Observations on mineral waters, and on sea-bathing, with cautions and admonitions on their use and application.

Date:
[1801]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on mineral waters, and on sea-bathing, with cautions and admonitions on their use and application. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    acidity, worms, &c. They usually make silver appear ef a copper colour. SULPHUREOUS PURGING WATERS. Sulphureous purging Waters ditfer from the pre- ceding in containing a purging salt as the principal solid ingredient, and therefore operating by stool. They are good in the same disorders as the alterative sulphure- ous waters, as also for foulness of the bowels, &c. SALINE W ATERS. Acidulous, or saline waters, contain natron. This salt, as the w aters are taken up from the fountain, is saturate, or rather supersaturate, with fixed air ; hence the waters do not then manifest any alkaline quality; on the con- trary, they curdle with soap, and are termed acidulee. This fixed air, or atriel acid, however, being very vola- tile, soon exhales w hen the w ater is heated, or stands a while exposed, and then the alkali manifests itself. The operation of these waters is chiefly by urine, for they have little or no purgative virtue. They serve to correct acidities, render the blood and juices more fluid, and promotes a brisk and free circulation. Hence they are good in obstructions of the glands, and against gross and viscid humours. They are useful in the gravel and stone, and in other disorders of the kidneys and bladder, as well as in gouty and rheumatic com- plaints, cutaneous disorders, and likewise those of the nervous kind. VITRIOLIC WATERS. Vitriolic Waters are those which are impregnated w ith green vitriol or copperas, and strike a black colour with galls. They are chiefly used externally for washing old sores and the like, and frequently w ith good effect. In some cases, however, they are taken inwardly in small doses, and then they prove emetic and purgative. HOT MINERAL WATERS. There are in England a great number of cold mineral waters ; but of the hot very few. The warm w aters possess many of the virtues and pro- perties of cold waters of the same class, and w hich are