AQUA. 133 



From Aqua is made : 



Aqua Destillata. H 2 0. Pure water, obtained by dis- 

 tillation. 



Preparations. 



Very numerous throughout the whole Pharma- 

 copoeia. 



ACTION AND USES. 

 1. IMMEDIATE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Externally, water acts chiefly as a means of applying heat 

 or cold to the surface of the body, being readily obtained at 

 any temperature that may be desired. To produce this effect, 

 water may be applied in the form of baths of all kinds : Cold, 

 cool, temperate, tepid, warm, hot, vapour, or variously medi- 

 cated ; also by sponging, douching, fomenting, etc. These 

 subjects will be noticed in the third part of the work. Pos- 

 sessing these properties, water is used externally for purposes 

 of cleanliness; for either raising or lowering the tempera- 

 ture of the body ; relieving pain, insomnia, and delirium ; re- 

 moving spasms or convulsions ; diminishing the circulation in 

 deep parts by superficial " derivation," as in congestion of the 

 brain, etc. Water is also used, in a purely local way, as a wash 

 or dressing to wounds, and as the basis of warm fomentations 

 in inflammations. 



rnally, water is constantly being taken in the form of 

 food and drink. It relieves thirst, improves digestion and in-' 

 testinal action when drunk in moderation and at proper times, \ 

 and in a purely physical way may reduce the local or general, 

 temperature of the body, for instance, as ice slowly su< 

 sore throat and febrile conditions. 



2. ACTION ON THE BLOOD. 



Water is quickly incorporated with the circulating plasma, i 

 Great excess has been known to dissolve part of the red cor-! 

 puscles, but this is a purely pathological effect. 



3. SPECIFIC ACTION AND USES. 



Water plays an essential part in tissue life and in the 

 activity of all the organs. A copious supply of water in 

 nutrition up to a certain point, especially the deposit of fat, 

 and is therefore extensively employed in hydro-therapeutics. 



4. REMOTE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



Water is excreted by the kidneys, skin, lungs, bowels 

 indeed, necessarily in every secretion. Increase of water in the 



