THE FARMER AT HOME. 425 



sun's rays, and in a heated atmosphere, which stimulates both the 

 &kin and the lungs. Burns will cause raging thirst ; so fits of pas- 

 sion, by their exciting powerfully the nervous system, have the same 

 effect. 



Thirst thus brought on, and augmented by external heating and 

 irritating matters, and by irritation in various parts of the animal 

 economy ; and when present, giving rise to increased heat and irrita- 

 tion of the functions generally, can of course be mitigated and removed 

 but by one class of agents. These are of a cooling, soothing, and 

 sedative nature. Cool air applied to the skin and inhaled into the 

 lungs, or cold water applied to the extremities, will sometimes answer. 

 A depressing emotion, as of sudden fear, will, by its prompt sedative 

 action on the nervous system, produce the same result. But that 

 which above all other means is best calculated to soothe the heated 

 and irritated surfaces of the throat and stomach, and thus remove all 

 the troublesome secondary symptoms, is to drink simple water, or the 

 blander watery fluids. The instinctive want of such fluids for drink, 

 is strongly pronounced from the lowest animal up to man. They 

 soothe the irritated sentient surfaces affected in thirst ; they furnish 

 matter for the absorbents of these surfaces to carry into the circulation, 

 and thus preserve the requisite proportion of water in the blood. . 



While simple aqueous moisture is the chief assuager of thirst, and 

 that without which the want would soon become a raging inflamma- 

 tion and fever, leading to death, yet does temperature also exert a 

 modifying influence. Coldness of the fluid contributes more effectu- 

 ally to allay the nervous irritation in extreme thirst ; but, though 

 agreeable at the moment, it is not essentially necessary, and is often 

 hazardous, after the individual has been enfeebled by long and exces- 

 sive exercise and labor. The safer plan in such a case, is to apply 

 the cold fluid, iced or spring water, to the hands and face, and use 

 for drink that which is of the temperature of the river or flowing 

 stream. Even in hot weather, water of the temperature which it 

 assumes when exposed to the air, is the best quencher of thirst, though 

 not the most grateful to the taste. Very cold water taken into the 

 stomach, in some cases deadens the senses and produces spasms, and 

 even death. In the most favorable condition of the animal economy, 

 it is apt, especially in vigorous habits, to give rise to great reaction, 

 increased flow of blood and sensibility of the parts, and of course a 

 fresh call for drink. 



The lover of spiritous and fermented liquors, persuades himself 

 that they are excellent quenchers of thirst and mitigators of heat ; 

 because he experiences relief from these sensations after he drinks 

 them of an icy coldness. The benefit here was from the adventitious 

 property of the liquor, viz., its coldness ; but so soon as this has dis- 

 appeared, then follows the stimulation and excitement from the alco- 

 holic portion the thirst is renewed, and if appeased in the same way, 



