DENTITION AND DIET. 13fl 



of weak stomachs and dyspepsia are those who live on dainty 

 '\nands, and seldom, if ever, distend that organ to a healthy 

 capacity ^vith coarse material. Consider, for a moment, the con- 

 dition of Spanish and Italian peasants. They have not much of 

 our national disease (dyspepsia) among them. The bread that 

 they ea^ is made of coarse material ; yet with that, and the addition 

 of a little oil, wine, and a few vegetables, they can indure greater 

 fatigue, and often carry a heavier burden than he who lives on 

 more concentrated food. We may distend the horse's stomach 

 witli oxiarse food, and, perhaps, not impair its function so much a.s 

 when overburdened wi:h meal and concentrated food. 



The stomiich must be made to work for a living once in 

 awhile. Hard work agrees with it, and coarse fodder stimulate. 

 and develops its latent powers, and augments the gastric secretion, 

 which is the active solvent of the food. Labor operates on the 

 Btomach in the same manner and in the same ratio that it does 

 on the brain or muscles — increases their capacity. Compare, for 

 example, the brawny arm of the mechanic with that of the count- 

 in"--house clerk, or the powerful muscles of the truck and farm- 

 horse with those of the pet saddle-horse. This comes of work, 

 hard work. See the king of birds, the eagle, towering above and 

 beyond the sight and ken of man, darting, with almost lightning 

 speed, from mountain to valley, buffeting the rude shocks of 

 heaven's artillery. He acquires strength of muscle and wing by 

 extraordinary exertion and desperate feats of flight. Afler the 

 Kime fiishion we develop the mental faculties, augment protracted 

 mental labor, close thought, and study, light up the iutellectual 

 nature of man, and develop the latent powers of his brain ; and 

 the more his mind acquires, the greater and more varied are its 



powers. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that the various f mctiona 

 of the body require periods of rest; for, slioul J a horse be perriit- 

 ted to stand up to a full crib, and spend the greater part of t e 

 day and night in cramming his stomach, disease, sooner or later 

 must surely occur. The same is true as regards man. Let an 

 indivi<lual gormandize through the day, and then indulge in a 

 late supper, and continue the practice, he soon acquires a sympa- 

 thetic headache, or the stomach grows refractory, and casts up the 

 burden, for the simple reason tliat its function is overtaxed. It 

 must have rest. The same rule applies t^ the muscular and men- 



