The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-01-01
The Drinking Of Water.

presence OF water In the diet ana III the
tissues of the body The fact is well
known, but the doctor writer has clearly
given the reason for the beneficial action
of water on the different organs. The ar
ticle is of unusual interest and many per
sons will be the better from adopting It's
suggestions. Although water is not food
in the sense of directly contributing to the
production of force OF heat, it is yet food
in the sense that, without its presence III
the body, all vital action must come to
standstill, as no change is possible IN Its
| absence. Our tissues contain an lndls-
pensible proportion Of water; we are con-
stantly losing large quantities by breath
ing by perspiration and the various eX-
cretions and, as Just limited, its presence
is required for the occurrence of those varl-
Gus chemical changes by which we live and
move and have our being. This being so,
its value as an article of food may be taken
as granted, and we may consider more
particularly its action and uses when taken
not as food but as means to preserve
health or to ward off OF remove disease.
The effects produced by the drinking of
water vary with the manner in which it is
drunk. If, for instance, Il pint OF cold
water be swallowed at large draught or
if it be taken in two portions with short
interval between, certain definite effects
follow-which differ from those which
would have resulted from the same quantity
taken by slipping.
EFFECTS OF SLIPPING.
Slipping is powerful stimulant to the
circulaton-a thing which ordinary drink
inc is not. During the act Of slipping the
action of the nerve which slows the beats
of the heart is abolished and as Il conse
quence that organ contracts much more
rapidly. the pulse beats more quickly and
the circulation in various parts of the body
is increased. In addition to this, we also
find that the pressure under which the bile
is secreted is raised by the SLIPPING of
huid>-a fact the Importance Of which we
shall notice directly.
Many individuals may have been at
times unpleasantly conscious of the fact
that glass of wine or beer slipped gets
into the head much quicker than if drunk
at draught They will now be in
position to understand why this Is 50: the
explanation being that the temporary pa
ralv<i> of the inhibitory nerve of the heart.
and the increased stimulation Of the circu-
lation. favor the rapid absorption of the al
cohn and the production of its consequent
effects. The same thing occurs if the
fluid he sucked through straw, the effects
Of slipping and sucking being Identical
Swallowing in the usual way has not the
stimulant effects Of slipping, but it has one
or two special effects not produced by sip
ping. the use of which we shall mention Il
little later.
EFFECTS OF DRINKING.
The effects of drinking cold water are
these: IT, say. a pint Of cold water is
swallowed straightway, the temperature Of
the body is slightly lowered-about one
degree hlenheit-the pulse rate is some
what decreased. (not greatly increased, as
by slipping. and the Inspirations are
slightly accelerated. The blood vessels III
the lining membrane of the stomach are at
first contracted: then very soon, however.
rapidly dilate, the blood flow in them is
increased, and the secretion of gastric juice
! is stimulated.
DRINKING WARM WATER.
There are. on the other hand. many per
sons who find that these effects are brought
about better if they take warm water in
stead of cold although at first sight it may
appear somewhat strange that like effects
are produced by both hot and cold water.
The explanation is simple. The warm
water acts exactly as does the cold, only
without the previous contraction-its action
being to at once dilate the vessels after its
reception by the stomach. The practice
of drinking
At MEALS
large quantities of liquid is bad; but small
quantities may be taken without HARM al
though undoubtedly it is wiser to drink
either before or after the meal, if we can
not limit our consumption of fluids to Il
distinctly small amount Whenever IA
meal is particularly rich in fatty material,
it is good plan to drink sometime after
the meal, as in this way the digestion of
! fat in the ntestines is aided.
ITS PURGATIvE ACTION.
That water possesses a purgative action
is a thing well known to many people.
This particular effect is due to its power OF
stimulating the secretion of bile and also Of
increasing the peristaltic action of the in
testines; bile being natural purgative and
increased peristalsis being the enemy of
constipation and sluggish bowel action. If
plain water be taken, its purgative effects
are best produced by its being cold;
if natural mineral waters are taken, they
should be mixed with small quantity of
hot water so as to be at about the same
temperature as the stomach Warm
water is more readily absorbed than cold.
and moderate quantities than large ones,
absorption being retarded if large quaint
ties of either warm or cold water are taken
at once. The best time to obtain the pur-
gative effects of water is on rising in the
morning. \ glass of cold water taken on
rising is often quite sufficient to procure
an easy movement of the bowels, and this
result will be the more certain if the water
be slipped while dressing. This slipping
operation should not, however, be hurried,
but should be gone through slowly and at
short intervals
EFFECTS OF FREE DRINKING.
Free drinking of water produces effects
upon the kidneys and tissues of the body
generally no less important than those we
have been considering There is every
reason to believe, from observations, the
nature of which it is unnecessary for me
to state, that the increased excretion of
urine which follows the drinking of plenty
of water not only clears the body of many
poisonous and effete substances, but is it
self an index of change within the body
which have for their end the enhanced
health and comfort of the individual.