FILARIAL MIGRATIONS TO AND FROM THE CIRCULATION. 247 



the Chinese drink water when they are thirsty and can get nothing 

 better. It is quite true that with a certain class of Chinese there is 

 prejudice against drinking cold water, but it is only the richer classes 

 who can afiford to act on such prejudices. I asked a Chinese friend, 

 ** Do your countrymen often drink cold water — the farm servants 

 and coolies?" "Certainly," he said, "all drink water if 

 thirsty on the hill side or in the fields ; what else can they get to 

 drink ? " Only a day or two after reading Dr. Somerville's letter I 

 asked ten consecutive patients as they passed through the hospital 

 consulting room about their drinking habits, and these are the 

 answers to my question, " Do you drink cold water ? " — 



I. Case of elephant leg, a paperhanger — Before my disease 



began I drank cold water daily, especially during the hot 

 weather. 



II. Case of bruise, a boatman — When thirsty I always drink 



cold water. 



III. Case of leprosy, a boatman — When younger, and before fall- 

 ing ill, i.e., till I was 12 or 13 years old, drank cold water in 

 hot weather. Since my leprosy commenced never drink cold 

 water, always tea. 



IV. Case of fibro-sarcoma, farm labourer — I generally drink cold 

 water, sometimes tea. 



V. Case of bruised and lacerated lip, idol paper maker — I 



generally drink tea, once in ten times drink water ; when 

 young I always drank water. 



VI. Case of scabies, a comb maker — Seldom drink ; when very 

 thirsty generally drink water, sometimes tea. 



VII. Case of flat feet, a blacksmith — Generally drink tea, very 

 rarely water. 



VIII. Case of leprosy, pedlar — When young I drank water daily, 

 now generally drink tea ; water seldom. 



IX. Case of dyspepsia, pedlar — When young drank water; since 

 becoming dyspeptic never take fluids. 



X. Case of bruise, shopkeeper — I generally drink tea or rice 



water ; sometimes drink water. 

 There happened to be nine lads, assistants and dressers, in the 

 room when I interrogated these patients. Turning to them I asked 

 them individually if they drank water — one and all confessed to being 

 guilty of the habit, and seemed very much astonished that anyone 

 should doubt it. 



