Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-25
DRINKING IN SUMMER
TO LESSEN INCONVENIENCE OF
EXCEPTIONAL HEAT.
Should Seek to Quench Thirst Only
When We Have Become
Cool.

From the London Lancet.
Each individual may. by the exercise OF a
little thought and discretion, do a great
deal to lessen the inconvenience due to ex-
ceptional heat. The difficulty is to persuade
persons to alter their habits for a season
which in this country Is of but short dura-
ton. Yet the very fact that great heat is
quite exceptional, that therefore we are not
accustomed to it. makes 1t all the more
necessary to take proper measures. The
healthy and strong may be only inconven-
fenced. but the feeble and aged may be Sc
riously injured.
Obviously the first precaution Is so to plan
our appointments and business to allow
plenty of time to walk slowly from place to
place. People who live In hot climates do
not race about as we are In the habit of
doing in England. Also, the hotter the ell
mate the more general is the abstinence
from alcoholic drinks. The thoughtless
Englishman, however. rushes about with
just as much energy and rapidity during
the very hot weather as during the more
temperate periods of the year. AS a natu-
raj result he is soon overwhelmed with
thirst and therefore resorts to mineral wa
tiers with dash of alcohol or is this too
expensive he will take glass of beer served
in tepid condition and then at once hurry
back to his business. This only increases
the perspiration from which he was al
ready suffering. In time. especially If the
drinks are repeated, reaction, headache and
general lasSitude ensue Such a regime is
as lnencacious as it is injurious.
Don't Rush.
First Of all we should strive to keep cool
by moving slowly, then we must endure
thirst and abstain from drink while physi-
cally active. 1t is only when We have
reached a comparatively cool place and
can sit and rest for awhile that we
may venture to quench our thirst. But then
we come face to face with this great griev-
ance. that there are hardly any suitable
summer drinks in this country and that
there Is still greater lack OF cool places
where the mass of the people can rest
while taking such light refreshment In
the center of Paris. where land is as valua-
bic as In London. the workman insists on a
chair and table placed in the shade and in
the open air before he will consume drink
In the cheapest cabarets. For the weather.
classes there are luxurious cafes well shad-
cd from the sun. the windows removed and
the ground kept cool by constant watering.
Here. rest and a fresher atmosphere can be
enjoyed. together with a great variety of
pleasant iced drinks that contain little or
no alcohol. Why are We in England so
In Germany the town workman has in sum-
mer time numerous beer gardens where
there are shade and fresh air
Beware Of Alcohol.
In due measure with the comforts and
luxuries provided do we find decrease in
the prevalence of drunkenness. Drunkards
abound in our public houses; they are al
most never seen in a French cafe, even
though abslnthe be served at every other
table. All that has been said In favor of
temperance and against strong alcoholic
drinks is doubly appropriate during the
very hot weather. Then more than ever is
a really good temperance drink urgently
needed. Light lager beer is, we believe,
yearly more and more appreciated in Eng
land. This is truly a temperate drink well
suited for hot weather. AS we have al
ready shown by careful analyses beer of the
Munich type contains as much nutriment
with only half the alcohol that is to be
found in typical high-class English beers
Then it must be kept cool-namely, at
about As degrees Fahrenheit, which is bet
ter than being iced.
There is also larger demand for lemon
squash" or simple lemon juice with plain
water and sugar. and this is a good symp-
tom. for these are the sort of drinks that
will do no harm during the hot weather.
Tea is likewise taking the place of strong
drinks. and the hotter it is the more re-
freshing the after effect-a fact which is at
last being recognized.