290 PHILIP B. HAWK 



period of large water ingestion with meals, and this, in turn, by a final 

 period with the original conditions. When one liter of water additional 

 was taken with meals the average daily excretion of fat in the feces was 

 much reduced below that found when a minimum amount of water was 

 taken with meals ; one and one-third liters had a like effect. A similar but 

 less marked reduction was observed when 500 c.c. of water were taken 

 with meals. 



The decreased excretion of fat observed during water drinking with 

 meals was usually evident for a number of days after water had ceased 

 to be taken in large or moderate amounts with meals indicating that the 

 beneficial influence of water was not temporary but was more or less 

 permanent. After several months of moderate water drinking with meals 

 a pronounced improvement in the digestibility of fat was observed, the 

 percentage utilization having risen from 94.3 to 96.5. A slight gain in 

 weight accompanied the water drinking, and this gain was not subse- 

 quently lost. 



The better digestion and absorption of fat was probably due to the 

 following factors: 



(1) Increased secretion of gastric juice and of pancreatic 

 juice as a result of the stimulating action of water. 



(2) Increased acidity of the chyme bringing about a more 

 active secretion of pancreatic juice and bile. 



(3) Increased peristalsis due to larger volume of material 

 in the intestine. 



(4) A more complete hydrolysis of the fats by lipase, due 

 to increased dilution {Bradley (a)} of the medium and conse- 

 quently more rapid absorption. 



Certain of our experiments on carbohydrate digestion are also of in- 

 terest in this connection. It has been shown (Mattill and Hawk, 1911), 

 for example, that in men living on a uniform diet the addition of 1,000 c.c. 

 of water to each meal causes a decrease in excreted carbohydrate material. 

 The better utilization of food material thus evident was not temporary 

 but appeared to extend for some time following the use of water. The 

 ingestion of a smaller amount of water (500 c.c.) and the use of a large 

 volume of water (1,333 c.c.) by one accustomed to drinking water with 

 meals showed a similar but less marked reduction in the excretion of 

 carbohydrate. 



Other experiments on protein digestion and absorption point in the 

 same direction (Mattill and Hawk(d)). These studies showed that the 

 drinking of three liters of water with meals caused a more economical 

 utilization of the protein constituents of the diet. Gains in body weight 

 were also registered. 



