This section is from "The Domestic Encyclopaedia Vol1", by A. F. M. Willich. Amazon: The Domestic Encyclopaedia.
Chewing, or mastication, is the action of the teeth, by which solid food is broken, and divided into smaller particles: thus, being at the same time mixed with the saliva, it is better prepared for digestion, both on account of its pulpy state, and the solvent nature of the fluids, secreted by the sali-val glands, during the exertion of adjacent muscles. Hence it is obvious, that those persons, who are in the habit of swallowing their meals with expedition, and after wards inundate the stomach with large potations, do themselves a double injur}-: 1. Because their food passes through the stomach, only half digested - affording but a scanty supply of real nourirh-meut; and 2. Their saliva is, against the order of Nature , constantlyi determined to other emun6tories, so that it will, sooner or later, produce cutaneous, and painful disc:Chewing-Ball for horses, a of medicated bolus, for restoring a proper: a proper appetite: it is prepared asafcetida, liver of antimony, bay, or juniper-wood, and the pelli-tory of Spain; which, after being dried in the sun, and wrapped in a strong linen cloth, are fastened to the bit of tile bridle, in-order to induce the animal to chew the bag. Such balls, it is said, may also be made of Venice treacle, and successfully used for the same purpose. See Ball, p. 152, Horse-balls.
 
Continue to: