HYGIENE OP DIGESTION AND ABSOEPTION 145 



again be absorbed, taken to the liver and so on indefinitely, 

 or until the power of removal of the liver is exhausted. 

 The only way in which this can be avoided is for the bilo 

 which contains them to be carried into the large intestine 

 and out with the faeces. It is this fact that makes regular 

 operations of the bowels necessary and makes constipation 

 dangerous. In severe cases of constipation stimulants 

 which increase peristalsis, and thus induce defsecation, are 

 often given, but it must be borne in mind that all such rem- 

 edies are purely stimulants and should be resorted to only 

 under the advice of a physician. Regularity and care in 

 diet will make their use unnecessary in most cases. 



Hygiene of Digestion and Absorption. 



The body requires the digestion and absorption of a cer- 

 tain amount of each kind of nutrient daily. (See p. 70.) 

 If the amount of food taken by a person in a day is only a 

 little in excess of what is required, this excess is readily 

 taken care of by the action of the bowels. If, however, 

 too much is taken, the intestines become clogged and over- 

 worked, the food is not properly digested, poisons are de- 

 veloped and not removed, and all the evils of biliousness 

 and indigestion follow. For this reason a balanced, 

 moderate diet, taken at regular intervals, becomes abso- 

 lutely necessary to a satisfactory operation of the digestive 

 and absorbent system. Americans are especially prone to 

 over-eat, and many ,of the ills of our nation have their 

 source in this intemperance in eating. 



EDDY. PHYS. — 10. 



