New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-04-01
PURE WATER.

"Thc spirit Of God moved upO1
the face Of the water,' reads al
ancient chronicle. Water wa
cvidcntally primal stuff, vital il
the evolution Of the world from
the beginning. 1t still forms two
thirds Of the earth S surface, sew
cn-cighths Of the animal body
and nine-tcnths Of some plants
Man at birth is about ninety per
cent water. He never much out
grows this proposition, tho at
times, by his apparent aversion to
it, would seem afraid of Yer sat
uration. But there is little dan
ger that he will drink too much
water, the trouble often is that
he does not take enough. Most
scdentary people drink too little
of it and err in drinking too much
at meal time. a glass Of water
with each meal, preferably at the
end of the meal, will aid diges-
ton, but to wash food down in
chunks is pernicious tho com
mon practice, exceedingly UNI
fair to the stomach to say the
least, and bad use of good
drinks. A glass or two between
meals, one at bed time and
another upon arising, is not too
much water, and thoroughly |
satisfactory way to drink it.
Hot weather and exercise will
make their own demands to vary
the program.
Charged water is a poor sub
stitute for the plain article and is
injurious to some people. The
sudden drinking of large quanti-
ties Of ice water not only checks
digestion but may shock the
hcart-akin to a blow in the solar
plexus. Purity of mans water
supply is hardly less important
than that of the air he breathes.
To recognize typhoid, dysentary,
diarrhea and cholera as the chief
water born diseases is to see the
need Of constant vigilance against
this intestinal qualrctte. They
come unbidden to his door; the
first three of them come often, ;
seeking to enter with water or 1
food, contaminated by bowel,
bladder, or mouth, discharged Z
from some neighbor. The re-
wlsiveness of this, let alone the
danger Of it, would seem enough
to make everyone of us alert to |
preach and practice to good eff q
feet. "
While health authorities are !.
expected to safeguard the COM a
munity with a water supply, each
Individual must have an eye to \
protect his own drink from ac-
cidental secondary sources. When
in doubt, boil the water you
drink. Those who journey away I
from home, to other towns, cities, q
or summer resorts, are not as .
safe as at home. For them, here :
is an added suggestion: Carry c
couple Of ounces Of a chloride of o
lime solution in strength Of two =
teaspoonful to quart Of water. 9
A tcaspoOnful Of this stock solu- J
ton added to two gallons of sus-
pected drinking water will pur-
ify it. A gitate in a stone jar and .
let it stand covered with several :
thickness Of cheese cloth. This =
will aerate the water, protect it =
from air contamination and re- =
move the flat taste peculiar to =
water that has been boiled and y
not aerated. :.
Externally cold dip or - -
sponge is a valuable stimulant to :
and respiration and .
promotes body activity and =
lealth. if so taken as to produce ;, y
3 warm glowing surface. Most -
peor>le need to attain TO the cold
bath or shower by gradual usage;
children and old peo-
pie do not bear them well. \
old plunge or sponge. with goose
iesh, blueness and shivering is
! good remedy wrongly applied. 4
/ warm or hot bath properly
aiken is as useful as sedative