It will be desirable, however, to see what is believed in
India about iced drinks, for it wiU be something of a guide
for us in Australia. There are two authorities in particular
who have been already referred to, and who have written
on this matter in its application to India. The first of
these is Sir James Ranald Martin, who had twenty-two years
experience there in different parts, and is therefore entitled
to be listened to. He says that ice is a matter of neces-
sity in the East, and quotes Dolomieu, who observes of
iced drinks that "they revive the spirits, strengthen the
body, and assist the digestion."
There is also that other great name, that of Sir Joseph
Fayrer, who is most competent to speak on Indian matters.
In setting forth rules for the guidance of those who purpose
living in India, he remarks that iced water may be drunk
with impunity there; that he has no recollection of
seeing any one suffer from drinking iced water or iced soda
water in a hot climate ; and that in the great heat it is good,
since it tends to keep down the body temperature. When
the system is prostrated by the sun or extreme heat, or
exhausted by physical or intellectual exertion in a hot and
78 THE ABT OF LIVING IN AUSTRALIA.
damp atmosphere, he believes that a glass of iced water
slowly swallowed is far more refreshing than the iced brandy,
or whisky peg, or draught of beer, too frequently indulged
in under such circumstances.
The different writers on food and dietetics, who have
given considerable attention to the same subject, are almost
unanimous in their opinion to the same effect. There will
be no occasion to refer to all of them, but three at least
deserve a brief mention. Dr. Burney Yeo has recently
observed that iced water, when taken in small quantities,
is refreshing and cooling, and likewise stimulates the
digestive functions On the other hand, it is certainly in-
jurious when taken in inordinate amount. According to
Dr. T. King Chambers, cool drinks are beneficial to the
stomach in hot weather, since they help to reduce the
increased temperature to which the over-heated blood has
brought it. Ice, moreover, is a valuable addition to the
dietary both of the sick and of the healthy. There is one
caution to be observed, hoAvever, and it is that ice is
injurious when the system is exhausted after violent exercise.
And lastly, Dr. Milner Fothergill believes the craving for
cool drinks during the hot weather is such, that there is
evidently some irrepressible desire to be satisfied. He even
writes that in his opinion the dyspepsia of Americans is not
entirely due to the free use of iced water, but that there are
other causes which help to bring it about.
But while all this is greatly in favour of the moderate use
of iced drinks, the purity of the source from which the
ice is obtained is also a matter of the highest importance.
Ice is not ice when the water from which it is derived
is impure. There was an outbreak of sickness amongst
the visitors at one of the large hotels at Rye Beach, a water-
ing-place in America, one summer. The symptoms were an
alarming disturbance of the whole of the digesti^-e organs,
DIET. 79
Page 60
Presented as published in 1893. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
It will be desirable, however, to see what is believed in India about iced drinks, for it will be something of a guide for us in Australia. There are two authorities in particular who have been already referred to, and who have written on this matter in its application to India. The first of these is Sir James Ranald Martin, who had twenty-two years experience there in different parts, and is therefore entitled to be listened to. He says that ice is a matter of necessity in the East, and quotes Dolomieu, who observes of iced drinks that "they revive the spirits, strengthen the body, and assist the digestion."
There is also that other great name, that of Sir Joseph Fayrer, who is most competent to speak on Indian matters. In setting forth rules for the guidance of those who purpose living in India, he remarks that iced water may be drunk with impunity there; that he has no recollection of seeing any one suffer from drinking iced water or iced soda water in a hot climate ; and that in the great heat it is good, since it tends to keep down the body temperature. When the system is prostrated by the sun or extreme heat, or exhausted by physical or intellectual exertion in a hot and
damp atmosphere, he believes that a glass of iced water slowly swallowed is far more refreshing than the iced brandy, or whisky peg, or draught of beer, too frequently indulged in under such circumstances.
The different writers on food and dietetics, who have given considerable attention to the same subject, are almost unanimous in their opinion to the same effect. There will be no occasion to refer to all of them, but three at least deserve a brief mention. Dr. Burney Yeo has recently observed that iced water, when taken in small quantities, is refreshing and cooling, and likewise stimulates the digestive functions On the other hand, it is certainly injurious when taken in inordinate amount. According to Dr. T. King Chambers, cool drinks are beneficial to the stomach in hot weather, since they help to reduce the increased temperature to which the over-heated blood has brought it. Ice, moreover, is a valuable addition to the dietary both of the sick and of the healthy. There is one caution to be observed, hoAvever, and it is that ice is injurious when the system is exhausted after violent exercise. And lastly, Dr. Milner Fothergill believes the craving for cool drinks during the hot weather is such, that there is evidently some irrepressible desire to be satisfied. He even writes that in his opinion the dyspepsia of Americans is not entirely due to the free use of iced water, but that there are other causes which help to bring it about.
But while all this is greatly in favour of the moderate use of iced drinks, the purity of the source from which the ice is obtained is also a matter of the highest importance. Ice is not ice when the water from which it is derived is impure. There was an outbreak of sickness amongst the visitors at one of the large hotels at Rye Beach, a watering-place in America, one summer. The symptoms were an alarming disturbance of the whole of the digestive organs,