390 Poreign Literature and Science. 
returned the most frequently have ever been troubled with 
diseases of the urinary passages; and it is proved, on the con- 
trary, that the use of the waters re-establishes the digestive 
functions, and reproduces in the system, an energy which has 
surpassed all expectation. 
These considerations are advanced to prove the harmless- 
ness of using incidentally, alkaline remedies, not taken fasting, 
but when an acid disengaged in the stomach is ready to 
neutralise the small quantities of alkalie which the pastils 
contain. 
Experience has shown that a feeble digestion may be easily 
remedied by taking only one or two of the pastils, and that it 
is seldom necessary to have recourse to a third, and that 
when the object is simply to facilitate the functions of the 
stomach, the pastils have many advantages over the water of 
Vichy, taken as it comes from the springs. Notonly very pain- 
ful indigestions, when they actually occur, may be remedied 
hy these powders, but their occurrence may be prevented, by 
taking beforehand one or more of the pastils, and allowing 
the stomach to receive food, which, without this aid, would 
disturb its functions. The author states, that in his own 
and that he now seldom has recourse to the pastils, and can 
: “ } *. ° . 
could scarcely have digested. In one instance which fell 
under his notice, a female, who had suffered for five hours, 
from a violent indigestion, was promptly relieved by taking a 
pastil every five minutes. The first she took afforded some 
relief, and eleven were sufficient completely to re-establish 
her digestion, although these eleven contained no more alkali 
than half a glass of the water of Vichy. 
I will add, says M. D’Arcet, that in using these pastils, 
when one is fatigued with a slow and painful digestion, relief 
is more promptly obtained, than by employing pure or car- 
magnesia. The action they produce is so prompt 
and complete, that it appears purely chemical. recom- 
mends the employment of them as soon as it is perceived 
that the stomach has become debilitated, for there is every 
antage in adopting the remedy before the evil has he- 
come aggravated.— Idem. 
o 
