Virginia White Sulphur Springs : with the analysis of its waters, the diseases to which they are applicable, and some account of society and its amusements at the springs / by J.J. Moorman.

  • Moorman, J. J. (John Jennings), 1802-1885.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Virginia White Sulphur Springs : with the analysis of its waters, the diseases to which they are applicable, and some account of society and its amusements at the springs / by J.J. Moorman. 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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    White Sulphur has been, I am sure, more than triplicated witljl the last few years. It may be induced by any of the numerous caus whose tendency is to derange the digestive, assimilative, and nerve* functions; and is often connected with some indigestion, irreguljJ ^ or costive bowels, with restlessness and unhappy forebodings of it it pending evils. I have much confidence in the waters in such caa when prudently and cautiously used, aided, if necessary, by prop adjunctive means, and pressed to their full alterative effects. Chronic disease of the liver, in some form or other, is a very coila mon disease of our country, especially in the warm latitudes ar miasmatic districts. Very many affected with this complaint ha-* annually visited the White Sulphur for the last fifty or sixty year In no class of cases have the effects of the waters been more ful and satisfactorily tested than in chronic derangements of the liver. The modus operandi of sulphur water upon the liver is dissimil. to that of mercury, and yet the effects of the two agents are striking analogous. The potent and controlling infiuence of the water ovc the secretory function of the liver must be regarded as a specif quality of the agent, and as constituting an important therapeut- feature in the value of the article for diseases of this organ. Its fiuence upon the liver is gradually but surely to unload it when e gorged and to stimulate it to a healthy peifformance of its functio: when torpid. The control which this water may be made to exercise over t liver in correcting and restoring its energies, is often as astonishiw as it is gratifying—establishing a copious flow of healthy bile, and. consequent activity of the bowels, imparting a vigor to the who! digestive and assimilative functions, and consequently, energy an strength to the body, and life and elasticity to the spirits For many years I have kept a ‘‘Case-hook’’ at the White Sulphui and have carefully noted the influences of the water upon such casa as have been submitted to my management. Among the numbei are several hundred cases of chronic affections of the liver, embracinj diseases of simple excitement, chronic inflammation, engorgement, an^ obstructions of the biliary ducts, etc. These cases were treated eith^ with the White Sulphur alone, or aided by some appropriate adjunct tive remedy4-ftnd.,_in^ooking at the results, I must be permitted ti express ar^oubt, whether a larger relative amount of amendments an cures^as ever been effected by the usual remedies of the medics| shotK This I know is high eulogy of the water in such diseases, iwnsiderately made, and is not higher than its merits justify. When Schirrhosity of the liver is suspected, the water, if used i all, should be used under the guards of a well-informed medic judgement; for in actual Schirrhosity, if it bo pressed beyond it 1)