16 FIRESIDE SCIENCE. 



simple water, as a therapeutic agent, is not suffi- 

 ciently well understood among educated medical 

 men. Its .employment has been long abused hy 

 empirics, and therefore has fallen into discredit. 

 In withdrawing attention from it, an important 

 auxiliary in the treatment of disease is overlooked. 



The consideration of its internal use, in connection 

 .with the so-called mineral springs, leads to some 

 observations upon that form of employment. It 

 cannot be doubted that morbid accumulations of 

 effete matter in the tissues and alimentary canal 

 are more readily removed by draughts of water, at 

 proper times and in proper quantities, than by any 

 other agent ; and here we learn the secret regard- 

 ing the benefits obtained by invalids at mineral 

 springs. A large majority of those who resort to 

 them are suffering from atonic conditions of the 

 stomach and bowels. Constipation is almost cer- 

 tain to be a prominent trouble, and then follow 

 nervousness, hypochondriasis, and a long train of 

 evils. At home no more than a tumbler of water 

 may be drank in the twenty-four hours ; at the 

 springs, three or four are swallowed before break- 

 fast in the morning. The. faecal accumulations 

 of the intestines are softened, peristaltic motions 

 awakened, the food ducts are cleansed, and smiling 

 health returns. The " minerals " and the salts of 

 course get the credit, aqua pura none at- all. If 



