Page:EB1911 - Volume 18.djvu/542

in a particular diet, visiting springs or climates of a different and usually of a tonic character, or continuing for a certain time to drink the Waters at home. It may be added that the advantage of having recourse to mineral waters is often felt more after than during treatment.

Since improved methods of bottling have been discovered, and the advantage of an additional supply of carbonic acid has been appreciated, the export of waters from their sources has increased enormously, and most of the principal waters can now be advantageously used at home. It may be added that many of the artificial imitations of them are excellent.

Table I.—Typical Mineral Waters.

	Indifferent. Gastein 95°–118°.	Earthy.  Leuk. 123·8°	Salt. Kissinen.	Salt. Sea-Water.	Sulphur. Aix-la- Chapelle. 113°–140°	Iron. Schwalbach.	Alkaline. Vichy. 105·8°.	Alkaline- Saline. Carlsbad. 119°–138°.	Table Water. Seltzers.	Purging Water. Hunyadi Janos.
Solids.
Bicarbonate of soda	—	—	—	—	0·6449	0·0206	4·883	1·92	1·2	—
Bicarbonate of„ potash	—	—	—	—	—	—	0·352	—	—	—
Bicarbonate of„ magnesia	0·0017	0·013	0·017	0·45	0·0506	0·2122	0·303	0·18	—	—
Bicarbonate of„ calcium	0·0195	0·012	1·06	2·38	0·157	0·2213	0·434	0·428		—
Sulphate of soda	0·0208	0·050	—	—	0·2831	0·0079	0·292	2·37	—	15·9
Sulphate of„ potash	0·0135	0·038	—	—	0·1527	0·0037	—	0·16	—	—
Sulphate of„ magnesia	—	0·308	0·588	2·96	—	—	—	—	0·46	16·0
Sulphate of„ calcium	—	1·520	0·389	0·25		—	—	—	—	—
Sulphide of sodium	—	—	—	—	0·0136	—	—	—	—	—
Chloride of sodium	0·0428	—	5·52	25·21	2·616	—	0·534	1·03	2·2	1·3
Chloride of„ potash	—	—	0·286	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Chloride of„ magnesia	—	—	0·303	3·39	—	—	—	—	—	—
Carbonate of iron	0·0005	0·023	0·277	—	—	0·0837	—	0·003	0·01	—
Silicic acid	0·0496	0·036	—	—	—	0·0320	—	—	—	—
Gases
Carbonic acid	—	—	3·19	—	—	5·35	2·6	0·76	2·24	0·45
Hydrosulphuric acid	—	—	—	—	trace	—	—	—	—	—

The history of the use of mineral waters can only just be alluded to. They have been employed from the earliest periods, and traces of Roman work have been found at most of the European baths which are now in favour at almost all the thermal ones. Occasionally new springs are discovered in old countries, but the great majority of them have been long known. Warm waters, and those containing small quantities of mineral constituents, appear to have remained more steadily in favour than any other class within the appropriate sphere of mineral waters, which is limited to the treatment of chronic disease. The attempt has been made to range mineral waters according to their therapeutic action, according to their internal or external use, but most generally according to their chemical constituents so far as they have been from time to time understood; and a judicious classification undoubtedly is a help towards their rational employment. But their constituents are so varied, and the gradations between different waters are so finely shaded off, that it has been found impossible to propose any one definite scientific classification that is not open to numberless objections. Thus a great many of the sulphur waters are practically earthy or saline ones. Yet because they contain very minute amounts of such a gas as hydrosulphuric acid, an ingredient so palpable as always to attract. attention, it is considered necessary to class them under the head of sulphur. The general rule is to attempt to class a water under the head of its predominant element; but if the amount of that be extremely small, this leads to such waters as those of Mont Dore being classified as alkaline or arseniated, because they contain a very little soda and arsenic. The classification in the following table, which is that usually adopted in Germany, has the merit of comparative simplicity, and of freedom from theoretical considerations Which in this matter influence the French much more than the German writers. The more important constituents only are given. The amount of solid constituents is the number of parts to one thousand parts of the water; the temperature of thermal springs is added. The waters are classified as indifferent, earthy, salt, sulphuretted, iron, alkaline, alkaline-saline—with subvarieties of table waters and purging waters.

In addition to their solid constituents, gas is present in many waters in considerable quantity. There is a little oxygen and a good deal of nitrogen in some of them; the quantity of hydrosulphuric acid, even in strong sulphuric waters, is wonderfully small; but the volume of carbonic acid present is often very large—for instance, in the case of Kissingen, Schwalbach and Selters. The immediate effect of the carbonic acid which they contain is that of pleasant stimulation to the stomach and system. Extremely little appears to be known of its actual operation on the system: a part of what is swallowed is returned by eructation, and a part passes on to the intestines; whether any appreciable quantity reaches the blood is doubtful. There is no question that carbonic acid increases diuresis. Practically it is found to aid digestion, helping the functions of the stomach, and in a slight degree the peristaltic action of the intestines. The increased flow of urine may be caused by its favouring the absorption of water by the stomach. In some baths carbonic acid is so abundant that precautions have to be taken to prevent its tendency to accumulate on account of its heavy specific gravity. Carbonic acid gas, used as a bath, proves stimulating to the skin and to the general system; but its employment has not answered the expectations formed of it.

Table II.^[1]—Indifferent Waters.

Locality.	Height  in Ft.	Temp. °Fahr.	For what prescribed.
Evian, Lake of Geneva	1100	—	Nervous cases, dyspepsia, urinary affections.
Badenweiler, Baden	1425	—	For mild rheumatic treatment; a health resort.
Buxton, England	980	82	Gout and rheumatism (nitrogen present).
Schlangenbad, Nassau	800	80–87	Nervous cases, female disorders, skin.
Sacedon, Spain	1500	85	Rheumatism, gout, cutaneous affections.
Wildbad, Württemtberg	1320	90–101	Gout and rheumatism, neuralgia, thickenings.
Pfeffers, Switzerland	2115	99	Do.  do.  do.
Ragatz, do.	1570	95	Do.  do.  do.
Panticosa, S. Pyrenees	5110	85–95	Do. (nitrogen present); special action in phthisis.
Teplitz, Bohemia	648	101–120	Gout, rheumatism, old injuries, joints or bones.
Gastein, Austria	3315	95–118	Do. do.; soothes nervous system.

 

Indifferent Waters scarcely vary in chemical qualities from ordinary drinking water; but they are usually of higher temperature. Their therapeutic action, which is mainly exercised through baths,

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1. In this and the following tables a selection is given of some of the best-known mineral waters in various European countries that possess establishments. Their chief peculiarities of elevation, of temperature and constituents are briefly noted. The curative effects, necessarily alluded to very generally, are those usually attributed to them.