Vichy : its mineral waters, salts and lozenges / the Vichy Company.

  • Vichy Waters Company.
Date:
[between 1870 and 1879?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Vichy : its mineral waters, salts and lozenges / the Vichy Company. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    at meals. In these cases of debility of the digestive organs the waters of the Hopital spring are generally prescribed as containing more unctuous matter, by their mild effect they are better adapted for weak stomachs, but it is not advisable at first to take very large doses. With some persons a cold spring such as the Hauterive has more success. Mineral waters not only strengthen the digestive organs, but produce a 'Chemical action on the gastric juice : thereby diminishing its acidity. The experiments made by Dr. Bernard of the Institute show to what an •extent the digestive organs are influenced by the presence of acids or alkalies in liquids which contribute to the digestion. For diseases of the liver the Vichy waters have long enjoyed a great reputation, and in cases of chronic inflammation of that organ, or in com¬ plaints of the biliary ducts, they may be said to work miracles. ‘‘When the affections of the liver become complicated with jaundice, there is more frequently a derangement of the biliary secretion than an affection of the liver itself. It often happens in this case, that calculi or gall stones are formed in the biliary vessels, and their expulsion causes painful attacks, which have been designated hepatic colics, and are often accompanied or followed by jaundice. If the use of the Waters is continued they are almost certain to effect a cure of this disorder. They may not immediately prevent the attacks, which are liable to return as long as biliary calculi exist, but by rendering the bile liquid and preventing its coagulation, they prevent the recurrence of the disorder.” The Vichy waters, aided by a proper regimen, have a most advan¬ tageous effect in the treatment of gout. This disease, according to Dr Petit, is caused by an excess of uric acid in the blood or in the elements composing it, and in most cases exists simultaneously with red gravel. The resemblance between these dis¬ eases is the more striking when the nature of the concretions that the gout leaves around the joints and in other parts of the body is examined; chemical analysis proves that they are mostly formed of urates of soda, and having for foundation uric acid, as in the case of red gravel, there exists with gouty people a superabundance of uric acid. When the urinary secretion becomes insufficient to remove this acid, and when it is turned from its ordinary channel by elimination, it settles particularly in the joints. To combat this gouty diathesis, and to relieve, if not cure, the gout, the use of the Vichy waters is necessary, as alkaline drinks have the property or neutralizing the excess of uric acid.. They may not often succeed in eradicating the disease, but they invariably diminish the frequency, severity, and length of the attacks, and avert or attenuate the accidents which may thereby arise,.and although they do not always disperse the nodes and other concretions deposited about the joints, they easily remove the rigidity of the ligaments and muscular contractions. > If prudence should counsel the suspension of the treatment on the approach or during an attack, it has been proved on the contrary that when the use of these waters has been continued, the pain is less severe and lasts a shorter time than in other paroxysms. Gouty persons have no aversion to these waters : they generally take the most powerful, those of the Celestins or Hauterive springs, and aDo In considerable quantities, without feeling any inconvenience. It is of the greatest importance that the use of the waters should be continued after leaving Vichy, or the benefits of the treatment undergone at the Thermal Establishment will soon be lost. To guarantee the entire success of the treatment the use of the waters should be continued tor two • or three years, according to the requirements of the case. The action of the waters, according to Dr. Durand-Fardel, is nearly the same m all •cases of gout, whether hereditary, chronic, or acute or Rheumatic Gout. Persons afflicted with gouty-gravel are those whose digestive functions are too powerful and easy and are not compensated by exercise which stimulates the respiratory organs. It is a disorder of persons in good health, corpulent or at least stout, and sufficiently muscular. Long before the disorder of gravel, or urinary calculi, was treated medicinally, the use