DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION. 115 



ratus is weak or disordered, it becomes the seat of almost 

 constant pain and discomfort. The appetite is lost, the 

 strength fails, the nerves become irritable, and the brain is 

 clouded. It is important, therefore, to know what helps or 

 hinders it. 



HINDEBANCBS TO DIGESTION. 



1. Eating too fast. In this case, the food is taken down 

 without being prepared by chewing. 



2. Strong excitement. Sudden fear, anger, or grief takes 

 away the appetite, and stops the flow of the digestive 

 juices. 



s. Great fatigue. No careful horse-owner will feed his 

 animal immediately when he comes in tired and heated. 

 Food swallowed under such circumstances will be digested 

 with difficulty by a man or a horse. 



4- Mental effort. It is not well to read, or to study during 

 a meal. The mind should be at rest, and some degree 

 of attention should be given to the food. 



5. Too much food. Evidently there is a limit to the 

 amount of food that can be digested. The stomach may 

 be so full that it can not easily move its contents. The 

 quantity may be so great that the digestive fluids can not 

 fully permeate them. Those parts of the mass which are 

 not digested will soon decompose, producing acidity, and 

 a pressure of gas. 



6. Too much liquid ivith food. A good deal of water is 

 directly absorbed. But, when too much is taken, some 

 remains in the stomach, and so dilutes the gastric juice, 

 that it is weakened. 



7. Very cold substances, as ice-water, taken with food, will 

 sometimes stop digestion. The gastric juice acts best in a 



