336 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Nov 



the heated air removes water from the tissues, and in its 

 penetration carries into the tissues creasote and the other 

 active agents that have an affinity for water. The crea- 

 sote, etc., removes the water from the tissues, and espe- 

 cially from the surface, and because of a more immedi- 

 ate contact forms a layer insoluble to bacteria. Salting 

 or sugaring are similar. The salt abstracts water from 

 the tissues. Salt is sprinkled over fish as they are pack- 

 ed in vessels for preservation without the addition of any 

 brine, as they are said to make their own brine — the salt 

 literally squeezes the water out of the bodies of the fish. 

 Any child knows that eating sugar will make him thirsty. 



When we eat salty foods or much sweets we remove the 

 water from our tissues, in reality cause a fever and thirst, 

 just as if we were ill with some disease characterized by 

 an increase of temperature. The sugar or salt enters the 

 tissues and removes the water in part, and this increases 

 the demand on the part of the tissues for more water. 

 So with alcohol. 



Bacteria, we have already learned, are only able to thrive 

 when liberally supplied with water. There are other 

 conditions necessary, as temperature, rest, light, etc: I 

 mention water, as it is one of the conditions I believe we 

 are able to control sufficiently to prevent their growth. 



When a patient is down with typhoid fever or any of 

 the fevers that owe their development to bacteria, the pa- 

 tient suffers with thirst and fever. Why ? I believe it is 

 because the growth and development of bacteria is con- 

 suming such enormous quantities of water that the sys- 

 tem is over-drained, and the patient, if his tissues have 

 not sufficient vitality to hold the water in combination, 

 dies often simply because the bacteria have used up all 

 the available water. 



Physiologists speak of cells becoming specialized in 

 their work of elaboration in the body. They mean that 

 the cells divide up the work of the body just the same as 



