126 Artificial Preparation of Medicinal Waters. 
Art. XII.—On the Artificial Preparation of cold Medicinal Waters, 
by Witu1am Means, M.D. 
Tue late illustrious Bergman, having devoted much of his time 
and applied his great talents to the investigation of the nature and prop- 
erties of mineral waters, appears to have been the first person who 
suggested and proved, that an artificial preparation of them, found- 
ed upon an exact knowledge of their contents, may produce the 
same medicinal effect, and be equally beneficial to health, as the 
natural waters. He states, that he was induced to this attempt by 
the difficulty of obtaining in Sweden, where he resided, some of the 
most celebrated mineral waters, such as those of Seltzer and Pyr- 
mont. Besides the great expense and inconvenience, their valuable 
qualities were much injured, by conveying them to such a distance 
from the spring and keeping them in bottles, at a season of the year 
when they are considered indispensable to the removal of those dis- 
eases which originate from the severity of the climate, ‘during a long 
winter. - 
Bergman then proceeds to observe, that however useful may be 
the discovery of iniitating perfectly these mineral waters, it cannot 
possibly be universally pleasing ; many who are incapable of judging 
of the truth, will distrust it, and many contend that to imitate nature 
is impossible, without considering that when the component parts of 
a substance are known, the success of the process cannot depend 
upon the hand which combines them; some who prescribe, and oth- 
ers who sell the foreign water, condemn the artificial, for obvious 
reasons ; besides, the negligence or ignorance of an inexperienced 
person may easily defeat the whole operation. _Alll these obstacles, 
however, did not discourage Bergman from the artificial preparation 
of cold medicinal waters, at Upsal, and the use of such waters be- 
came general, although at first proposed only in cases of necessity, 
when the natural waters could not be obtained, and he further ob- 
serves, that they produce the same good effect as the natural waters, 
and in some instances seem to excel them. 
The knowledge of Bergman’s success, in introducing so advanta- 
geous a substitute for the natural medicinal waters, soon extending 
itself into various parts of Europe, was fully appreciated, and the 
practice came into such general use, that in England the waters of 
Pyrmont, Spa and Seltzer, were prepared artificially, and sub- 
