Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/612

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MINERAL SPRINGS

artesian well (76½°), Ky.; Middle Park hot sulphur springs (111° to 116°), Summit co., Col. ; Salt Lake hot springs (110° to 128°), Salt Lake City, Utah ; Warm springs (90°), Merriwether co., Ga.; Warm springs (96° to 98°), Bath co., Va.; and the Geysers or Warm Sulphur springs (96° to 104°), about 20 m. from Sitka, Alaska. 4. Alkaline Springs. The waters of alkaline springs increase, by their excess of carbonate of soda, the alkalinity and fluidity of the blood. Their action is diuretic, and they are efficacious in all affections of the kidneys, in catarrhs, in affections of the stomach, bladder, and abdomen, and in indigestion, jaundice, gout, and diabetes. According to Bauer, 16 oz. of the water of the Grande Grille (107°) of Vichy contains carbonate of soda 29.19 grains, carbonate of lime 1.92, ammonia 0.036, strontia 0.0178, magnesia 0.27, sulphate of potash 1.567, soda 0.9, phosphate of soda 0.032, and chloride of sodium 4.445. The Josephsquelle of Bilin, Bohemia, contains about 23 grains of carbonate of soda in the same quantity of water. Other noted alkaline springs are Buda, in Hungary; Vals, Aix, Chaudes-Aigues, Néris-les-Bains, and Luxeuil, in France; Gieshübel near Carlsbad, Fachingen, Geilnau, and the muriated alkaline or acidulous springs of Selters, Ems, and Salzbrunn, in Germany; Bristol, Buxton, and Dunblane, in Great Britain; Camarés, in France; Ischia, Asciano, and Nocera, in Italy. The principal constituents of the famous Selters and allied waters, used in acute catarrh and pulmonary affections, are chloride of sodium, carbonate of soda, and carbonic acid gas. The principal alkaline springs of the United States are: Bladon springs, Choctaw co., Ala.; California Seltzer springs, Mendocino co.; Perry springs, Pike co., and Versailles springs, Brown co., Ill.; St. Louis springs, Gratiot co., Mich.; Sheldon springs (including the Missisquoi spring), Franklin co., and Weidon springs, St. Albans, Vt.; and the newly discovered Des Chutes hot springs (143° to 145°), Wasco co., Oregon. 5. Alkaline Saline Springs. The waters of these springs are most efficient in diseases of the liver and abdominal plethora, obesity, gout, and calculus. Their representatives are the thermal springs (117½° to 165°) of Carlsbad in Bohemia, nine of which are in use. The famous Sprudel, which used to spout 18 to 20 times a minute, rising from 4 to 8 ft., contains, according to Berzelius and Bauer, in 16 oz., sulphate of soda 19.28 grains, chloride of sodium 7.97, carbonate of soda 10.13, carbonate of lime 2.37, carbonate of magnesia 1.369, carbonate of lithia 0.02, and fluoride of calcium 0.024. To this class belong the curative cold waters of Marienbad in Bohemia, Rohitsch in Styria, and the thermal Bertrich in Rhineland; Dax, Bagnères-d'Adour, and Ussat, in France; and Bath and Matlock, in England. In the United States the chief springs of this class are: Lansing well, Ingham co., Mich.; Ballston Spa, Saratoga co., and the Albany artesian well (500 ft. deep), N. Y.; Milhoit's soda springs, Clackamas co., Oregon; and the thermals, Idaho hot springs (85° to 115°), Clear Creek co., Col., and Charleston artesian well (87°, 1,250 ft. deep), Charleston, S. C. 6. Purgative or Bitter Waters. These waters derive their latter name from the taste of their chief ingredients, sulphate of soda (Glauber's salts) and sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts). When taken in moderate doses they act as gentle purgatives and strong diuretics, and are useful therefore in all cases requiring active saline purgation. They are especially applicable to persons of robust constitution, with a tendency to abdominal plethora. The Kissingen bitter water contains, in 16 oz., sulphate of soda 46.51 grains, sulphate of magnesia 39.55, chloride of sodium 61.10, chloride of magnesium 30.25, chloride of ammonium 0.02, and chloride of lithium 0.09. Friederichshall in Saxe-Meiningen, Pullna, Seidschütz, and Seidlitz in Bohemia, Epsom in England, Campagne-sur-Aude in France, and Ivánda in Hungary, are famous bitter waters. Of springs of this class in the United States, Crab Orchard springs, Lincoln co., Ky., produce the Crab Orchard salts, which are made by boiling down the water. Estill or Irvine springs, Estill co., Ky., are strongly impregnated with sulphate of magnesia. Harrodsburg springs, Mercer co., Ky., are modified in their laxative effect by equal amounts of sulphate of lime and of carbonate of iron. Bedford springs, Bedford co., Pa., are purgative-chalybeate. Allied waters are: Beer springs, Oregon; Midland well, Midland co., Mich.; and Elgin spring, Addison co., Vt. 7. Calcic Springs. These are rich in carbonate of lime (limestone), or sulphate of lime (gypsum), mixed with iron, and with saline, alkaline, and other ingredients. Bathing in these waters cures exanthema, indigestion, and rheumatic and gouty affections. Drinking them, especially those rich in carbonate of lime and carbonic acid, such as the Wildungen water, proves beneficial in catarrh of the bladder, gravel and calculus, and in gastralgic dyspepsia. The following calcic thermal waters are regarded as of great therapeutical value: Leuk (123°), canton of Valais, and Weissenburg (tepid), in Bern, Switzerland; Lucca and Montione, in Italy; and in the United States, San Bernardino hot springs (100° to 172°), Cal.; Agua Caliente (130°), Mesilla co., N. M.; Sweet springs (74°), Monroe co., W. Va.; Berkeley springs (74°), in Bath, Morgan co., W. Va.; Warm springs (97° to 102°), Madison co., N. C.; and Bethesda springs (60°), Waukesha, Wis. (calcic-alkaline, efficient in urinary diseases). The principal cold calcic springs are: Wildungen, Waldeck, Germany; Contrexéville, Vosges, France; in the United States, Butterworth springs, Kent co., Leslie well, Ingham co., Eaton Rapids wells, Eaton co., and Hubbardston well, Ionia co., Mich.; Yellow springs, Greene co., Ohio; and Gettysburg springs, Adams co., Pa. 8. Indifferent Thermal Springs. This class contains but small