The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-06
DO WE DRINK TOO MUCHs
This Authority Does Not Uphold the
Much Water Drinking Fad.
Republican.

Springfield republican,
This question is not intended TO apply TO
the consumption OF intoxicating beverages,
in which case II could hardy receive more
Ihan one answer DUt IeIates 10 pure water,
winch has not usually been considered
harmful. Yet a wriIei in the Hospital as
sures Us that most pelpte take loo much OF
IL. he says: nov and IEakn- o&S
across patients who assure US that they
never drink, a staten ent which AZ Is our
hrst and, perhaps, most natural impulse 10
regard as an eAaggeLaion. so, indeed, IL
may be, for on determination such pa
tents would probably SAY. ON, yes. 4 a ke
Il little soup. OF course. Stll the general
statement remains true that there are peo-
pie who never drink N. the sense that they
never use cup OF glass. and there certainly
are a large number 81 people who drink
only very little, ridiculously little compared
With those around. These are healthy peO-
pie going about their business calmly, do
ing gooo Work, ana often doing IL with Tar
greater comfort than those VINO, with glass
an one hand and handkerchief In the other.
mop their faces and .deciaina against the
sweltering weather. THUS We are led 10 ask,
why DO we drink ans 70 answer that Tor
the majority il Is TO a large extent a matter
OF haDit and of self-iDdulgence. As the re-
suit Of habit with mary people, the slight
est sense OF thirst SETS up longings which
cannot he, or at least Sre not, resisted, with
the result that much more fluid Is taken
than Is wanted. Are, you very thirstyT
inquired the doctor. We'll, no. SIT, takes
good care O that replied the afable pa
Jent as he mopped his brow.
Much Of the constant drinking, not mere
ly OF alcoholics, out o. fluids OF all kinds,
TO which one is tempted at every turn, -
quite unnecessary and only leads TO naDDl-
ness and discomfort In considering the
amount Of huld We ought 10 drink we must
always bear In mind the quantity OF water
which is contained in our ordinary food.
According TO Parkes we may take IL that
We require for ordinary work about three
times as much water as OF food Calculated
dry), namely, about Is per cent OF the
whole intake, and II wd look at the table In
which he gives the araount OF water con-
tsfned in the various kinds OF food, we find
how many articles carry with them more
than the required DropbrtiOn. For Instance.
beefsteak contains s44. white fish IS. poultry
"a, potatoes "a, cabbagcs ~, carrots b, vege-
table marrOWs 50, and even dry bread con-
tains ~ per cent. of water. AS TO fruits, APP
pies contain & and strawberries 30 per cent.
Of water. GrayiCs, sauces, etc, and al
forms Of milk puddingk also contain moral
than the fun average supply OF water. -
Quired, so that IL evidently would be an
easy task 10 arrange a diet which, although
solid enough for all demands. would not
require 20 be supplemented BY actual drink
ing. If, however. We Will but partake or
nuid IN moderation, say 40 or ~ ounces a
day, We are the better for il, for certain
foods require the production OF a not In
considerable amount Of digestive juices for
their proper assimilatiGn, and IL we persist
In eating so much meat as 50 many OF US
Go. a fair amount Of water must be taAen to
wash out the heterogeneous waste which such
a diet produces"