General laws of organic activity apply to the stomach as well as to other parts--Increased flow of blood towards the stomach during digestion--Hence less circulating in other organs--and consequently less aptitude for exertion in them--Bodily rest and mental tranquillity essential to sound digestion--Rest always attended to before feeding horses--Hence also a natural aversion to exertion immediately after eating--Mischief done by hurrying away to business after meals--Severe thinking hurtful at that time--Playful cheerfulness after dinner conducive to digestion--The mind often the cause of indigestion--Its mode of operation explained--Also influences nutrition--Illustration from Shakspeare--Importance of attending to this condition of health enforced, 288–303 CHAPTER V. ON DRINKS. Thirst the best guide in taking simple drinks--Thirst increased by diminution of the circulating fluids--The desire for liquids generally an indication of their propriety--Much fluid hurtful at meals--Most useful three or four hours later--The temperature of drinks is of consequence--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 overheated--Tepid drinks safest and most refreshing after perspiration--Kinds of drink--Water safe for every constitution--Wine, spirits, and other fermented liquors, too stimulating for general use, but beneficial in certain circumstances--Test of their utility, 304–323 CHAPTER VI. 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 other excretions--Practical conclusions from this--Different causes of inactivity of bowels--Natural aids to intestinal action--General neglect of them--Great importance of regularity of bowels--Bad health from their neglect--especially at the age of puberty--Natural means preferable to purgatives--Concluding remarks, 324–339 INDEX, 341–350 WOOD-CUTS. Under-jaw, 41. Thoracic and Abdominal Viscera, 66. Human Stomach, 67. Stomach of a ruminating animal, 69. Villous Coat of the Stomach, 75. Opening into the stomach of Alexis St Martin, 88. Abdominal Viscera, 155. Transverse section of the Abdomen, 157. Lacteals and Thoracic Duct, 163. Thoracic Duct, 166. Contents of the Abdomen after removal of the Intestines, 171. Mucous Coat of the Duodenum, 172. PREFACE.