Water As Food (2)
Filtering is of course of advantage, and whenever the water is inclined to be unsatisfactory a filter can be purchased, or a cheap one can easily be made for home use by merely arranging an apparatus so the water will pass through sand and charcoal. The necessity, however, for frequently cleaning the charcoal should not be forgotten.
The quantity of water needed to maintain the proper condition depends very greatly upon the individual and upon the temperature. In very warm weather considerable water is necessary, that the exterior part of the body may be cooled by evaporation, or perspiration, as it is usually termed. No matter how high the atmospheric temperature, the body retains in all cases when in a normal condition, a temperature of about 981/2 degrees Fahrenheit, and this is maintained simply by the cooling of the exterior surface from evaporation; thus you can readily see, if engaged in some vigorous exercise that heats the blood, or if the temperature is high, the necessity for water greatly increases.
Though pure water is unquestionably of great advantage, it would be well to call attention to the fact that if the body is in a normal condition of vigorous health there is little danger from water which gives no evidence of impurities to the taste. Under normal conditions of perfect health no disease germs of any kind can live in the human stomach. There are germs of health as well as germs of disease, and when the body is in a perfect condition, these germs of health are always stronger than any disease germs which may be introduced, and under these circumstances they are always the victors when compelled to come in contact with the baneful enemies to health.
