Artificial Preparation of Medicinal Waters. _ 331 
much used as a gentle refrigerant, aperient and diaphoretic. Thena- 
ture of the acid of limes as well as of the other vegetable acids, was 
however at that period little known ; it is from the celebrated Scheele 
that we have derived all our knowledge on this subject, as he first 
obtained the citric and tartaric acid in a crystallized state; as the 
crystallized citric acid possessed all the properties of lemon juice, 
it was soon substituted for it; it is recommended also by being cheap, 
imperishable and every where and always attainable. Scheele show- 
ed, moreover, that crystallized tartaric acid may be substituted for the 
citric, and it is still cheaper and more easily obtained. 
Soon after this period, a preparation was made consisting of tarta- 
ric acid and super or bi-carbonate of soda; they are exhibited - in 
separate powders. in equivalent proportions ; each is separately dis- 
solved in water, and when the two solutions are mixed, rapid effer- 
vescence ensues, and the liberated carbonic acid gas imparts to the 
water the same pungent sub-acid taste, and stimulant properties, 
which the Seltzer and Piermont water is known to possess ; while the 
alkali and acid form a neutral aperient and of course medicinal salt. 
This preparation under the name of soda powders is much used and 
not without reason, for it affords a most agreeable and salutary bev- 
erage. Besides being perfectly innocent, it is in the warm season 
much superior to most other liquids in allaying thirst, and being ape- 
rient and diaphoretic, it is usefully employed in slight febrile affections. 
Soon after the introduction of these soda powders, another prepa- 
ration was offered to the public, manufactured upon the same princi- 
ple, under the name of Sedlitz powders, which when dissolved in 
water in a similar manner was described to constitute a perfect imita- 
tion of the mineral water of Sedlitz in Bohemia; but whatever me- 
dicinal effect these powders may produce, still the name is —_ : 
appropriate, for the mineral waters of Sedlitz, do not contain 
gle substance in common with these powders. The Sedlitz i 
according to Bergman, and Hoffman, contains no carbonic acid gas, 
is neither brisk or acidulous, but is simply a saline mineral water, 
holding i in solution no neutral salt except sulphate . magnesia, which 
ere it a cathartic qualities. The itz powders of 
n effervescent mixture which j is highly pungent 
and acidulous and contain no other salt but the tartrate of soda, and 
of potassa, or what is denominated Rochelle salt, a peculiar neutral 
salt, with two bases, which has never been ail in the Sedlitz, 
or any other mineral water whatever. 
