food? 308. How should mastication be performed? Why?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

309. _Food should be masticated and swallowed without drink._ As the
salivary glands supply fluid to moisten the dry food, the use of tea,
coffee, water, or any other fluid, is not demanded by nature's laws
while taking a meal. One objection to "washing down" the food with
drink is, the aliment is moistened, not with the saliva, but with the
drink. This tends to induce disease, not only in the salivary organs,
by leaving them in a state of comparative inactivity, but in the
stomach, by the deficiency of the salivary stimulus. Another is, large
quantities of fluids, used as drinks, give undue distention to the
stomach, and lessen the energy of the gastric juice by its dilution,
thus retarding digestion. Again, drinks taken into the stomach must be
removed by absorption before the digestion of other articles is
commenced.

_Observation._ Were it customary not to place drinks on the table
until the solid food is eaten, the evil arising from drinking too much
at meals would be obviated. The horse is never known to leave his
provender, nor the ox his blade of grass, to wash it down; but many
persons, from habit rather than thirst, drink largely during meals.

310. The peculiar sensation in the mouth and fauces, called thirst,
may not always arise from the demand for fluids to increase the
_serum_ (water) of the blood, as in the desire for drink attendant on
free perspiration, for then, pure water or some diluent drink is
absolutely necessary; but it may be the result of fever, or local
disease of the parts connected with the throat. In many instances,
thirst may be allayed by chewing some hard substance, as a dry
cracker. This excites a secretion from the salivary glands, which
removes the disagreeable sensation. In thirst, attendant on a heated
condition of the system, this practice affords relief, and is safe;
while the practice of drinking large quantities of cold fluids, is
unsafe, and should never be indulged.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Why should all persons have ample time for eating? 309. Why are drinks
not necessary while masticating food? Give the objections to "washing
down" food. What observation relative to drink? 310. Does the
sensation of thirst always arise from a real want of the system?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

311. _Food or drink should not be taken when very hot._ When food or
drink is taken hot, the vessels