FOOD. 105 



blood has now acquired those nutrient properties from which it secretes 

 the new particles of matter adapted to supply the waste of the different 

 textures of the body. 



\Vhen food is received into the stomach, the secretion of the gastric 

 juice immediately commences ; and when a full meal has been taken, thi- 

 secretion generally lasts for about an hour. It is a law of vital action, that 

 when any living organ is called into play, there is immediately an increased 

 flow of blood and nervous energy toward it. The stomach, while secreting 

 its fluid, displays this phenomenon, and the consequence is, that the blood 

 and nervous energy are called away from other organs. This is the ca 

 of that chilliness. at the extremities which we often feel after eating heartily. 

 So great is the demand which the stomach thus makes upon the rest of 

 the system, that, during and for some time after a meal, we are not in a 

 condition to take strong exercise of any kind. Both body and mind are 

 inactive and languid. They are so, simply because that which supports 

 muscular and mental activity is concentrated for the time upon the organs 

 of digestion. This is an arrangement of nature which a regard to health 

 requires that we should not interfere with. We should indulge in the mus- 



r <nid mental repose which is demanded: and this should last for 

 much less than an hour after every meal. In that time the secretion of gas- 

 tric juice is nearly finished ; the new nutriment begins to tell upon the 

 general circulation ; and we are again fit for active exertion. The consc- 

 ience of not observing this rule is very hurtful. Strong exercise, or 

 mental application during or immediately after a meal, diverts the tlo\v 

 of nervous energy and of blood to the stomach, and the process of dL 

 tion is necessarily retarded or stopped. Confusion is thus introduced into 

 system, and a tendency to the terrible calamity of dyspepsia is 

 perhaps established. 



For the same reason that repose is requited after a meal, it isn 

 in some measure, for a little while before. At the moment when \\v li 

 concluded a uscular task, such, for example, as a lon^ walk, the flow 



of nerrous energy and of circulation is strongly directed bo the muscular 

 system. It m pares some time to allow this Mow to stop and - md 



till tlii- tak.-s plae.-, it i> n<>t proper (< brini: the itomacfa ln|0 

 tin- d'-mand it makes when tilled would not in that case be an- 



ii^e.i in eioae mental application, th nervocu enei 



ilatiun UMIIL,' in that ca-r diivetrd tu the brain. ri^ht all at 



to call another and distant ori;an into play ; some tim.-U ivipiired to 

 allow of the en.'iLfv and eiiculatinn lirin^ prepared to take the new direc- 

 tion, i- l.e laid d..wn a- a maxim, fha', n $ko 



