The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-25
WHAT DISTILLATION DOES
CASES OF A BROOKLYN PHYSICIAN
AND AN ILLINOIS FARMER
Likewise the Case of Kentucky
"KerneI, of the Stored Kind
The True Water of Life.


w. T Larned. in New York Herald.
A recent news dispatch to the Herald
from Fairbury, H., told how pioneer
farmer of that enighborhood had not taken
a drink of water for more than forty years.
This circumstance was recited in connec-
ton with his death, after lingering ill
ness, at the age Of sixty-eight. 1t seems
however, that he had partaken of water
with his medicines during his fatal sick
ness: and the question may be raised-since
his previous abstaining from drugs is clear
~ implied-whether it was the dosing or
the Adams ale that fastened his end.
The frivolous-minded will here find a
subject for levity, but the fact is that total
abstinence from water, pure and simple,
as a beverage is only a trihe less common
than total abstinence from ardent liquors
in Maine and Kansas.
These facts seem pertinent in connection
with a paper recently read by a Brooklyn
physician at meeting of the New York
Vegetarian Society After citing statistics
and offering other evidence to show that
ordinary water is unfit for either cooking
or drinking, that boiling only condenses
the impurities, and that distillation is the
only rational safeguard against disease he
proceeded TO demonstrate in his own per-
son the remarkable effects of using dis
titled water.
AS a consequence of imbibing one gallon
of aqua pura per day he was able, though
sixty-two years of age, to stand on one foot
and put the other to his face-a result
produced by the powerful solvent prop
critics of distilled water in removing from
no no Of nd bar
earthly salts and minerals, which bring on
premature hardening of the tissues and
stiffness of the joints
If the Fairbury farmer had known this
he would have thrown physic to the dogs
provided there was no S. p. c. A. in his
neighborhood-and taken a long whole
some draught from the nearest rain barrel.
For rain is a form of distilled water, and
barring little ammonia. few pollywogs.
some salts and free acidS-iS almost as
pure. But the Fairbury farmer did not
know this. and for forty years he had
done the mex best thing by drinking no
water al ali.
The only doubt in my mind on the subject
arises from my recOllections of farm life.
/ have seen both the cow and the horse put
a foot 10 the face and scratch Il vigorously
without losing their balance. But, OF
course, they had three feet TO stand on,
and then the horse often drank out of the
rain barrel.
Troubled by honest doubts like these, and
wishing to know the truth about distila-
ton, l called TO see Col. Bowie y. Grass.
of Bourbon county. Kentucky, who has
been staying at one of the uptown hotels
this winter. Colonel Grass is not only an
original investigator Of many practical sub
jects, but | recalled the circumstance that
he had once spent an entire summer in the
arid region Of the Dakota Bad Lands. forty
miles from water, without suffering the
least inconvenience. As / know him very
well. | did not have TO beat about the bush
Colonel / said. "a Brooklyn physician
has just proved by putting his foot In his
mouth that distilled water Is the only
water ut to drink. An Illinois farmer who
did not know this eschewed water alto
gether, and did not die till ne returned to
this abandoned habit. Now. as il is COM
knowledge that no one IN Bourbon
county ever drinks water, and as the
process OF distillation applied in other direc-
Jions'
Il see. see. interrupted the colonel
You could not have come TO a better man
The Brooklyn physician is right and so was
the farmer. Both quite right. There :
nothing like distillatiOn. sch TO timber a
fellow up and make him renew his youth
If he can't get his liquor distilled / reckon
he d better go without.
Nov there's right smart whisky drunk
up North that about ~ per cent. Of proof
liquor is distilled water-bound 10 be dis
titled. An the rest is just pure food-just
Indian con an rye an little malt, fer
mented SOS il can all be distilled an packed