in like manner; whilst others again eat beet and gourds beforehand with salts and diluted wine. * * * * * COMMENTARY. Our author has given an outline of Hippocrates’ opinions on this subject, and for fuller information, we must refer to his work quoted in the preceding Section. The characters of the different kinds of water, are thus given by Celsus with his usual terseness: “Aqua levissima pluvialis est: deinde fontana; tum ex flumine, tum ex puteo; post hæc ex nive, aut glacie; gravior his ex lacu; gravissima ex palude.” (ii, 18.) Their characters are somewhat differently given by Athenæus. Thus, he states, that water from snow or ice is lighter and better than rain water; otherwise his remarks on the qualities of waters are very interesting. He recommends a moderate draught of water at the commencement of a feast, in order that the veins, being in so far filled by it, may not greedily absorb the chyle before it is properly concocted. (Deipnos, ii, and Pliny, Hist. Nat. xxxi, 21.) Our author’s account is abridged from Galen and Oribasius (Collect. Med. x), or rather is copied entire from ‘Euporist.’ (i, 14.) Aëtius gives a fuller account extracted from Ruffus (iii, 165.) Haly Abbas treats of this subject at great length. His characters of the different kinds of water agree very well with those given by our author. He states that rain water is the purest, and snow water the most impure. Haly Abbas condemns the indulgence in a copious draught after a meal. The reasons he assigns for its proving injurious are, that it prevents the surface of the stomach from coming into proper contact with the food, and also that it reduces the natural temperature of the stomach. He recommends a person, if thirst be urgent, to allay it by drinking a small quantity slowly. (Theor. v, 29.) Alsaharavius advocates similar views. He also forbids drink during the night, as the sensation of thirst may be fallacious; and at all events, he says, it is only increased by indulgence. (Theor. xiii, 1, and xii, 2.) Rhases, in like manner, states that a draught of water immediately after eating impairs digestion, but is proper after digestion has taken place. (Contin. xxxiii.) Rhases, in another place, states that ice is prejudicial to the health, especially of old persons, by congealing the stomach and hurting the nerves. He admits, however, of the use of water cooled in snow, but recommends its effects to be counteracted by a moderate allowance of wine. Water which has been drawn from a very deep well he directs to boil before using it. (xxxvii, i, 70.) In an anonymous treatise on diet lately published by Ideler, the drinking of cold water immediately after a meal is strongly condemned, as being hurtful to the digestion. (Phys. et Med. Græc. Minor. vol. ii, p. 197.)