The mineral springs of the United States and Canada : with analyses and notes on the prominent spas of Europe, and a list of sea-side resorts / by Geo. E. Walton.

  • Walton, George E. (George Edward), 1839-1917.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The mineral springs of the United States and Canada : with analyses and notes on the prominent spas of Europe, and a list of sea-side resorts / by Geo. E. Walton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    99/464 (page 77)
    tained by alkaline waters more certainly than by any other remedy. But we should not forget that the administration of the alkaline remedies of the shops sometimes procures similar results, though not equally satisfactory. These waters are only to be resorted to in the first and second stages of the disease, before pulmonary phthisis or other profound lesions complicate the case. When these su- pervene, the malady is beyond the resource of medical art. Intermittent Fever.—There is no evidence showing that the paroxj'sms of intermittent fever can be arrested by the use of mineral waters. In cases of paludal cachexia, however, they may modify the general condition of the system, so that appro- priate remedies will readily yield the desired result. Under their use the chronic engorgements of the liver and spleen, produced by repeated paroxysms, are often entirely relieved. The waters most highly recommended are the alkaline—those strong in alkaline carbonates 1—and containing a certain propor- tion of iron. Saline waters also produce favorable results; hot baths, in some instances, change an obstinate quartan or septan into a tertian, which readily yields to the usual treatment. Chronic Dysentery.—Probably no country has ever known more of this terrible disease than our own—a disease that, during the late war, decimated the forces by invalidism and death, and sent many home to finger through a life of anxiety and pain—some of whom are living at this day, continually harassed by the malady. The disease in the army was due to exposure, fatigue, pal- udal miasm, and a diet devoid of fresh meat and vegetables. The effect of miasm and a scorbutic diet has been clearly de- monstrated. But, after the patient is entirely removed from the influence of these productive causes, there remains, an ul- cerated, inflamed, and irritable condition of the colon, which continues almost indefinitely. This same irritable and ulcer- ated condition of the colon sometimes occurs in civil life as a sequel of acute dysentery. The milder forms, unaccompanied by ulceration, are known as chronic diarrhoea. 1 Trousseau's Clinique MSdicale, tome Iii., p. 57.