The physiology of digestion, considered with relation to the principles of dietetics / by Andrew Combe.

Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physiology of digestion, considered with relation to the principles of dietetics / by Andrew Combe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    eating very inj urious—Proper diet from childhood to puberty—It ought to bo full and nourishing, but riot stimulating — Often insufficient in boarding-schools— Scrofulous disoase from its deficiency— I Nutritious and restorative qualities of cod-liver oil—Diet best adapted for ma- ture age—Regimen powerful in modifying the constitution, mental as well as physi- cal—Farther investigation required—Diet of dyspeptics—Digestibility of different kinds of food—Instructive example of the operation of the causes of bad health in the prison of Nimes, . . . 150-166 CHAPTER XIV. ON DRINKS. Thirst the best guide in taking simple drinks—Thirst increased by diminution of the circulating fluids—The desire for li- quids generally an indication of their pro- priety—Much fluid is hurtful at meals— Most useful three or four hours later— The temperature of drinks is of conse- qnence—Curious fall of temperature in the stomach from cold water—Ices hurtful after dinner—useful in warm weather, when digestion is completed and caution used—Cold water more dangerous than ice when the body is over heated—Tepid drinks safest and most refreshing after perspiration—Kinds of drink—Water safe for every constitution—Danger from salts of lead, lime, and other impurities in wa- ter—Wine, spirits, and other fermented liquors too stimulating for general use, but beneficial in certain circumstances —Test of their utility—Reformation ef- fected by Temperance Societies, &c.— Hints for promoting the still greater suc- cess of their labours—Spirits not the best means of supporting the temperature of the body—Experience of travellers in the Arctic Regions—Experience of English fowlers—Effects of spirits on the stomach, 166-17? CHAPTER XV. ON THE PROPER REGULATION OF THE BOWELS. Functions of the intestines—The action of the bowels bears a natural relation to the kind of diet—Illustrations—And also to the state of tho excretions of other organs —Practical conclusions from this—Differ- ent causes of inactivity of the bowels— Natural aids to intestinal action—General neglect of them—Importance of healthy ?.ction of tho bowels—Bad health from their neglect—Importance of the excre- tion by the mucous membrane of tho bowels—Indications of the tongue—Cau- tion necessary in administering purga- tives—Use of air in the bowels—Influence of the brain on the bowels—Natural means preferable to purgatives—Proper use of the latter—.J ndicious management of the bowels peculiarly important at and for some years after puberty—Regularity of their action desirable—Influence of habit —Aids to weak action should vary with circumstances—Concluding remarks, 179-188 Index, 189-191 WOODCUTS. Lower Jaw, Page 16 Human Stomach 21 Thoracic and Abdominal Viscera, 24 Stomach of a Ruminating Animal, 25 Villous Coat of the Stomach 28 Abdominal Viscera, 82 Mucous Coat of the Duodenum 33 Lactcals and Thoracic Duct, Page 35 Thoracic Duct, 36 Section of a Villus of the Bowels 37 Contents of the Abdomen after removal of the Intestines, 39 Opening into the Stomach of Alexis St Martin, 13