On the warm saline springs of Nauheim : their action on the healthy and morbid organism and their employment in scrophulous, rheumatic and uterine diseases / by F.W. Beneke ... translated and abridged from the German by S. Sutro.

  • Beneke, F. W. (Friedrich Wilhelm), 1824-1882.
Date:
[1860]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the warm saline springs of Nauheim : their action on the healthy and morbid organism and their employment in scrophulous, rheumatic and uterine diseases / by F.W. Beneke ... translated and abridged from the German by S. Sutro. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    14/200 (page 4)
    I have ascertained the temperature of the three Nauheim Sprudels by careful observations made April 28th 1858 with Greiner's^ normal thermometer. I did not find the springs cpaite constant in their temperature. Thus the temperature of the Fre- derik-William-Sprudel amounted to 96,71° F. (35,95° Cels.) on the 8th of Sept. 1857, that of the great Sprudel to 89,96° F. (32/2° Cels.) and that of the little Sprudel to 83,48° F. (28,6° Cels.). According to Ludwig the Frederik-William-Sprudel possessed a temperature of 101,75° F. (38,75° Cels.) in 1855. the great Sprudel 91,58° F. (= 33,10° Cels.), the small Sprudel 84,65° F. (= 29,25° Cels.). — It is further to be observed that the brine arrives in the baths somewhat cooler than at its issue from the ground. From 9 different measurements the following is the average present temperature of the water in the baths: Fred.-Will.-Sprudel . . . 94,10° F. (= 34,5° Cels.) the great Sprudel .... 88,55° F. 31,42° Cels.) the little Sprudel .... 79,88° F. (= 26,6° Cels.) A comparison of the saline Spas above mentioned shows a great similiarity between Nauheim and Oeynhausen (Rehme). The former possesses however this great advantage over all other ana- logous Spas, that within a space ef scarcely 400 square feet 3 warm saline springs issue, ready for immediate use, whilst their different temperatures afford opportunities of modified employment in various diseases. The carbonic acid so abundantly contained in the baths is a highly important therapeutic agent furnished by nature and un- attainable by art, whilst heat and saline ingredients might be ar- tificially imitated and no doubt with good effect. If we examine the amount of ingredients contained in the principal Kreuznach springs, we are at once struck by their comparatively small proportion of saline matter, by their low temperature and lastly by the absence or scarcity of carbonic acid gas. On the other hand the jodide of magnesium and of sodium, which they possess (0,04 and 0,012 gr. respectively in a pound of water) together with a not inconsiderable amount of bromine imparts to them a distinctive peculiarity. These Kreuznach springs artificially warmed for bathing have no doubt produced excellent effects in many morbid conditions.