FOOD AND DRINK fj 



113. The Use of Water in the Body. It is plain that if 

 we take a quart or more of water every day, nearly an equal 

 amount must be thrown out from the body. Some of it 

 steams away with the breath. More of it passes through 

 the pores of the skin as perspiration, and still more is 

 drained away through the kidneys. Thus, water drains off 

 a great deal of waste matter from the body. A great 

 amount must be supplied, especially in hot weather, to 

 make good this loss. 



This topic is more fully treated in Chapter IX. 



114. Drinking in Hot Weather. One of the most com- 

 mon of all drinks used in this country is ice water. The 

 temptation to drink freely of it in hot weather is rarely 

 resisted. It should be sipped slowly and only a small 

 amount taken at a time. 



It is a dangerous thing to drink ice water in great gulps 

 when overheated. The proper way is to rinse the mouth 

 and take slowly a few swallows. It is always to be remem- 

 bered that very little cold water is really needed to quench 

 thirst and refresh the heated body. 1 



115. Refreshing Drinks. The greater portion of every 

 drink is water ; but, in various ways, other substances are 

 mixed with the water to give it a pleasant taste. 



Many kinds of refreshing drinks, made up for the most 

 part of flavored water slightly charged with carbonic acid 



in purity, and water derived directly from flowing streams and rivers is most 

 likely to contain these organisms in greatest numbers. The most danger- 

 ous water for drinking purposes is that of rivers which have been contami- 

 nated in any way by sewage material, a condition of things true of the 

 water used in some cities. H. W. CONN'S Bacteria, Yeasts, and Molds, 



1 When overheated, and before drinking cold water, it is always prudent 

 to pour water slowly over the inside of each wrist (over the radial artery), 

 or allow it to run from the faucet. This helps greatly to cool and refresh 

 the body and to lessen the amount of water needed to quench thirst. 



