276 PHILIP B. HAWK 



skin, whereas an increased water ingcstion has been found to lower body 

 temperature. The mucous surfaces of the body cannot function normally 

 unless they are in a moist state. Water is the medium, whereby nutritive 

 material is carried to the body cells, and the cells of the blood are trans- 

 ported in a fluid medium. The kidney can more satisfactorily eliminate 

 toxic substances if such substances are brought to that organ in a well- 

 diluted form. The normal movement of joints and tendon sheaths is 

 possible only when fluid is present. Water is also importantly related to 

 absorption. The end-products of digestion in the intestine are not 

 efficiently absorbed unless such end-products are properly diluted (see 

 p. 291). Water also increases peristalsis. It has also been suggested 

 (Smith and Mendel) that "The large amount of water in the cell may aid 

 considerably in maintaining the optimum temperature of the cell, for 

 water has a high specific heat. The large percentage of water in the 

 tissues in which oxidation is most intense may be correlated with this 

 unique property of acting as a heat buffer." 



Inasmuch, therefore, as water .is so vitally related to man's well being, 

 it is not strange that water has been the object of considerable investiga- 

 tion by both the abstract scientist and the practical clinician. 



That physicians, as long ago as the early part of the eighteenth century, 

 were impressed with the dietary importance of water is indicated by a 

 pamphlet published in London and reprinted in Philadelphia in 1723. 

 This pamphlet is by John Smith, C. M., and is entitled "Curiosities of 

 Common Water, or The Advantages thereof in Preventing and Curing 

 Many Distempers." The author claims that the contents of the pamphlet 

 were "Gathered from the Writings of several Eminent Physicians, and 

 also from more than Forty Years' Experience." Among the interesting 

 excerpts from the volume are the following : 



"In the County of Cornwall, the poorer Sort, which did never, or but 

 very seldom, drink any other drink but Water, were strong of Body, and 

 lived to a very great age." 



In another place the author of the volume quotes a Doctor Manwaring 

 as saying: 



"In the Primitive Ages of the World, Water-Drinkers were the longest 

 Livers by some Hundreds of Years nor so often sick and complaining 

 as we are." 



And later Sir Henry Blount is quoted as saying that while in the Levant 

 "where the Use of Wine was forbid, and where the common drink was 

 Water, he then had a better stomach for his Food, and digested it more 

 kindly than he ever did before or since." 



To-day practically all up-to-date medical men appreciate fully the im- 

 portance of water to the human body. This fact is attested by the great 

 development along certain hydrotherapeutic aspects of treatment. How- 

 ever, some doctors say to their patients, "Drink freely of water, at all 



