men; 3. By the remains of food, which adhere to the folds of the stomach, and there become acid and acrimonious; 4. By the agitation arising from the pressure of the abdomen, and the continual pulsation of the contiguous blood-vessels; 5. By the liquor which the repeated compression of those muscles causes to be discharged from the glands of the stomach: and, lastly, by air itself, which being mixed with alimentary matter, dilates by the heat of the stomach, and separates the particles of food which, from the concurrence of these causes, are converted into chyle.
From the stomach, the chyle descends into the intestines, where it incorporates with the blood; which, by its volatile nature, together with the saline and nitrous parts of the air, subtilizes the aliment, and perfects its digestion. These powers, however, are frequently impeded, or weakened, from a variety of causes, too minute to be specified here, but which will be occasionally menfoned in their alphabetical series.—See Indigestion.
DIMNESS of Sight, in farriery, a disorder in horses proceeding from blood-shotten eyes. If the eye-ball be sound, a cure may be effected by keeping the horse warm, with a linen hood fitted to his head, and by anointing his eyes twice a-day with a composition of sugar-candy, honey, and white rose-water. In two or three days, the eyes will be well; after which the creature should be blooded. In the progress of this malady, blisters generally rise on the eye, which it would be dangerous to touch, as they will gradually disappear on the recovery of the animal.—See Sight.
DINNER, a very significant term in domestic economy, as it expresses the principal meal, or that which should be eaten about the middle of the day.
Although most nations which aspire to civilization, have adopted the custom of taking meals at certain hours of the day, and especially the dinner, yet such practice does not appear to be consonant with just principles of the animal economy, or with a critical regard to health. In the present artificial state of society, however, it would probably be attended with many inconveniencies, to infringe upon the established order; and to resort to the table, only when we are induced to take food, in consequence of the cravings of a natural appetite. But those who are in any degree acquainted with the structure of the digestive organs, will readily agree with us, that the activity of the stomach, in healthy individuals, is never totally suspended, either during profound sleep, or the most intense application to study. And as the whole process of digestion and assimilation is, according to the most attentive observers, performed in about four hours, if the stomach has not been unnaturally distended by superfluous food, it follows, that it is contrary to the order of Nature, to swallow a larger quantity of provisions, at one meal, than we are able to digest during that time.
On the other hand, it will be objected that the plan of a more regular division of meals could not, without difficulty, be adopted by those who have been insensibly accustomed to take such portions of
