Hygiene of Digestion. 203 



rious waste matter that is produced in our bodies by the 

 imperfect oxidation when alcohol is present. Finally, 

 alcohol interferes with the excretion of waste matter; 

 and this process would go on more slowly than before, 

 even if there were not more waste matter to be thrown 

 off. So, from first to last, alcohol is capable of doing 

 great harm to the process of nutrition. This is true of 

 nutrition in the bodies of grown persons, and still more 

 marked in the young, where nutrition should go on more 

 actively because new tissues should be built. 



Summary. i . During digestion a large supply of blood is required 

 in the digestive organs. 



2. Muscular workj immediately after eating, interferes with digestion 

 by calling the blood away to the muscles. 



3. Hard study, right after a hearty meal, hinders digestion in the 

 same way. 



4. Soup is a good beginning of a hearty meal, as it is more readily 

 absorbed than solid food. 



5. Desserts, in moderate quantity, are useful in stimulating the 

 glands which supply the digestive liquids. 



6. Hot drink at meals aids weak digestion. 



7. Imperfect mastication leads to eating too much, and throws too 

 much work upon the other organs of digestion. 



8. A calm condition of the nervous system favors digestion. 



9. Conversation on cheerful topics is favorable to digestion. 



10. Three meals a day are best for most persons. 



1 1 . For persons hurried in the middle of the day it is often better 

 to take the chief meal at the close of the day's work. 



12. Meals should be regular, and one should not eat between meals. 



13. There is much intemperance in eating. 



14. Fat, as tissue, is stored food. 



15. The cells depend on the lymph for their nourishment, and the 

 lymph is supplied by the digested food. 



1 6. The blood is a mixture of good and bad material ; each organ, 

 in health, selects from the blood what it needs, the tissues taking 

 nourishment, and the organs of excretion removing the waste 

 matters. 



