1 94 Physiology. 



eating. Further, a warm soup stimulates the blood flow in 

 the mucous membrane, and thus prepares for more thorough 

 digestion. 



Desserts. Dessert and sweetmeats, following a meal, 

 are often helpful by further stimulating the secretion of the 

 glands. Nuts, which are not very digestible, are beneficial 

 if eaten sparingly. The agreeable taste stimulates the 

 salivary glands, and the saliva stimulates the gastric glands 

 to increased activity. The danger in taking dessert is that 

 the pleasing taste tempts us to continue eating after we 

 have had enough. Pie is usually hard to digest. 



The Bad Effects of Imperfect Mastication. If we swallow 

 food before it is thoroughly ground and mixed with the 

 saliva, the stomach and other parts of the digestive organs 

 will require much more, time to reduce the food to a liquid 

 form. Further, when eating hastily, we are very apt to 

 eat too much. Thus we may give the stomach a double 

 amount of material to handle, and the material may not be 

 half so well prepared as it should be. Of course the organs 

 suffer and break down if this treatment is continued. 



Effect of Repose on Digestion. Not only mastication, but 

 the whole process of digestion, goes on better when the 

 body and mind are at rest and in a peaceful condition, as 

 all the glands are under the control of the nervous system, 

 and are greatly influenced by the condition of the body. 

 During a meal, and for a short time before and after, all 

 thoughts of one's occupation, and especially all anxiety, 

 should be dismissed from the mind. For those whose 

 digestion is not strong, it is desirable to rest after each 

 meal. 



Conversation at Meals. During a meal there should be 

 conversation on topics of general interest. Talking at the 



