352 DETAILED SYNTHESIS. 



1070. Nothing is more easily observable than that 

 the state of THE MIND INFLUENCES DIGESTION ; pleasant 

 emotions, a relish of food, and an undistracted, unbur- 

 dened mind facilitate digestion, while gloom, depres- 

 sion, anger, nervousness, and anxiety heavily impede it. 



1071. Remark. It MAY BE THOUGHT IMPOSSIBLE to know what 

 takes place in the stomach during digestion. In the year 1822, in the 

 State of Michigan, a young man named St. Martin, serving in our army, 

 was injured by the accidental discharge of a gun, the muzzle of which 

 was about a yard from his body. The buckshot tore open his side, lacer- 

 ating his lung and stomach. He fell into the hands of Dr. Beaumont, 

 by whose aid he recovered, leaving, however, an irregular opening into 

 his stomach, about an inch and a half in diameter, that adhered to his 

 side in such a manner that food could be put into or taken out of the 

 stomach, and the organ examined under various circumstances. He 

 lived with Dr. B. two years, whose account of the case is deeply inter- 

 esting and profitable. St. Martin, however, fearing the experiments 

 would affect his health, plunged into the depths of Canada, and was lost 

 sight of till the railroads brought him to light a few years since, when he 

 was alive and well, and went to Europe to exhibit himself, the aperture 

 never having closed. 



1072. Remark. DR. BEAUMONT MADE only a series of physical ob- 

 servations and experiments, yet he conclusively determined many impor- 

 tant facts : that different substances, and different methods of cooking 

 them, require different times for digestion; that partially masticated 

 food is tedious in digesting, and often irritates and inflames the stomach ; 

 that, indeed, thorough mastication is one of the most important steps 

 toward health ; that food not needed is not digested, and soon deranges 

 the stomach ; that a hearty appetite and moderate distension of the 

 stomach, combined, favor digestion ; that moderate exercise facilitates 

 digestion, while active exercise of either muscles or brain as surely re- 

 tards it ; that sleep immediately after eating is not advantageous ; that 

 ill-temper or other ill dispositions check the entire digestory action, 

 which, after a time, goes on again, but not perfectly ; that too much 

 liquid with food retards digestion ; that the frequent use of alcoholics, 

 wine, cider, etc., invariably inflames the stomach ; that the stomach is 

 not sensitive when touched, and may even be so diseased as to bleed 

 without exciting pain ! Other experiments and observations upon man 

 and animals, since those of Dr. B., have also still further and more 

 clearly shown the true nature and use of the first process of digestion. 



1070. Does ? 1071. What -? Describe the case of St Martin. 1072. 

 what? How many points did bo dfterminc ? 



