CHAPTER VIII. 



THE DRINKING WATER. 



Many have reached the conclusion that because dogs 

 will drink from stagnant pools it is a matter of indiffer- 

 ence to them whether or not their water is clean and 

 fresh. Man will also drink from such pools when tor- 

 tured by thirst, yet he does not try to convince himself 

 that it is refreshing and wholesome. Far from it. He 

 practically acknowledges always that the influence of 

 the drinking water is cardinal in rank with food, and 

 that when polluted both are alike injurious to health. 



But such inconsistency is not unusual with him ; he is 

 in fact constantly exhibiting the same fault in dealing with 

 simple truths which bear upon his own health, and ever 

 slow to recognize their importance in the practical ar- 

 rangements of life. Consequently many which he ought 

 to admit unhesitatingly, so obviously based as they are on 

 sound sense, must be literally forced upon him. 



Yet to his credit it can be said that while slow to ac- 

 cept what is best for his own physical welfare or even 

 pay due respect to his own instincts he is but seldom re- 

 luctant to respect the instincts of animals to which he is 



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