36 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



CHAPTER VII. 



Fluids drunk with Food impede Digestion. Stomach acts more 

 easily on a large than on a minute Quantity of Food. Meat bet- 

 ter digested if mixed with Vegetables. Gastric Juice mixes 

 easily with light, but not with heavy Bread. Light Bread soaks 

 readily in Water, but heavy Bread does not. 



59. THE first work of the stomach in digestion is to get 

 rid of all the fluid which has been swallowed with the food. 

 In fifty minutes after Martin had dined on vegetables, soup, 

 beef, and bread, Dr. Beaumont found that the fluid portion 

 had been absorbed and carried away from the stomach, and 

 the remainder was of a thicker consistence than usual, after 

 a more solid food had been taken. This is necessary, in or- 

 der that the gastric juice shall not be diluted and weakened, 

 and its power of dissolving the food diminished. 



60. Drink taken with food, then, must either reduce the 

 power of the gastric juice, or postpone the work of digestion 

 until the stomach shall have relieved itself of this needless 

 matter, and in either case, suspend the digestive process. 

 It is a common notion that those who have weak stomachs 

 should take weak broths, soups, teas, &,c., which seem to 

 require less effort of digestion. But this is not always good 

 advice. These liquids may require more effort, and are, 

 therefore, inappropriate food for many of the feeble. 



61. The natural secretions of the mouth afford sufficient 

 fluid to aid in the grinding and softening the food, and to 

 prepare it for swallowing ; and the gastric juice in the stom- 

 ach is sufficient for its solution there. Upon this principle, 

 tea, coffee, or water with our meals cannot be of advantage. 

 Dr. Warren says, " The quantity of drink required for 

 health and comfort is very small. In cold weather, a pint 

 of liquid in twenty-four hours is sufficient; in the hot seasons, 

 this quantity may be increased ; but this increase is rarely 

 ne^essury when a reasonable amount of fruit can be ob- 



