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56 the so-called disease, or its nature, these impurities are present in the system primarily because food was taken into the stomach in excess of the body's needs, and beyond the powers of the digestive organs.

"It is generally supposed that if a man has an unusually large day's work to perform, he must eat an unusually large breakfast and a proportionately large dinner. This is certainly an error. Large demands upon either the muscular or the nervous system for the time being detract from the power to digest. The stomach requires nervous energy to enable it to perform its function. If the nervous forces are otherwise engaged or used, they cannot be utilized in digestion. Hence it follows, theoretically, at least, that instead of giving the digestive organs an extra task in preparation for an extra effort, they should be required to perform less than the ordinary amount of labor. Experience as well as theory supports this view. Sir Isaac Newton, when employed in his most arduous labors, lived upon bread and water, and fasted for long intervals.