Blue oceans, lakes, and seas contain liquid water. She “uses natural forces to achieve her ends," including wolves, crows, and bees, all of which tormented American settlers of the late 1800s. (4) After Dorothy throws the bucket of water on her: . Out of the … Water is the principal solvent in the body. We are all made of atoms stuck together (or, as scientists would say, “bonded”). Please, any wiccans reading this, we DON’T need any mail about how wiccans are maligned or stereotyped by Baum’s story. The percentage of water in the body changes with age. It is present in the blood, skin, organs, and bones. Similarly, the impact of Dorothy’s house landing on the Wicked Witch of the East breaks down the adhesion of her molecules, so she crumbles to dust. Sign up for the Is '8 X 8' a good guideline? Water is found in three different forms on Earth – gas, solid, and liquid. The Witch lusts after the silver shoes but "was too much afraid of the dark to dare go in Dorothy’s room at night to take the shoes, and her dread of water was greater than her fear of the dark, so she never came near when Dorothy was bathing. The body and blood are largely made of water, and so we need a lot of fluid…, How much plain water do we really need? We depend on it for our survival. After Dorothy has some conversation with the Munchkins and the good Witch of the North, they noticed that “the feet of the dead Witch had disappeared entirely and nothing was left but the silver shoes.” The Witch of the North explains that “She was so old that she dried up quickly in the sun.”, We note the reference to being “dried up.” (As an aside, the silver shoes in the book became ruby slippers in the movie. It is essential to drink enough water to support all functions of the body. Water represents the most precious commodity to the drought-ridden farmers on the great plains. Probably everyone in the western world knows the story through the movie, although the book still has a huge audience of new and repeat readers each year. We cry for a variety of reasons. “See what you have done!” she screamed. There is more water in lean muscle than there is in fatty tissue. A water molecule contains three atoms: an oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, which bond together like magnets. A river is compiled of water and water is made up of the elements hydrogen and oxygen. Margaret Hamilton, who played both Wicked Witches, was a fan of the Baum books and asked the producer Mervyn Le Roy why the shoes had been changed to red. Son of Dex says this is similar to the way sugar dissolves in water. QED. There is water in every cell of the body, from the brain to the teeth. To get the percentage of body water, people can assume 1 liter equals 1 kilogram and then divide TBW by weight. Also, fatty tissue contains less water than muscle, so the percentage of water can vary with body type. It acts as a shock absorber. It is one of the most plentiful and essential of compounds.A tasteless and odourless liquid at room temperature, it has the important ability to dissolve many other substances. If she floated, she was guilty, and would be burned at the stake (hence, the water-and-fire making a neat little symbolism). How did “nuts” and “bananas” come to mean “crazy”? Theoretically, this is possible, but it would be an extrem­ely dangerous process, too. They can also use the Watson formula to calculate total body water in liters. As an approximate guide, the minimum fluid intake is as follows: Dehydration is more likely in a warmer climate or hot weather. I've never understood why The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West melts when Dorothy splashes water onto her face. ), (2) When the Wicked Witch of the West has captured Dorothy and her friends, she enslaves Dorothy for a time, so the reader has a chance to observe the witch’s behavior. Click here to learn more about water intoxication. Water, a substance composed of the chemical elements hydrogen and oxygen and existing in gaseous, liquid, and solid states. The kidneys can remove 20–28 liters of water per day, but they cannot excrete more than 0.8 to 1.0 liters per hour. Each molecule is made up of two hydrogen atoms joined to one oxygen atom. The percentage varies with age, sex, and body type but is usually around 60%. The amount of water in the body changes slightly with age, sex, and hydration levels. Baum’s Wicked Witch of the West is petty, afraid of the dark, selfish, and mean–a spoiled child, in many ways, and very much Baum’s own creation. Water that has evaporated is called water vapor, a gas. A commonly prescribed trial for an accused witch was the ordeal by water: the suspect was tied up and tossed into a river. This article will discuss the percentage of water in the human body, why it varies, and why it is important. But when dehydration occurs in the…, There are several different types and causes of fluid retention, which is also known as edema. and that you are officially considered an ‘astronaut’ once you travel more than 50 miles above Earth’s surface. To create water, oxygen and hydrogen atoms must be present. About 50 percent of that comes from food, 30 percent from energy use, 10 percent from materials such as clothing, and the rest from home activities such as cleaning and cooking. “Importantly, all of these cells contain a lot of water, meaning that humans are in fact around 65 per cent water. What happens if you drink too much water? Water toxicity happens when there is too much water in the body. Drinking enough water every day is crucial to health and plays a part in almost all body functions. This will help achieve safe water and sanitation for all. This seems like pretty basic chemistry, so why don’t we just smash them together and solve the world­’s water ills? Water is considered to be the most important factor behind existence of life on earth. Water is one of the key reasons for human survival and civilization in general. As we face the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever access to safe water is critical to the health of families around the world. Baum himself lived in Aberdeen, South Dakota, from 1888 to 1893, and so was well aware of the Great Plains symbolism. She reported that Le Roy said that in Technicolor red stood out better against the Yellow Brick Road than did silver. Light chases away darkness, good triumphs over evil (eventually, one hopes), and water melts witches. enough water every day is crucial to health and plays a part in almost all body functions. