A brief notice of a portion of a work by William Burke, entitled "The mineral springs of western Virginia" : with preliminary remarks on the relative virtues of the saline and gaseous contents of the white sulphur water / by John J. Moorman.

  • Moorman, J. J. (John Jennings), 1802-1885.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A brief notice of a portion of a work by William Burke, entitled "The mineral springs of western Virginia" : with preliminary remarks on the relative virtues of the saline and gaseous contents of the white sulphur water / by John J. Moorman. 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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    IS tated by any one who can mix with common water the different portions of saline matter discovered by its analysis. We allude to a theory set forth in a pamphlet by Dr. J. J. Moorman, resident physician at the Spring. We disclaim any intention of affect- ing the interest of Dr. Moorman. He is personally unknown to us. But since we have undertaken to present our views on these mineral waters, we feel morally bound not to sanction, by our silence, a theory fraught, we believe, with injury to the reputa- tion of this justly popular water, and with cruel in- justice to poor invalids who seek benefit from its use. In the discussion of this subject, we will not impugn Dr. M.?s motives in propagating this doctrine. With these we have nothing to do. And again, pages 112-13: We understand the theory in question originated in the following man- ner : Dr. M., some years ago, entered into an arrange- ment with Mr. Calwell for transporting the water. It was attempted in bottles, but that was found too expensive, and the idea of barrelling was adopted. But here was a difficulty—the gas would escape. What was to be done ? Why it must be shown that the gas was of no use ; nay, that it was a detriment, and, like < toddy or wine/ an active nervine stimu- lant. It became necessary to prove that the water was better without gas than with it: and accordingly Dr. M. recommends to his patients to let it stand in an open vessel twelve or eighteen hours before use.