Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-07-25

use ardent spirits in the water they drink
in the present warm weather, more than
one instance Of which have fallen under
my observation. And with, The view Of
preventing such imprudence. Il Is fit that
the facts Of the case sh,uld Be understood.
The instances Of sudden death from
drinking cold water, almost universally
occur among incorporate foreigners, or
Others who indulge habiiually 10 The use
Of spirituous liquors. Such persons afier
creating thirst by the use OF ardent spir-
is, which rum will not alIay. go to a
pump or spring Of water and drink 70 sa-
tiate this morbid thirst, which 10 more ow-
ing 20 their intemperance than 70 labor
and heat combined Hence all who are
acqua nted with the subject know. that
children and females. and mltitudes Of
men are in The daily habit Of drinking
largely OF Geld and even iced water, when
oser-heaied by exercise OF labor, not only
with hnpuniiy. but with advantage. And
facts will show that ihisfs the case with
all who abstain entirely from is,ox:caiing
drinks. Nor can an instance be produced
Of either dangerous or fatal symptoms fol.
loving the use Of cold water in warm
weather, in persons Of sound constitution
and temperate habits. The stomach may
indeed be impaired in its vitality by dis
ease, 10 an extent analogous 10 the morbid
condition resulting from habitual inteu-
perunce, but in such examples only, does
drinking cold water in warm weather pro-
duce either disease OF death. p. r.@
Let no one then be induced 10 mingle
brandy or other spirituous liquor with the
water. with the view Of escaping the mis-
shieyous result deprecated, by using wa
ter alone else they may acquire the pre-
Disposition TO suffer from this cause BY the
Vsry mems they employ 10 prevent it,
The effect Of cold water lhus suddenly
applied to the stomach is supposed to be a
paralysis. extending from that organ to
tho heart, and hence a powerful stiInulant
promptly administered Is the usual reme-
dyj aud opium, capsicum, camphor, am.
nIUuia, and the like, very generally sue
seei If given Immediately, in suitable
Quantities, even in Incorporate persons,
The stimulus being more powerful than
those to which the stomach has been ac-
Sus,omcd That such examples Of paral-
ysis from drinking water, however cold or
however much the individuals may be
teu,ei, ever did occur, except when the
stomach had previously been impaired by
mtemperance or otherwise, remains to be
proved. Hence such accidents provcrbi-
GIIy occur among drunkards, TO an extent
which should serve as a warning to the
iuteHnperSt9 and salutary lesson TO the
sober. '1a
Such persons, however, may avoid the
mischief they dreud in lnuSh better way
than by mixing spirituous liquors with
the water they drink. Let them wash
the hsnds and face with cold water be-
fore drinking, or hold their mouths full a
few moments before swallowing il, and
they may then safely satiate their thirst,
even with iced water, without harm.
II you and your brother editors would
give publicity to the facts and observations
thus briefly given, you may perhaps serve
the Gauss Of humanity, and disabuse the
public MIND, Of very popular and mis-,
chievous error. A close attention to this
subject for many years has satisfied the
writer Of their correctness.
.s @-RJ~ A PHYSICIAN.