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional, Neuroscience of overeating: Animal study provides insight, People are more likely to believe quick answers than slow ones, Blood thinners may protect against COVID-19 complications, Hope Behind the Headlines: COVID-19 vaccines and variants. But that probably doesn't account for all the water we see today. There is a range of scientific methods to calculate body composition, including the percentage of water. On average, each American uses 2,000 gallons of water a day when you calculate the amount of water it takes to make the food and products we consume. Similarly, exercise can cause dehydration because the body uses more fluid and loses water through sweat. Drinking water is often overlooked as a necessary part of staying healthy. A person should always make sure to drink extra fluids in the heat. The best of The Straight Dope, delivered to your inbox. We’re also aware that wiccans aren’t really melted by water, thanks very much. There are certain things in our daily lives that are so incredibly common that almost everyone knows about them. Drought isn’t the only reason we’re working towards being able to make water, though. This can provide a rough estimate of whether a person is in a healthy range for percentage of body weight. (The movie alters this scenario.) Your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them. For example, babies have a high percentage of water in their bodies, which decreases with age. “I am very sorry, indeed," said Dorothy, who was truly frightened to see the Witch actually melting away like brown sugar before her eyes. Liquid water is generally considered one of the likely preconditions for extraterrestrial life, along with sources of heat and organic materials. In this article, learn about why it happens and get…, © 2004-2021 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. We work with and through partners to increase access to financing for those who need it most. It’s possible that comets made regular water deliveries to Earth. Eating fiber isn’t the only way to prevent constipation. Water towers often operate in conjunction with underground or surface service reservoirs, which store treated water close to where it will be … Taking a different tack, Celia Anderson, in “The Comedians of Oz” (Studies in American Humor, Winter 1986-87), notes gleefully that the Wicked Witch “is justly destroyed by that emblem of household drudgery, a bucketful of water.” This is more amusing since, in the book, the Witch enslaves Dorothy and forces her to perform menial household chores. Why? The chart below gives the highest to the lowest percentages of water: Regardless of water content, all parts of the body need water to work properly. A water molecule is made … For example, we all know that water puts out fire, anything that goes up will surely come down (gravity, duh!) Dorothy confronts the Wicked Witch of the West, throws a bucket of water on her, and the Witch melts into a puddle of scum. This is due to females having a higher percentage of fat. Indeed, the versatility of water as a solvent is essential to … A water tower is an elevated building supporting a water tank constructed at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system for the distribution of potable water, and to provide emergency storage for fire protection. Water makes up more than half of your body weight, and a person can't survive for more than a few days without it. Hard drinking water … 2.447 – (0.09156 x age) + (0.1074 x height in centimeters) + (0.3362 x weight in kilograms) = total body weight (TBW) in liters. Iron oxides or iron carbonates can give a reddish brown colouration to hard water deposits . Drinking more than this can be harmful. This ties in neatly with her fear of water. Does the head remain briefly conscious after decapitation (revisited)? Water is crucial to keep the body working correctly. Why is the earth mostly made of water? Water exists as molecules. On a more symbolic level, there’s a long tradition of water being antithetical to witches. While the average percentage of water in a person’s body is around 60%, the percentage can vary from roughly 45–75%. It would take a lot of comets to fill the ocean, but comets could well have made a big contribution. The form water takes depends on the temperature. STAFF REPORTS ARE WRITTEN BY THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD, CECIL'S ONLINE AUXILIARY. What is the origin of the song “There’s a place in France/Where the naked ladies dance?” Are bay leaves poisonous. Water Source. You’ve probably heard of atoms, the tiniest building blocks of all matter in the Universe. Back to Question Using water to power cars is, unfortunately, only a pipe dream. “Didn’t you know water would be the end of me?” asked the Witch, in a wailing, despairing voice. Henry Littlefield, in “The Wizard of Oz: Parable on Populism” (American Quarterly, Spring 1964), posits that the Witch symbolizes malign Nature. Water represents the most precious commodity to the drought-ridden farmers on the great plains. I was going to tell you to go read the book, you ignoramus, but then I realized the book isn’t clear either. This type of trial was carried out as late as the 1690s. Send questions to Cecil via cecil@straightdope.com. Water is essential for health and is necessary for numerous bodily functions. There is no clear limit for drinking too much water. For instance, your blood, which contains a lot of water, carries oxygen to all the cells of your body. Note that it’s not just “splashing some water on her face," she gets doused with a whole bucket, in both book and movie. “In a minute I shall melt away.”. (Cecil cited this article in his column about Oz symbolism.) The amount varies, depending on age, sex, weight, health, physical activity, and the climate where a person lives. How should she, indeed? The water breaks down the weak adhesion of her body so that she melts away. The Romans built the aqueducts at the turn of the first millennium to deliver water to the cities, and vases or animal skins were used to transport water in smaller quantites. ), Second, note that the Wicked Witch of the West was, like her sister the Witch of the East, “dried up.”. Going one step further, Dr. Douglas A. Rossman, writing “On the Liquidation of Witches” in the Baum Bugle, Spring 1969, suggests that the melting of the Wicked Witch is a chemical process. Water insulates the brain, spinal cord, organs, and fetus. Since the beginning of human history, people have searched for ways to transport fresh water from its source to their habitat. Solid water is ice, including the frozen, white caps at the top and bottom of the world. Some organs contain much more water than others. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Water Helps Keep Skin Looking Good. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Thus, water brings an end to hostile or malign nature. A good rule of thumb is to drink fluids throughout the day. Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a … Cecil cited this article in his column about Oz symbolism. Cells contain 60% of all water in the body, with roughly one-third of the remainder, surrounding the cells. The Witch did not bleed where she was bitten, for she was so wicked that the blood in her had dried up many years before.”, First, note that the WWW carries an umbrella, instead of the more traditional broom. “Of course not,” answered Dorothy; “how should I?”. Most of the human body is water, with an average of roughly 60%. The thirst is real. Could you please fill me in? Water is used to flush waste and toxins from the body via urine. Normally, the molecules of a substance (or Witch) stick to each other, a phenomenon called adhesion. . What does the Chicago lyric “25 or 6 to 4” mean? A person can maintain the balance of water in the body by taking in enough fluids during the day. Water: Do we really need 8 glasses a day? However, adhesion may be broken down by water or by some other powerful force (such as a house falling from the sky). Once a person feels thirsty, they may already be slightly dehydrated. This doesn’t tell us why water is so potent against the Witch, but it set the stage, and lets us know the Witch is aware of water’s power over her. It’s also … Baum himself lived in Aberdeen, South Dakota, from 1888 to 1893, and so was well aware of … There have been cases of water poisoning in people who drank a lot of water in a very short space of time. Water, activism and visible poetry: Thoughts while underway Friday 7 August 2015 anchored in Gorge Harbour, Cortes Island Around each corner, in each encounter, is the potential for surprise, magic, time travel, fantastical possibility. But still, why should water affect her so? The Annotated Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, edited and with notes by Michael Patrick Hearn, W.W. Norton Company, New York, 2000. The following tables give the average percentages and ranges of water in the body, according to sex and age: Body size, shape, and balance of muscle and fat can all affect the percentage of water in a person’s body. Why does water make the Wicked Witch of the West melt? Babies have a very high percentage of water in their bodies, while older adults have less. We play an important role in helping to meet this urgent need. … (The movie, sadly, reverts to the traditional image of a broom. Explorers from pre-Columbian times and the age of antiquity to NASA have lived by the motto “follow the water” as they have sought and continue to seek to discover new opportunities for the expansion of human civilization. . What’s the origin of the skull and crossbones pirate flag? Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone, chalk or gypsum which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates, bicarbonates and sulfates. They should always drink more fluids in hot weather or after exercise. Robert Burns, writing a note to his poem “Tam O’Shanter” in 1790 says: “It is a well known fact that witches, or any evil spirits, have no power to follow a poor wight any farther than the middle of the next running stream.” So the association of water as hostile to witches is a long-standing tradition that Baum possibly drew from. This may be during endurance sports because of heat stress, or when using recreational drugs that increase thirst. Water is a colorless and odorless substance found all over Earth. People can use online calculators to determine the percentage of water in the body. –2.097 + (0.1069 x height in centimeters) + (0.2466 x weight in kilograms) = total body weight (TBW) in liters. However, this is rare. Comets are mostly water ice. Water supply is already limited. Each molecule is made of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms held together by strong covalent bonds. the Witch began to shrink and fall away. They may need to drink more water after exercise and in hot weather. ‘Water is made of two hydrogen atoms attached to an oxygen atom. Typically, a female body contains a lower percentage of water than a male one. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Click here to learn more about the benefits of drinking water. They’re mostly made of water, but also contain salt, fatty oils, and over 1,500 different proteins. Water is essential to life. Water is associated with baptism, and thus the water of the river rejects the witch as satanic. The basic need has shaped how human societies have advanced over time. Currently, fresh water is already limited as it is. The simple solution is to drink more. White swirling clouds are made of tiny drops of water, which has evaporated from Earth’s surface. Okay, maybe not … The rocky material that formed Earth contained some water. Water exists throughout the body. It does not have the properties of living things so the answer is - no. An older review states that water is the most important nutrient in the body. A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD. Water is made up of billions of molecules. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommend: Some tips for older adults specifically include: There is no set daily amount of fluid that a person should drink. By “the book," of course, we mean The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, published in 1900 and a children’s favorite ever since. A majority of the human body consists of water. Why do we cry? I've only seen the MGM movie and have never read the books, so I might be missing some essential tidbit of info, or maybe I'm just an underread fool who can't pinpoint the tiniest bit of symbolism or metaphor, but so what? 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