e body with enormous quantities of liquids, and thus, as it
were, wash the offending substance out of the system. So plausible did he
make this theory appear that it was accepted very largely by medical men,
who in turn taught it to the general public. Within recent times it has
been fortunately shown that Haig's theory was wholly chimerical, and
that quantities of uric acid greatly in excess of the normal amount could
collect in the body, or might be injected into the blood-vessels, without
the least harm resulting; thus, at one blow, this widely accepted theory
was annihilated, and there now remains no sort of reason for attempting
to remove uric acid by excessive water-drinking, or by other means.

It is fortunate that the uric-acid theory has been disproved, for
the excessive use of water is not only unnecessary, but highly
injurious to the digestive organs, particularly when the fluids are
taken at or about meals. Experience has shown that excessive
stomach-acidity, which is the most common form of indigestion, is
in a large degree dependent on the taking of liquids while eating,
and that even in those who are healthy any more than small
quantities cannot be looked upon as being wholesome. In dyspeptics
liquids seem to act in a hurtful way in several different
directions. For example, where persons constantly take liquids
while eating the necessity of properly chewing the food is largely
done away with; in addition to this the mere presence of water in
the stomach seems to tend to the production of increased acidity,
for it has often been observed by the writer that even where food
was eaten dry indigestion would follow in many dyspeptics if they
took water just before or immediately after eating.

The only sensible advice that can be given in this connection is that
persons should take no more liquids that they feel a desire for, and they
should avoid taking them in any quantity about meal time. What has just
been said concerning water applies equally well to milk. When taken alone
it very frequently agrees with patients much better than does solid food,
but when mixed with the latter is prone to produce indigestion, just as
does water. Fermented milk in the form of buttermilk is a very popular
beverage in some parts of the world, but it may be well doubted as to
whether it deserves the reputation for wholesomeness generally accorded
i