The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-08-27
Thirst In Hot Weather.

So far as the mere sensation of thirst
is concerned, there can be no question
that it is q mistake to drink too much
or too frequently in hot weather; the
fluid taken in is very rapidly thrown
out again through the skin in the form
of perspiration, and the outflow being
promoted by this determination toward
the surface, a new and increasing de-
mand for fluid follows rapidly on the sue
cessive acts of drinking and perspiring,
with the result that ''thirst' is made
worse by giving way to it. Meanwhile
it must not be forgotten that thirst is
Natures call for fluid to replace that
lost by cutaneous emulation in warm
weather; and if the demand be not met.
what may be regarded rs the residual
fluid of the tissues must be absorbed
or the blood will become unduly con-
centrated. Now this absorption of the
residual fluid of the tissues has the OBJ
vious drawback of taking into the blood
in concentrated instead of dilute
form the products of assassination,
together with the absorption of some
excrcmentitious matters which would
probably not be taken up at all if the
blood were not abnormally dense. 1t
is necessary to recognize that harm
may be done by process of self-pOison-
ing with excrementitious matter, re-
tanned or taken up. in default of an
adequate supply of fluid in the form of
drink to dilute and wash it away.
There is, moreover, another disadvant-
age of the non-drinking method of sup
pressing thirst. 1t is especially needful
for the preservation of health that the
metabolism on which normal nutrition
depends should be rapid and free in
hot weather. If the organic tempera-
ture is, or, more accurately, if the sew
eral and complementary temperatures of
the organism are, to be maintained at
the health point, tissue-change must be
favored, and such notifications of body
heat as may be effected by flushing and
evaporation must be facilitated. In
short, if we refuse to drink when we
are thirsty simply because we shall
thirst again, we arc imposing re-
straint on the activities by which Ma
ture is endeavoring to preserve the
health. We are doing precisely what
the irrational homeopaths do, or did.
when refusing fluid to cholera patients
or limiting the drink of those who suf-
fer from fever. Of course, like produces
like in the matter of thirst from any
cause, but the like produced is natural;
and it is, or rather was, strange to note
that in one of the earliest notorious
cases of malpractice by persons calling
themselves homeopathic in England the
dogma ''Similia similibus curahtur"
should be flung to the winds and drink
refused to a patient dying of liquid
diarrhea, because, forsooth, the taking
of fluids increased the diarrhca and
made him more thirsty! We venture to
hope that those who are zealously urg-
ing the policy of refusing to quench
their thirst in this hot weather because
drinking makes people moro thirsty"
will reconsider their policy from the ply
Biological standpoint, and that they will
recognize that to thirst and drink. and
perspire and drink again, are the natur-
al steps in process by which nature
strives to maintain the integrity of
those organic changes which the exter-
nal heat has tendency to impede. The
natural and true policy is to supply an
adequate quantity of fluid without ex-
cess. Therefore do not abstain from
drinking, but drink slowly, so as 10 al
low time for the voice of Nature to cry
Enough" There is no drink so good
as pure water. For the sake of flavor,
and because the vegetable acids are
useful, a dash of lemon juice may be
added with advantage The skin should
be kept fairly cool, so that sufficient
quantity of the fluid taken may pass off
by the kidneys. The Lancet.