PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



power of attending to his affairs. In the afternoon he was 

 somewhat heavy his brain was not clear he was indis- 

 posed to look into his accounts, or to talk with his customers 

 upon matters of business; and he accomplished much less 

 during the; rest of the day, than he might have done if he 

 had allowed himself sufficient time for his dinner. This was 

 the first result; the second and remoter result is painful 

 dyspepsia, which now, after years of error, weighs heavily 

 upon him. 



142. It is common to notice this error at hotels, where 

 strangers gather. Travellers seem to be often compelled, 

 by the impatience of the coach or the railroad car, to 

 swallow their hasty meal with all possible speed ; and, unfor- 

 tunately, they too often continue the habit when the apparent 

 necessity ceases. The same hurry at meals is often seen in 

 the steamboats, and at public tables in the cities. In steam- 

 boats particularly, where the passengers, from morning till 

 night, have nothing to do but to eat, there is commonly man- 

 ifested an eager haste in swallowing food, as if all the 

 minutes spent at the table were lost, or worse than lost, and 

 the company were resolved to get away from it as soon as 

 possible. 



CHAPTER XV. 



Appetite allowed to accompany the Duty of Eating. Unwise to eat 

 for this alone. We eat too much for Appetite alone, and make 

 this the Means of Hospitality and social Enjoyment. Children's 

 Appetites pampered. All Indulgence of mere Appetite followed 

 by Suffering. 



143. IT is one of the proofs of the benevolence, as well as 

 the wisdom, of the generous Creator, that whatever duty is 

 required of us by the necessities of our nature, is also made 

 pleasant in the performance. Food is made necessary for 

 the support of the body, and appetite is given to make the 

 taking of that food a source of great pleasure. Here are 



