DIGESTION. 89 



control ; and the subsequent acts of digestion are conse- 

 quently involuntary and unconsciously performed. 



19. It is generally known that rapid eating interferes 

 with digestion. How does this occur ? In the first place, 

 in rapid eating, the flow of the saliva is insufficient to 

 moisten the solid parts of the food, so that they remain too 

 hard and dry to be easily swallowed. This leads to the 

 free and frequent use of water, or some other beverage, at 

 meals, to " wash down" the food, a most pernicious prac- 

 tice. For these fluids, not only cannot take the place of 

 the natural digestive juices, but, on the contrary, dilute 

 and weaken them. 



20. Secondly, the saliva being largely the medium of the 

 sense of taste, the natural flavors of the food are not devel- 

 oped, and consequently it appears comparatively insipid. 

 Hence the desire for high-seasoned food, and pungent 

 sauces, that both deprave the taste and over excite the 

 digestive organs. Rapid eating also permits the entrance 

 of injurious substances which may escape detection by the 

 taste, and be unconsciously received into the system. In 

 some instances, the most acrid and poisonous substances 

 have frequently been swallowed " by mistake," before the 

 sense of taste could act, and demand their rejection. 



21. Thirdly, the food, being imperfectly broken up by 

 the teeth, is hurried onward to the stomach, to be by it 

 more thoroughly divided. But the task thus imposed upon 

 the stomach, it is not at all adapted to perform ; so that the 

 crude masses of food remain a heavy burden within the 

 stomach, and a source of distress to that organ, retarding 

 the performance of its legitimate duty. Hence persons 

 who habitually eat too rapidly, frequently fall victims to 

 dyspepsia. Rapid eating also conduces to overeating. 

 The food is introduced so rapidly, that the system has not 



19. Rapid eating? Describe the process and effects. 



20. Loss of taste? Another effect of rapid eating? Mistakes? 



21. Effect of imperfectly broken food in the stomach * Dyspepsia? Over- 

 eating ? 



