242 UNCONSCIOUS NERVOUS OPERATIONS 



brane of mouth and stomach, nor so cold as to retard the 

 digestive processes, which normally require a temperature 

 of about 100 F. (38 C. ). Ice water should never be 

 drunk, both because of the impurities usually found in 

 the ice, and because its coldness is injurious to the stom- 

 ach. Very large quantities of any liquid taken with the 

 food may dilute the gastric juice so much as to delay 

 digestion and weaken the organs. 



352. It is well to establish and adhere to regular hours 

 for meals. The intervals between meals should be long 

 enough to permit the digestive organs to rest between 

 their periods of activity, and fresh food should not be 

 taken into the stomach to mix with that partly digested ; 

 that is, "eating between meals" is to be avoided. A 

 habit of continually nibbling at dainties is extremely per- 

 nicious, and may give rise to serious and perhaps incur- 

 able disease. 



353. A considerable variety in diet is wholesome, but as 

 a rule one should adhere to the simpler and more easily 

 digested kinds of food. A person in health is scarcely 

 conscious of possessing a stomach, but injudicious indul- 

 gence may so disorder the natural processes that they will 

 be constantly attended with discomfort or suffering. 



354. It is impossible to prescribe definite rules for the 

 quantity of food to be taken daily. A strictly natural 

 appetite is undoubtedly a safe guide ; but appetite is so 

 often and so early perverted that it is seldom reliable. 

 Food enough must be taken to supply the daily waste of 

 tissues. Continuous loss of weight is usually a seriously 

 unfavorable symptom. During the natural period of 

 growth the amount of food must be sufficient to supply 

 also what is needed for the full development of the body. 

 One living a life of physical activity requires, as a rule, 



