The mineral waters of Europe : including a short description of artificial mineral waters / by C.R.C. Tichborne and Prosser James.

Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The mineral waters of Europe : including a short description of artificial mineral waters / by C.R.C. Tichborne and Prosser James. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    andVulpian, confirmed by Brunton, are inconsistent with this conclusion. It is perhaps a fair statement to make that the experimental evidence as a whole supports, if it does not prove the correctness of the impressions derived from clinical observation, that both these purgatives pro- mote secretion as well as increase peristaltic action. At any rate, with regard to the chief purgative mineral waters the writer is satisfied that this is the case, though inasmuch as their constitution is complex, the relative action of each ingredient is open to discussion. Still, as these waters are taken in their natural complex state, it is as such purges we have to consider their uses. These waters may be taken in single doses as occa- sional purges ; or a series of doses may be taken at regu- lar intervals in imitation of the method pursued at the springs. In the former case the prescriber is merely desirous to produce the effect of an ordinary saline pur- gative, and for this purpose the stronger waters will bq found most suited. The analyses furnished in the pre- ceding chapter show that some of these contain as much as 200 grains of purgative salts in half a pint of water the effect of which is reinforced or modified by an equal or larger quantity of other solid ingredients—the salines being specially important. It is true that as much or more sulphate of magnesia, or of soda is often given in a draught, but it is not correct to infer that a simple solu- tion of either salt in a small quantity of water is the best way of giving it, or may be fairly compared with other methods. The admirers of mineral waters sometimes make rash statements as to their wonderful powers in comparison with their ingredients. It is curious to see how the repetition of such statements seems to produce conviction and their occurrence in quarters where we