THE HOME DOCTOR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 242, 16 November 1914, Page 4

THE HOME DOCTOR.

DIGESTION AND NERVOUS" SYSTEM. It is astonishing to one who has not studied the subject thoughtfully to learn how completely under the control of the nervous system, or rather of the emotions, the entire digestive apparatus is. ~

It is a matter of everyday experience that the appetite is under the subjection of the feelings, although not of the will. The impulse to "celebrate?' any good news by a dinner is founded upon the fact that when one is pleased and elated, hunger is excited. In early times this hunger was gratified on the moment—just as the accompanying thirst too often is now; but the modern man usually defers his eating to a suitable occasion.

The loss of appetite caused by bad news or misfortune of any kind is too well-known to need more than mention. Worry or physical fatigue will often

act in the same way. The same causes that destroy the appetite will arrest 01 greatly retard the process of digestion.

It is a matter of common experience that any disagreeable occurrence during, or just after, a meal will; stop, digestion, and may bring on a.bilious attack, with headache, nausea, and a coated tongue. Concentration of the mind or anxiety will act in the same way. On the other as the appetite is stimulated by good news and mental elation, so digestion is M favoured by whatever promotes , gaiety {■ and high spirits. " Laugh- and grow; £it, ' '! .... like so many popular sayings, is an expression which contains much truth. Dyspepsia is a malady that "Will seldom be found'in the family where the dinner gives occasion for cheerful talk and mirth, and where all worry and "disgruntlement,'' and especially ling, are under a ban. . Every member of the family should make it an absolute rule to put worry and -all thoughts of business or study aside for the moment," and to come to the table prepared to be light-hearted and gay. This is not only a moral duty, but rests upon the very physical reason that his appetite will be better and his food will taste better, and will be better digested. In this connection it goes without saying that bills and disagreeable letters should never he the accompaniment of the morning meal, because a day started with chagrin is a very, hard day to straighten out.