Bailey. | Mineral Waters. 45 
of the intestinal canal, and especially of the kidneys, which 
carry off the largest portion of the water. Much water-drink- 
ing diminishes the specific gravity of the urine, makes it thin- 
ner, and increases the quantity of the urine. The perspiration 
is also thereby increased, but this increase varies much, accord- 
ing to the temperature of the water and the air, and the active 
exercise of the person. Water, if properly administered, aug- 
ments all the secretions of the system, and facilitates the 
change of tissue and the renovation of the body. Water of a 
high temperature is more easily absorbed, and is more efficacious 
than water of the usual cool temperature. Too much water- 
drinking impedes the digestion, disturbes the secretions, and 
often produces dropsy. 
Water taken in large quantity expands the stomach, the 
intestines, the blood-vessels, the biliary passages, and the blad- 
der; it liquifies the contents of the intestinal canal, and there- 
by promotes the evacuation ; it facilitates the circulation of the 
blood in the smaller vessels of the liver, lungs, and spleen, 
thereby preventing or relieving congestions of these organs. 
The expansion of the biliary passages and the bladder by wa- 
ter greatly facilitates the passage of gall-stones and gravel. 
Cold water is a stimulant, and as such highly beneficial in 
the treatment of atony of the stomach and the intestines, and 
of defective digestion caused thereby. It also diminishes the 
irritability of these organs. 
Warm water is used with great benefit in many painful affec- 
tions of the stomach and the intestinal canal. It fluidizes its 
contents more thoroughly than cold water, augments the secre- 
tions, and promotes the absorption of morbid deposits. 
If mineral waters are drunk, the larger portion of them is 
also absorbed by the stomach. KHspecially are the gases which 
they contain rapidly carried into the blood, while the absorp- 
tion of the mineral constituents is somewhat retarded. High 
temperature of the water and active exercise fayor the absorp- 
tion. Another portion of the mineral water passes through the 
alimentary canal, where it is partly absorbed, the rest being 
eliminated by the action of the bowels. 
