West-Jersey pioneer., 1868-07-17
SUMMER DRINKS.

There is nothing but water capable Of
satisfying the thirst. All other drinks,
therefore, taken for this purpose, answer
it only in proportion to the quantity of
this fluid they may contain.
| Water, if pure, may be drunk at all
times and in almost any quantity with
limpunity. The manner of drinking it,
however, is matter of no little import
ance. If gulped down in large quantities
it may, by suddenly filing the stomach,
so distend it as to produce pressure not
only painful, but subversive Of the func-
tions of that and of other internal organs.
Ii, moreover, the water thus swallowed
be excessively cold and the body unduly
heated, fatal shock may result from the
instantaneous change of temperature.
| Thus cases are recorded of death from
this cause. These, however, do not occur
as often as was once supposed, and most
of those fatal results before attributed to
drinking cold water are now supposed to
be owing to the joint effects of heat and
fatigue, or to what is ordinarily termed
a sun-stroke.
Water may be drunk in its coldest de-
gree of temperature, and in the largest
quantity the thirst may demand, by any
person, whatever may be his state as 70
health or illness, heat or cold, provided
it is swallowed gradually. By slipping
not only is the desire for drink more
Thoroughly gratifed, but all danger avoided.
Iced water, when properly drunk, is
unquestionably the best of all summer
drinks; but there are others which, if in
dulged in moderately, may be allowed.
The ordinary soda -water-or water i'm
pregnated with carbonic acid gas-is a
not uuwholesome beverage, although it
is often made so by the sirups, spirits,
and other coneoctions mixed with it,
The various fruit sirups, if genuine, may,
when we'll diluted with water, be safely
taken. The sugar, however, they con-
tain so abundantly, and which according
to the chemists is great heat-producer,
makes them unfit for constant summer
drinking. Science condemns the use,
particularly in hot weather, Of all the
spirituous drinks, as brandy, gin, and
whisky. These, according to some chem
ical philosophers, may be of advantage to
those exposed to the severe cold of win
ter. Others deny that they can ever be
useful, and assert that they always act
upon the brain and nerves as direct poi
sons. Both, then, are agreed in con-
demning them as summer drinks. Liebig
and his followers give this as the reason:
Alcohol, the chief constituent of all
spirituous drinks, is mainly composed of
carbon, which is the fuel required by the
body to keep up its animal heat. In
summer, of course, but little of this fuel
is required less than in winter.
If, however, large quantity is supplied
there will be an excess, which is left un-
consumed, and remaining in the body
without use does harm in various ways.
Drinking alcohol, therefore, which con-
tains great deal of carbon, in summer,
is supplying the body with more of this
fuel than it requires, and is in conse-
quence harmful practice.
| The French wines, if stimulants are at
all required, are the best, because they
are the purest and the weakest. The
American practice, of putting Jumps of
ice into them, which so surprises all
European connoisseurs, is not bad one,
for most of the foreign wines imported
into this country are branded to suit the
supposed strength of head of our country
men, and will largely bear dilution.