152 ANATOMY FOR NURSES. [CHAP. XIII. 



necessary for the wants of the body in proper proportions, which 

 is agreeable to the individual, and which gives the minimum 

 amount of work to the digestive organs. 1 



Food to be of any use to the body must be digested and 

 assimilated. We may partake of an ideal diet and yet remain 

 imperfectly nourished, if our digestive organs are out of order, 

 or our power to absorb and assimilate digested products in any 

 way impaired. In our next chapter we shall describe the ali- 

 mentary canal, the accessory digestive organs, and the methods 

 by means of which the food is reduced to a condition available 

 for the uses of the body. 



1 For valuable information on the relative value of foods and preparation of 

 the same for the sick, the student is referred to Eoland's " Handbook of Invalid 

 Cookery." 



