The enterprise-recorder., 1909-04-01

Va Nolu "dleI on gong to bed and ono
taken on rising in the morning is n
good habit. They who cannot thus
take cold water into an cr1pty stom-
ach may consume a quantity Of mod
erateIy hot water and derive canal
benefit from It's use.
Let us now consider the conditions
OF Ill health in which the internal use
or water is desirable. Let II he nm
deFstood that there are conditions in
winch a generous use of water Is
harmful and these, again, should be
pointed out by the physician. But In
directions Of the skin, in gout. rheu-
matlsm, constipation, "biliousness :"
and in many states in which normal
physiological action is disturbed. the
Tree use OF water is most valuable.
In such the waste products are found
IN excess Of normal, or one or more
organs Of elimination may be found
IN abnormal condition. In either case
there is lock of equal distribution of
labor, and other tissues are called
upon to do more work in this process
OF elimination than they are wont TO
do in health, Since, then. water is
the solvent and eliminant of all waste
products found in the tissues. its
value in the above conditions can
hardly be overestimated. It should
be drunk, hot or cold. at the BEGIN
ming and close of the day and between
meals. 1t should be taken with some
care. 1t should not cause discomfort.
and had better be taken in small por-
tions frequentlyrepeated than in such
full draughts as will disturb the
functions Of the stomach, and thus
do more harm than good
In conditions Of fever Of short or
long duration the free administration
OF good water is attended with results
most gratifying, Here we have a hot,
dry skin, with restlessness, sleepless-
ness and general discomfort of the
patient, or he is listless, stuporous or
in active deirium. The tongue is
parched, the salivary secretion is d.
minished in quantity and quality, and
throughout the digestive tract we
have like disturbances of function.
These conditions explain the loss Of
appetite faulty digestion and poor
absorption of nutriment and the re-
sultant loss of strength to the patient.
But these are by no means the only
cause of the sick mans condition.
Other important factors are at work.
The infectious germs that have
caused the fever are in the tissues and
capable Of doing incalculable harm.
The poisons produced by these germs,
the toxins, are also here, fraught
with danger now, or, It may be, later
In the course Of the sickness. So here
again water has its value in favoring
of the various poisons.
Under its use restlessness abates, the
mind clears. The natural secretions
Of the mouth are improved in quality
and quantity. The tongue clears, be-
comes moist and a desire for food re-
.urns. What is true of the mouth is
equally true of the condition of stom-
lch and intestine, where the more
functions of digestion and
absorption take place. Animal eX-
Fermentation and clinical evidence
prove this. 1t is not a matter Of the
Dry.
In the allowance Of drinking water
% the sick there can be no fixed plan
to all cases. Care and judg-
nent must be exercised in this mat
Ter as in all other features of good
nursing. The diet must also be regu-
ated. In the case Of the aged, or in
he event of vomiting or an irritable
stomach, water must be given SPAR
ngly or even withheld for a time. A
patient with high fever and great
hirst. left to his own inclination, may
,ery easily disarrange his stomach
~ injudicious draughts of water. To
uch, however, the regular and peri
,dic draught "a tumblerful every
wo hours, for instance, will prove
most acceptable. Thirst may also be
elieved by rinsing the mouth with
lot water. Or bits Of cracked ice
leld in the mouth will do the same
hing. II a change of potation is de-
irable an agreeable draught is made
" adding cream Of tartar to cold wat
IA teaspoonful to the quart.
slightly acidulated waters have their
Use in the sick room, and nothing is
more grateful here than an occasional
Iraught of weak lemonade. Plain
pring waters, or natural aerated
may be substituted from time
o time to break the monotony Of a
inform drink or to satisfy the ca
,rice of the patient.