Madame Young's Guide to Health / Her experience and practice for nearly forty years; a true family herbal, wherein is displayed the true properties and medical virtues of all the roots, herbs, &c., indigenous to the United States, and their combination in all the diseases the human body is heir to; also, an explanation of the human body, its liability to injuries through ignorance of its structure. Dedicated exclusively to her sex.

by Amelia Young

THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.

THERE is no part of the human system which has such a controlling influence over the whole body, as respects health or disease, as the digestive organs. Any derangement in these, especially the stomach, calls up a sympathy of action from the whole animal economy. Nearly all the morbid actions found in the general system, are produced from causes, first operative on the stomach.

Hence, keeping the digestive system in a healthy state, secures, as a general rule, a healthy action in every other part of the physical organization. Therefore, to know something of the anatomy and physiology of the digestive organs, together with the laws of digestion, seems indespensable for every individual who would know how to take care of his health. By the term “digestive organs,” is intended the mouth, stomach, liver, and bowels, including the whole length of this canal is a lining membrane, called the mucous membrane, which continues from the lips to the opposite extremity; this membrane is filled through its whole extent with minute blood vessels, and in some parts, abundantly supplied with fine filaments of nerves. This membrane has important functions to perform in the process of digestion; it is a membrane of much delicacy of structure. Its healthy action is easily deranged, and when impaired in one part, becomes, by sympathy, deranged in every part.