The Influence of Muscular Work upon the Movements of the Stomach

Abstract

There is generally a truth underlying an old-fashioned country saying, such as “After dinner rest awhile, after supper walk a mile,” for it has been founded upon the experience of a large number of individuals of many generations. It is interesting to obtain verification, if it be possible, by controlled experiments. This we have attempted to do both with animals and man. The general view expressed in the saying is that hard muscular work performed too soon after a meal gives rise to digestive trouble and inefficient performance. The farmer insisted that his carter came early in the morning to feed his horses in time to allow an adequate interval before they started hard work in the fields. The trainers of athletes, race-horses and whippets recognised the importance of this saying, and intelligent labourers paid by the piece found that taking an hour off for the mid-day meal made for efficiency and well-being. The only organised transgression of the rule on a large scale appears to be found in schools, wh...