Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-29
much lowered.
CONTRACT LET.
contract for erecting the
Alleged Mortality from the Heat.

New York journal OF tOnmercesI
We hear q great deal during these days
of high temperature about the mortality
from the heat" The statement would be
much nearer the truth if it read mortality
from the cold" In very warm weather.
especially when this induces profnse per;
piratiou. the mouth becomes dry and
parched and the sufferer Graves cooling
drink. Nothing is so palatable as fuid
chilled with ice, and even when the frozen
blocks are charged with an extra price.
they are not too dear to exclude
them from common use. very
careful observer who has devoted bali
his lifetime TO a study of causes affecting
the public health declares that lce-water
kills more people annually than suffer from
fine entire range of alcoholic drinks. Ice
does not make the user amaniac, or wife
heater. or q murderer of his fellows, nor
reduce him 10 a level below the brutes, and
in these respects it is less demorallZing
than rum. But in its deleterious effect on
the physical constitution it is far worse
than the intoxicating beverage.
of course some suffer far more than
others in the sudden chilling of the
stomach. There are many who can eat a
saucer of ice-cream without collapse, ana
who do not realize that they are suffer-
ing any injury from the indulgence,
of vitality, and a few would die
outright unless restored by q coun-
teracting remedy. Very cold fluids are
more injurious than frozen cream or
pounded ice. and this for several reasons.
| The most obvious is the fact that the
| frozen compounds are imblbed more
slowly and after awhile the reaction IS
more rapid and complete. But when there
is little sensation of suffering in the sto-
- e., cold infarDal QnDllcat1On9
the injury is none the less real and often
I is vital. -,
There are few sensible people who Will
sit in cold draught when some intense
physical action has thrown them into
profuse perspiratiou, or who would plunge
into cold water to relieve themselves while
in such q condition. And yet the cold
draupht for the fevered lips seems never
TO excite in them any apprehension. III Is
a delightful sensation thus 70 co9i tne
topgue and throat amid the heats OF sum-
mer' and so it is in midwinter for dancer
10 ait at an open window for few mo-
ments. and let the frosty air pour IN upon
ths heated brow and the burning cheek.
Rut the danger is the same in both cases.
The sudden chill is delightful, and the
tsmptatlon to such indulgence IS very
great.
the thirst. lneTc 10 ho'HSn'eiy
| ton of the fever, but the mouth is soon as
dry as ever and the craving increases with
each reaction. II any one will watch the
| ice-water victim he will see how often he
| returns TO his cups. No drunkard has ever
any moro deadly thirst. We consume too
much liquids in this country, and the
habit of swallowing water or other
| fluids with almost every mouthfui
eaten AT meal is the main cause OF
| that indigestion so common among Ameri-
cans. Wine or beer may be more safely
taken In this way. because the alcoholic
stimulant counteracts in part the effect OF
ordinary fluid in preparing the food to resist
the process OF digestion. Tea and coffee
arc not in themselves so unhealthy as many
| have found them to be, but 1t Is the use
made of them by mixing them with the
| food as it 10 swallowed that renders them
| so injurious TO the process OF digestion.
| All such fluids should be taken as a sepa-
| rate course when served at meal-time.
| But cold ice-wster as . beverage is un-
| healthy ut any time. and no one should in
dulge In it. II Is always more or less inju-
rious, and to many is decidedly fatal. IL
very cold drinks must be used. and the vic
tim will not deny himself the indulgence,
stimulating TO the fluid be imbibes, and
thus counterfeit rs far rs possible its chilling
| effect upon the stomach. But in very hot
weather. when the mouth is parched, 1t is
far better to grin and bear II" than to
take fluids of any kind. II Americans
would not drench their stomachs with such
| enormous rotations We should hear far lees
| of these disorders. showing themselves in
| dyspepsia and kidney troubles. which give
| 70 the practice Of medicine more than half
OF its profits.