DIGESTION AND FOOD. 71 



kinds, not because the food is nutritive, not because they 

 are hungry and need it, but on account of the inviting flavor 

 of the dishes. Our argument to our guests is not, " You are 

 hungry, and this will strengthen you," but, " This is pleas- 

 ant to the appetite, and you will for a moment enjoy it." 



149. The appetite is made the means, and the stomach is 

 compelled to bear the burden, of much of our enjoyments, 

 and of our hospitality. Men manifest their love for their 

 friends by offering them delicious food, by inviting, and even 

 urging, them to partake of what their systems do not need, 

 and their powers of digestion cannot easily bear. And, in 

 this earnest and well-intentioned endeavor to make their 

 hearts glad, they give their stomachs pain and disease. There 

 is a great proneness among mankind to make many occasions 

 of public and private festivity. There is a strong inclina- 

 tion, when men gather together for enjoyment, in whatever 

 way, whether for dancing, or conversation, or for the cele- 

 bration of a public and joyful event, to add to the social 

 pleasure the luxuries of good and plentiful eating. And the 

 very means they use to signify their present joy, is the source 

 of future suffering in a greater or less degree, in proportion to 

 their disobedience of the law of nutrition. 



150. With children, the wants of nutrition appear first, 

 before all other wants ; the appetite for food predominates- 

 over other desires, and is ever seeking for gratification. This 

 seems to be the readiest means of pleasing them ; it is there- 

 fore frequently appealed to by those who wish to give them 

 pleasure. Delicacies of many sorts fruits, cakes, confec- 

 tionery are offered them by those kind-hearted but indis- 

 creet friends, and too often by their parents and, nurses, as a 

 means of soothing pain or assuaging grief, or even pacifying 

 anger, or winning approbation. 



151. Men and women of every age, as well as children, 

 generally consider it a proper and harmless privilege to in- 

 dulge this appetite when delicacies invite, and when oppor- 

 tunities offer. Some few of them are epicures, and, finding 

 daily opportunities, always eat to oppressive fulness. But 



