1892 The flowing bowl when and what to drink (1892, c1891)

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THE foundation of all those fluids that are to be taken into consideration for our purpose is formed by one of the most universal elements on our globe the water. It is a conditio sine qua non both for building up and preserving the whole organic world. A cell, the most primitive of all living beings, e. g., a bathybius, as well as the most highly developed ones, as we see them in the higher organisms of the vegetable and animal king- doms, contains water as a fundamental basis. Although there are cells, and groups of them, that may retain vitality for thousands of years, even when in dried-up condition, yet this does not affect the relatively higher developed beings in the least. " Corpora non aguntnisi fluida " is an old chemical rule, and, indeed, stoppage of all functions, or even death, would occur as soon as the necessary water should not be supplied. Water is indispensable for fulfilling the physical and chemical processes, among which ranks highest the process of diffusion, or the Endosmosis and Exosmosis. We feel the lack of water involuntarily, and call this " thirst." The inclination of satisfying this feel- ing by drinking water, or water-containing liquids, is forced upon us by nature. Thus, thirst compels us to drink, and is, therefore, one of these instinctive im- 51 feeling