WATER 187 



upon whether the difference of its temperature and 

 that of the body is great enough to affect the nerves 

 and muscles. When it is enough colder or warmer 

 than blood heat to stimulate the lining of the mouth 

 and stomach, the nerves and muscles along the digestive 

 canal are affected in a similar way. In fact, if the 

 intestines are not regularly and freely discharging the 

 waste products of digestion, a cup or two of cold or 

 hot water a half hour or more before breakfast is often 

 a most effective help. Of course, water should not 

 be hot enough to burn, and refreshingly cool is better 

 than ice cold. When either very hot or very cold, it 

 should be drunk slowly. 



Hot water will take more materials into solution; 

 but many prefer cold water, because of its pleasant 

 taste and its tendency to give the lining of the di- 

 gestive canal a more vigorous tone. We all know 

 how refreshing cold water is to our hands and face, 

 and can readily understand why it may have a similar 

 effect on the mucous lining of the digestive organs. 

 How much better it is to assist the cleansing of the 

 inside of our bodies by the abundant use of water, 

 than by taking patent medicines and other drugs ! 

 The drugs whip the glands into pouring out extra 

 large amounts of dissolving fluids. As a natural 

 consequence, they must rest to recover from such 

 unusual exertion, and so are not fully ready to take 

 care of the next meal when it reaches them. The 

 water, on the contrary, simply affords a natural stimu- 



