Winternitz states that "when it is desired to flood the tissues with fluid, to increase the weight of the blood column, to augment the tension in the vascular system, to increase the capillary pressure, water should be administered in small single doses, but repeated at short intervals of from twenty to thirty minutes throughout a considerable period of time. When, however, it is desired to cause disappearance of fluid effusions and to stimulate absorptive power, it will be possible - however paradoxical it may seem - to effect this by the drinking of cold water, if we alternate the administration of fluid with considerable intervals of absence from all drink." He thinks that in this way the blood becomes more thickened, so to speak, and therefore better able to absorb fluid from the tissues, and to initiate absorption and elimination. For this purpose he recommends somewhat larger quantities of fluid every six or eight hours, and the withholding of all fluids in the interval. When once absorption is initiated, it encroaches on the tissues as well as the fluids of the body, so that there is brought about an increase of waste and destructive metamorphosis or katabolism.

A supply of water slightly above the normal, with an equivalent increase in the consumption of food, induces a gain in body-weight, indicating that anabolism has been stimulated, but an excessive consumption of water is followed by a diminution of body-weight. The effect of an increased supply of water is soon displayed by a corresponding activity of the kidneys, not only as far as regards the excretion of water but also of urea, and this is accompanied by a lessened output of uric acid and oxalic acid, in cases where the latter has previously been present. There is likewise a proportionate increase in the phosphates and sulphates of the urine, while oxygen is consumed and carbonic acid eliminated in great quantities by the lungs.