes 

 actual hunger. Except when the quantity of food taken is 

 unnecessarily large, the appetite simply disappears on the 

 introduction of food into the stomach, and gives place to the 

 sense of satisfaction which accompanies the undisturbed and 

 normal action of the digestive organs ; or, in those who are in 

 the habit of engaging in absorbing occupations at that time, 

 the only change experienced is the absence of desire for food. 

 The sense of oppression and fulness which attends over-dis- 

 tension of the stomach is simply superadded to the feeling of 

 satisfaction of the appetite, and is not a necessary part of it. 



In man, the appetite is usually manifested in a marked 

 degree at least twice, and generally three times, in the 

 twenty-four hours. In this country, food is commonly taken 

 three times daily. In childhood, when the system demands 

 material, not only for the repair of worn-out parts, but for 

 growth, food is generally taken oftener and in larger rela- 

 tive quantity than in the adult. The infant should satisfy 

 the appetite at least six or seven times in the twenty-four 

 hours ; and nothing has a more serious influence upon the 

 development of the growing child than bad quality or a 

 restricted quantity of food. 



It has been observed that children and old persons en- 

 dure deprivation of food by no means so well as adults. 

 This fact was noted by M. Savigny in the case of the wreck 

 of the frigate Medusa. After the wreck, one hundred and fifty 



