230 MICROBES AND HEALTH. 



in, and those preparing such treatment could command 

 their millions. Ball playing, Indian-club swinging, 

 the use of light dumb-bells, the playground with its 

 sunshine and pure air, or gliding over the dancing 

 waters in boats, are better than medicines, tonics, bit- 

 ters, pills, powders, patents, and poor whisky. Eemem- 

 ber, the three great physicians of nature are fresh air, 

 pure water, and sunshine. 



When the stomach is irritable through indigestion, 

 the condition is reflected to the brain and other organs 

 through the connecting nerve-fibers. This weaves a 

 thread of disorder which may baffle human skill. This 

 condition produces many imaginary ailments, the 

 <r blues," melancholy, irritability, etc. These cases do 

 not need medicine. It is as absurd to treat such cases 

 with medicine as it would be to give medicine for lame- 

 ness caused by a sliver driven into the hand. The 

 stomach needs a rest and freedom from all irritating 

 substances just as much as the hand needs to have the 

 sliver 'removed. Any quack can dose a dyspeptic with 

 -cathartic pills and whisky-bitters, but it takes a pro- 

 found physiologist and a good cook to prepare food for 

 a diseased stomach. 



All starchy foods should be cooked for a much longer 

 time than usual. We read that bread is the staff of 

 life, but as stated, there is nothing said about dough. 



Many cases of dyspepsia can be cured by eating 

 slowly. It may be interesting to know that a glass of 

 ice-water lowers the temperature of the stomach thirty 

 degrees, and this has a powerful effect in checking 

 digestion, and in producing shock. 



Alcohol is the greatest producer of dyspepsia. 



