1 90 PHYSIOLOGY. 



Hygiene of Digestion. A prime requisite for a good 

 digestion is a tranquil condition of the whole body, 

 especially of the nervous system. We see that the blood 

 must be massed in the digestive organs at the time of 

 digestion. As there is a limited amount of blood in the 

 body, it is evident that if more is sent to one part, other 

 parts must at the time receive less. If we try to study 

 hard immediately after eating, we are calling the blood 

 away from the organs of digestion, and to that extent in- 

 terfering with the process of digestion. If we exercise 

 the muscles too vigorously soon after eating, we call the 

 blood to the muscles, and so call it away from the stomach 

 and intestines. If, after prolonged study, one is unable to 

 obtain sleep, it may sometimes be efficacious and very de- 

 sirable to eat a little of some very simple food for the pur- 

 pose of drawing off the blood to the stomach, and thus 

 relieving the brain. A little muscular exercise may ac- 

 complish the same result, or a footbath may be employed. 

 For many persons it would probably be better to take a 

 simple lunch than to go to bed hungry, although one 

 should be careful not to abuse the stomach. 



It is exceedingly difficult to lay down general rules in 

 regard to diet. To a certain extent each person must be 

 a law unto himself, for what agrees well with one may act 

 almost as a poison to another. Moderation should always 

 be observed, especially in taking foods to which we are 

 not accustomed. 



Solid Foods digest Slowly. Suppose one were to sit 

 down to eat dinner when ravenously hungry. If in such a 

 condition one begins with solid food, he is likely to eat too 

 fast. Hunger is a demand of the system for food. It 

 takes some time for solid food to go through all the pro- 



