208 On the Sea Water on the Coasts of France. [Sept. 



M. de Montegre, editor of the Gazette de Sante, expresses him- 

 self thus, relative to bathing in the sea : — It is advantageous to 

 persons of a melancholy or hypochondriacal temperament ; in 

 diseases of the liver, the spleen, and the kidnies. It may be con- 

 sidered as a preservative against catarrhs and rheumatisms. The 

 sudden shocks of the waves are a powerful remedy in cases of chlo- 

 rosis, fluor albas, weaknesses from laborious and premature deli- 

 veries, paralysis, &c. The most advantageous season of bathing is 

 from the middle of July to the middle of September. 



It has been supposed that in cases of hydrophobia, if the patient 

 be plunged into the sea, a cure will be effected. Perhaps the 

 remedy may be good in recent cases before the symptoms appear ; 

 but it has not been found efficacious in confirmed cases, except 

 when joined with other and much more powerful remedies. 



The temperature of sea water when used as a bath is generally 

 from 53i° to 60°. 



M. Lefrancois, a physician at Dieppe, has published an interest- 

 ing dissertation on the medical use of sea bathing. Balhs have 

 even been established at Boulogne and at Dieppe. Another esta- 

 blishment, similar to those in England, has likewise been formed, 

 under the direction of M. Julieu, physician to the civil and mili- 

 tary hospitals. 



Those persons who cannot leave their homes may be frequently 

 supplied with an artificial sea water, very similar to the natural. 



Mr. Swediaur has proposed one, which may be used either by 

 way of hot or cold bath, in all cases of scrofulous and lymphatic 

 diseases. It is composed as follows : — 



Water 50 pounds 



Common salt 10 ounces 



Muriate of lime 2 



Muriate of magnesia 1^- 



Sulphate of magnesia f 



Sulphate of soda -f 



This recipe, founded on the old analysis, requires now to be 

 altered. The following is what we, from our own experiments, 

 substitute in its place : — 



Water 1 litre 



Muriate of soda 24 grammes 



Sulphate of magnesia . ■ 6 



Muriate of magnesia 4 



Sulpha'.c of lime 1 



' Carbonate of magnesia [aa 0*15 



Carbonate of lime 3 



Or, reduced to English weights and measures : — 



Water 1 quart 



Common salt 3J0 grain* 



