64 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



more than is needed in mature years. And not only is it not 

 needed, but it is a burden to the system, and imposes nn in- 

 jurious tax upon the powers of the stomach to digest it. As 

 soon, therefore, as the body ceases to grow, the diet should 

 be reduced from the fulness of youth, and accommodated .to 

 the more limited wants, of the system. Convalescents, very 

 properly, eat a greater quantity while they are recovering lost 

 flesh, in order to meet the new conditions, and supply the 

 new wants of the system ; but the moment they have 

 regained their usual fulness, they should return to their 

 usual diet. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Quantity of Food determined by the Wants of the System and the 



digestive Power. Measured thus only when we eat slowly 



Each one must judge for himself how much he shall eat. Excess 

 of Food oppresses and weakens. Due Quantity strengthens. 

 Time saved by hasty Eating more than lost by Oppression after- 

 ward. Rapid Eating at Hotels and on Steamboats. 



133. IT has been shown, ( 39, 40, pp. 25, 26) that, when 

 the whole system is in good health, the digestive powers of the 

 stomach correspond to the nutritive wants of the body ; that, 

 when the body is in want of nourishment, the stomach pre- 

 pares, or is ready to prepare, gastric juice sufficient to dissolve 

 as much food as is needed, and no more; and that this quan- 

 tity of gastric juice gives us the measure of the food which 

 should at anytime be taken. If we could then ascertain this 

 quantity of gastric juice, we should have no difficulty in 

 determining the requisite amount of food. In St. Martin 

 ( 35, p. 23) the flow of this juice could be seen through the 

 aperture, and its quantity ascertained ; but we can only obtain 

 this knowledge by carefully watching our own sensations. 



134. When the body wants nourishment, and the stomach 

 is ready to pour out gastric juice and digest it, there is a sensa- 

 tion of hunger, (< 42, p. 27;) and this sensation continues as 



