ces which burn up carbohydrates and fats.

The time taken in the digestion of foods was first studied through a wound
in the stomach of St. Martin, a Canadian. Experiments were made with
various well-masticated foods, and with similar foods placed unchewed, into
the stomach through the wound, the latter experiment being carried out by
millions of people at every meal, by a slightly different route.

Boiled food is more easily digested than fried or roasted (the frying pan
should be anathema to a neuropath); lean meat than fat; fresh than salt;
hot meat than cold; full-grown than young animals, though the latter are
more tender; white flesh than red; while lean meat is made less, and fat
meat more digestible, by salting or broiling. Oily dishes, hashes, stews,
pastries and sweetmeats are hard to digest. Bread should be stale, and
toasted crisply _right through_. The time, compared with the thoroughness
of digestion, is of little importance, as it varies widely within
physiologic bounds.

Most people fancy that the more they eat the stronger they become, whereas
the digestion of all food beyond that actually needed to repair the waste
due to physical and mental effort consumes priceless nerve energy, and
weakens one. The greater part of excessive food has literally to be _burnt
away_ by the body, which causes great strain, mainly on the muscles. The
question is not: "How much can I eat?" but: "How much do I need?"

* * * * *

CHAPTER XII

INDIGESTION

"We know how dismal the world looks during a fit of indigestion, and
what a host of evils disappear as the abused stomach regains its tone.
Indigestion has lead to the loss of battles; it has caused many crimes,
and inspired much sulphurous theology, gloomy poetry and bitter
satire."--Hollander.

The nervous dyspeptic suffers no marked pain, but often feels a "sinking",
has no appetite, and cannot enjoy life because his stomach, though sound,
does not get enough nerve-force to run it properly.

A great deal of nerve-force is required for digestion, and if a man comes
to the table exhausted, bolts his food, uses nerve-force scheming while he
is bolting, and, immediately he has bolted a given amount, rushes off to
work, digestion is imperfectly performed, nutriment is not assimilated, the
nerve-force supply becomes deficient. He continues to overdraw his account
in spite of the doctor's warning, and stomachic bankrupt