174 ANSWERS TO PRACTICAL QUESTIONS 



of drinking ice-water at a meal. Indeed, drinking of ice- 

 water under any circumstances is dangerous and hurtful. 

 If used at all, it should be carefully and slowly sipped, a 

 little at a time. 



8. Why is strong tea or coffee injurious ? 



The tannic acid acts unfavorably on the coatings of 

 the stomach.* The nervous system is over-stimulated, 

 and, when the reaction occurs, becomes correspondingly 

 depressed and weakened. The constant decay of the 

 body, so essential to its highest activity, is greatly re- 

 tarded. Wakefulness is often induced, and thus the 

 organs are deprived of that rest which is absolutely es- 

 sential. 



9. Should food or drink be taken hot ? 



The pepsine of the gastric juice, in order to produce its 

 effect, must have a moderately warm temperature, neither 

 too hot nor too cold. The gastric juice will not act upon 

 the food when near the freezing point of water, neither 

 will it have, any effect if raised to the neighborhood of a 

 boiling temperature. It must be intermediate between 

 the two; and its greatest activity is about 100 degrees 

 Fahrenheit, which is exactly the temperature of the in- 

 terior of the living stomach. DALTON'S Physiology, p. 103. 



10. Are fruit-cakes, rich pastry, and puddings healthful? 



(See BLACK'S Ten Laws of Health, p. 83, et seq.) 



They are too concentrated. They are not easily pene- 

 trated by the juices of the system, and hence are not 

 quickly digested. They stimulate the appetite, and so 



* Tea contains from 14 to 16 per cent, of this astringent substance, and 

 coffee not over 6 per cent. YOUMANS. 



