Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1886 — A Way to Quench Thirst. [ARTICLE]

A Way to Quench Thirst.

The agony of thirst at sea—when mid-ocean calms of disasters that leave sailors afloat but shipless, have deprived a crew of their supply of fresh water—is aggravated fearfully by the sight of the very element they long for but cannot enjoy. As Coleridge in bis “Ancient Mariner” exactly expresses the situation: “Water, water everywhere. And not a drop to drink.” Nearly a hundred years ago, Dr. Lind suggested to Capt. Kennedy that thirst might be quenched rtt 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 ana 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 th,e 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.