Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1886 — A Way to Quench Thirst. [ARTICLE]

A Way to Quench Thirst.

The agony of thirst at sea—when mid-ocean calms or disasters that leave sailors afloat but shiploss, have deprived a crew of their supply of fresh water—is aggravated fearfully by the sight of the very element they long foi but cannot enjoy. As Coleridge in his ‘‘Ancient Mariner” exactly expresses the situation: “Water, water everywhere. And not a drop to drink.” Nearly a hundred years ago, Dn Lind suggested to Capt. Kennedy that thirst might bo quenenod at sea by dipping the clothing into, salt water, and putting it on without wringing. Subsequently the captain, on being cast away, had an opportunity of making the experiment. With great difficulty he succeeded in persuading part of the men to follow his example, and they all survived; while the four who refused, and drank salt water, became delirious and died. In addition to putting on the clothes while wet, night anu morning, they may be wetted while on, two or three times during the day. Captain Kennedy goes on to say, “After these operations we found that the violent drought went off, and the parched tongue was cured in a few minutes.” After bathing and washing the clothes, we found ourselves as much refreshed as though we had received some actual nourishment.