76 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



159. If any other organ or system be put in violent exer- 

 cise, or in a state of high excitement, immediately or soon 

 after the meal is eaten, the digestion is interrupted, or 

 even suspended. A striking experiment was tried by a gen- 

 tleman in England. He gave to several hounds as much 

 food as they could eat, and then put some of them into a 

 kennel where they had no opportunity of motion ; the others 

 were put upon the chase, and kept running in hot pursuit of 

 game for an hour or more. At the end of this period, he 

 killed some of both classes, and examined their stomachs. 

 He found the food in the stomachs of those dogs, which had 

 been running, in the same condition as when first swallowed ; 



it had remained unchanged. But in the stomachs of the 

 others, which had been at rest, it was digested and converted 

 into pulpy chyme, and had gone mostly out of the stomach 

 into the alimentary canal. 



160. It may not be necessary that we should sleep, like 

 the Spaniard, after our dinner, but it is necessary, for per- 

 fect digestion of the food, and effectual nutrition of the body, 

 that we do not, like the running hounds, engage in violent 

 exercise at that time. Indeed, all active labor immediately 

 after eating, interferes with digestion, and of course with the 

 purposes of the meal ; and this interruption must be in pro- 

 portion to the activity of the motion. If violent exercise 

 suspends entirely the work of the stomach, exercise less 

 laborious will interfere with it in some degree. Yet abso- 

 lute rest or sleep is not necessary. Dr. Beaumont says, 

 "Gentle exercise facilitates the digestion of food." In the 

 course of an hour from the meal, the gastric juice is sent into 

 the stomach, sufficient for the digestion, and is completely 

 mixed with the food. Then we may proceed to active em- 

 ployment, without fear of disturbing the digestive process. 



161. When any of the organs or limbs have been greatly 

 exercised, there come a fatigue in that part which has 

 labored, and a lassitude in the whole frame; and then none 

 of our powers are disposed to active exertion; all want rest. 

 When the fireman's feet are fatigued with running a long 



