in a particular diet, visiting springs or climates of a different and usually of a tonic character, or continuing for a certain time to drink the Waters at home. It may be added that the advantage of having recourse to mineral waters is often felt more after than during treatment.

Since improved methods of bottling have been discovered, and the advantage of an additional supply of carbonic acid has been appreciated, the export of waters from their sources has increased enormously, and most of the principal waters can now be advantageously used at home. It may be added that many of the artificial imitations of them are excellent. The history of the use of mineral waters can only just be a good deal of nitrogen in some of them; the quantity of hydro sulphuric acid, even in strong sulphuric wa.ters, is wonderfully small; but the volume of carbonic acid present is often very large for instance, in the case of Kissingen, Schwalbach and Selters. The immediate effect of the carbonic acid which they contain is that of pleasant stimulation to the stomach and system. Extremely little appears to be known of its actual operation on the system: a part of what is swallowed is returned by eructation, and a part passes on to the intestines; whether any appreciable quantity reaches the blood is doubtful. There is no question that carbonic acid increases diuresis. Practically it is found to aid digestion, helping the functions of the stomach, and in

TABLE I. Typical Mineral Waters.

Indifjerent. Earlhy. Salt. Salt. Sulphur. [mm ~ I Alkaline lfgkpline- WI;/:ble Purging - 'X ~ a ine, ater Water.

£2fiei;s § '?§ '.; Kissinger. sea-water. Séégéhga Schwalbach. X, '§ ;¥.Q I g;;§ l>;-é16 Selmi Hiianlylidi 4 Solids.

Bicarbonate of soda ~-~- o-6449 o-0206 4-883 1-92 1-2 potash ~-~- 0-352magnesra

0-0017 0-013 0-017 o-45 0-0506 0-2122 0-303 0-18 1 calcium 0-0195 0-012 I'06 2-38 o-157 0'2213 0-434 O~428 Sulphate of soda 0-0208 0-050 o-2831 0-0079 0-292 2-37 15-9 potash 0-0135 0-038 0-1527 0-0037 0-I6 magnesia o-308 0-588 2-96 0.46 16.0 calcium . 1-520 o-389 0-25

Sulphide of sodium ~— 0-0136

Chloride of sodium 0'O428 5-52 25-21 2-616 o-534 1-03 2-2 1-3 potash . 0-286

magnesia 0-303 3-39

Carbonate of iron o-0005 0-023 0-277 0-0837 0-003 0-01 Silicic acid . 0-0496 0-036 0-0320 b Gages.

Car onic aci 3-19 - 2-6 0- 6 2.2 0. Hydrosulphuric acid - trace 5 si L ' 4 is alluded to. They have been employed from the earliest periods, and traces of Roman work have been found at most of the European baths which are now in fav0ur at almost all the thermal ones. Occasionally new springs are discovered in old countries, but the great majority of them have 'been long known. Warm waters, and those containing small quantities of mineral constituents, appear to have remained more steadily in favour than any other class within the appropriate sphere of mineral waters, which is limited to the treatment of chronic disease. The attempt has been made to range mineral waters according to their therapeutic action, according to their internal or external use, but most generally according to their chemical constituents so far as they have been from time to time understood; and a judicious classification undoubtedly is a help towards their rational employment. But their constituents are so varied, and the gradations between different waters are so finely shaded off, that it has been found impossible to propose any one definite scientific classification that is not open to numberless objections. Thus a great many of the sulphur waters are practically earthy or saline ones. Yet because they contain very minute amounts of such a gas as hydro sulphuric acid, an ingredient so palpable as always to attract. attention, it is considered necessary to class them under the head of sulphur. The general rule is to attempt to class awater under the head of its predominant element; but if the amount of that be extremely small, this leads to such waters as those of Mont Dore being classified as alkaline or arseniated, because they contain a very little soda and arsenic. The classification in the following table, which is that usually adopted in Germany, has the merit of comparative simplicity, and of freedom from theoretical considerations Which in this matter influence the French much more than the German writers. The more important constituents only are given. The amount of solid constituents is the number of parts to one thousand parts of the water; the temperature of thermal springs is added. The waters are classified as indifferent, earthy, salt, sulphuretted, iron, alkaline, alkaline-saliner-with sub varieties of table waters and purging waters.

In addition to their solid constituents, gas is present in many waters in considerable quantity. There is a little oxygen and a slight degree the peristaltic action of the intestines. The increased flow of urine may be caused by its favouring the absorption of water by the stomach. In some baths carbonic acid is so abundant that precautions have to be taken to prevent TABLE II.1-Indiferent Waters.

Locality. ' ine§ t t For what prescribed.

Evian, Lake of Geneva 1100 bifgvouingfjeigigfaiz (For mild rheumatic

Badenwerler, Baden 1425 treatment; a health resort.

f, Gout and r lieu mat ism

Buxton, England. 980 82 1, (nitrogen present). Schlangenbad, Nassau 800 80-87 ii liliggsgrscilsgi' female 1

• ' Rheumatism, gout, cu-?Na§ ;

ioI; igain ' ' - 1500 85 taneous affekptions. 1 a, tirttem~ Gout and r eumatism,

berg 132° 90401 1: neuralgia, thickenings Pfeffers, Switzerland 2115 99 Do. do. do. Ragatz, do. 1570 95 Do. do. do.

(Do. (nitrogen present);

Pant1cosa, S. Pyrenees 5110 85-95 special action in s énhthisii

- - out, r eumatism, old

Teplltz, Bohemia. 648 101-120:L injunesy joints or boneS Gastein, Austria 3315 95-118 ll Izgggrisoothes nervous its tendency to accumulate

gravity. Carbonic acid gas,

on account of its heavy specific

used as a bath, proves stimulating to the skin and to the general system; but its employment has not answered the expectations formed of it.

Irrdzfererrt Waters scarcely vary in chemical qualities from ordinary drinking water; but they are usually of higher temperature. Their therapeutic action, which is mainly exercised through baths,

1 In this and the following tables a selection is given of some of the best-known mineral waters in various European countries that possess establishments. Their chief peculiarities of elevation, of temperature and constituents are briefly noted. The curative effects, necessarily alluded to very generally, are those usually attributed to them.