The medical properties of the St. Catharines mineral waters.

Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical properties of the St. Catharines mineral waters. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    [4] sorption; yet the question of absorption of the mineral constituents of any batli is by no means settled, experiments so far having proved unsatisfactory and contradictory. Experience having demonstrated their value, their mode of action cannot be discussed here. It is only in rheumatism or obstinate skin diseases that baths of very long dura- tion or high temperature are employed, and these are never followed by any permanent want of reaction ; on the contrary, the St. Catharines baths are refreshing and invigorating, leaving after them a delightful, soft and moist condition of the skin. The effects produced by the St. Catharines water, hereafter mentioned, follow the alternate use of baths and drinking, or either alone, occasionally of both combined. By removing impurities quickly from the principal passages, the St. Catharines water is remedial in local fulness of blood in the liver, spleen and mesenteric glands, and other contents of the abdomen. On this account, in the various diseases consequent upon the fevers of marshy' districts, or in malarious poisoning, the eliminative properties of the waters have proved eminently beneficial. In obstruction of that par- ticular function, the origin of so much suffering to females, they are most useful, as long as the reproductive forces are not too much sunk. In the treatment of Gout and Rheumatism in all its forms, the St. Catharines water has acquired a well-merited celebrity. Neuralgia, arising from the presence of the morbific matter in the circulation, which gives rise to those diseases, or from exposure to miasma, has been very generally promptly cured. THE CONCENTRATED WATER. This mother water resembles much the multer-lauge supplied bv the salt-works at Kreuznach. It is one of the most certain diuretics dis- covered; externally, it is also a mild and efficacious counter irritant. The bath, and cautious internal use of this prepared water, is used in all diseases springing from a scrofulous origin. In many cases of o-landu- lar and cutaneous affections, scrofulous joints and maladies of the eves, nose or ears, a course of this water has produced a total chanoe inthe appearance, and restoration to health. In conclusion, invalids must not be discouraged if these happy results do not follow as promptly as they may have been led to* expect. Occasionally theso waters, as well as all the remedies it has been permitted to man to adapt to the relief of his physical sufferings will fail; often their influence is only felt after erasing from their employ- ment; and sometimes in obstinate cases, the full benefit can onlv be derived by their judicious continuance for a number of years. The free use of the water, either internally or as a bath, immediately after the fatigues of a long journey, is positively unsafe. Drinking should always be commenced with in small quantities, and, when possible, under the direction of a Physician. Believing that Mineral Waters offer useful resources to medicine, this effort has been conscientiously made to submit briefly the claims of a watering-place already popular to the notice of those engaged in tho search for relief of their own infirmities or those of others.