mixed with the lactic acid is powerful enough to dissolve all
the albumen and fibrine of flesh food into albuminose, and sets
free the starch, sugar, and fat, melts the fat, but does not
change either. When there is an excess or deficiency of acid
in the stomach, the digestion is abnormal. Pepsin is sometimes
used as a remedy for dyspepsia, and is obtained from the
stomachs of young, healthy pigs which are kept hungry.
As all food which is to nourish the system must be converted
into a fluid form, any substances which are taken in fluid
form and afterward solidified in the stomach, as blood or juice
of flesh, milk, and raw eggs, must be changed again to a per-
manent liquid form before they can be absorbed. All nitro-
genous matters are not only dissolved by the gastric fluid, but
are modified so as to remain dissolved. These changed albu-
minous matters are called peptones. Oil plays an important
part in these changes, so that, although oil is not digested, it
serves a useful purpose in passing through the stomach.
The stomach would digest itself were it not protected by a
sheathing of mucus and by a continual forming of cells called
epithelium^ during the process of digestion. The liquid or watery
portions of food enter at once into the circulation by absorption.
If too much water be taken with food, it dilutes the gastric
juice and retards the digestion ; as all that is not needed must
be absorbed before digestion can go on.
Digestion is also retarded by the presence of very hot or very
cold food, as everything taken into the stomach has to be
changed to the normal temperature of 100°. A large amount of
food overloads the stomach,' distends the muscular coats, and
lessens the power of motion. Too little food is also a mistake,
as the stomach needs a certain amount of bulk to work upon.
Continual or irregular eating is wholly contrary to the intention
of nature, since it does not allow the stomach time to rest and
to form new cells to secrete digestive fluids. Flesh food that
is finely minced, like hash, croquettes, and many entrees, passes
rapidly through the stomach without being dissolved by the
gastric juice; but when taken in larger pieces it remains long
enough to be all digested.
The digestive power of the stomach is weakened when there
is any undue action in any other part of the body, as in great
muscular exertion or in powerful excitement of the brain.
Therefore we should eat sparingly at first, when fatigued by
exercise or study or when unduly excited, and should rest
awhile after eating.
474
The Boston Cook Book.
Lactic acid, small portions of sugar and digested nitrogenous
substances, pass into the blood by absorption through the
stomach veins. Thus the contents of the stomach leave it in
two directions : a portion is absorbed through the coats of the
stomach by the process of osmose, or the passage of fluids
through animal membranes ; the remainder passes through the
pyloric opening into the duodenum and intestines for the com-
pletion of digestion. Food from the stomach enters the duode-
num in an acid state, and in the intestines is mingled with
three alkaline fluids, all containing soda.
Page 281
Presented as published in 1884. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
mixed with the lactic acid is powerful enough to dissolve all the albumen and fibrine of flesh food into albuminose, and sets free the starch, sugar, and fat, melts the fat, but does not change either. When there is an excess or deficiency of acid in the stomach, the digestion is abnormal. Pepsin is sometimes used as a remedy for dyspepsia, and is obtained from the stomachs of young, healthy pigs which are kept hungry.
As all food which is to nourish the system must be converted into a fluid form, any substances which are taken in fluid form and afterward solidified in the stomach, as blood or juice of flesh, milk, and raw eggs, must be changed again to a permanent liquid form before they can be absorbed. All nitrogenous matters are not only dissolved by the gastric fluid, but are modified so as to remain dissolved. These changed albuminous matters are called peptones. Oil plays an important part in these changes, so that, although oil is not digested, it serves a useful purpose in passing through the stomach.
The stomach would digest itself were it not protected by a sheathing of mucus and by a continual forming of cells called epithelium, during the process of digestion. The liquid or watery portions of food enter at once into the circulation by absorption. If too much water be taken with food, it dilutes the gastric juice and retards the digestion ; as all that is not needed must be absorbed before digestion can go on.
Digestion is also retarded by the presence of very hot or very cold food, as everything taken into the stomach has to be changed to the normal temperature of 100°. A large amount of food overloads the stomach,' distends the muscular coats, and lessens the power of motion. Too little food is also a mistake, as the stomach needs a certain amount of bulk to work upon. Continual or irregular eating is wholly contrary to the intention of nature, since it does not allow the stomach time to rest and to form new cells to secrete digestive fluids. Flesh food that is finely minced, like hash, croquettes, and many entrees, passes rapidly through the stomach without being dissolved by the gastric juice; but when taken in larger pieces it remains long enough to be all digested.
The digestive power of the stomach is weakened when there is any undue action in any other part of the body, as in great muscular exertion or in powerful excitement of the brain. Therefore we should eat sparingly at first, when fatigued by exercise or study or when unduly excited, and should rest awhile after eating.
The Boston Cook Book.
Lactic acid, small portions of sugar and digested nitrogenous substances, pass into the blood by absorption through the stomach veins. Thus the contents of the stomach leave it in two directions : a portion is absorbed through the coats of the stomach by the process of osmose, or the passage of fluids through animal membranes ; the remainder passes through the pyloric opening into the duodenum and intestines for the completion of digestion. Food from the stomach enters the duodenum in an acid state, and in the intestines is mingled with three alkaline fluids, all containing soda.