Avcust 31, 1899] 
formerly afforded tempting opportunities for scornful 
criticism on the part of the more advanced members of 
the profession, has now been placed on a firm scientific 
basis, and the ancient faith in it fully justified. 
In this as in many kindred subjects the lead was taken 
by Germany, and as the result of much painstaking 
research a large amount of literature has appeared re- 
lating to the various spas in that country. Latterly the 
home watering places, such as Bath, Buxton, Droitwich, 
Harrogate, Leamington, Llandrindrod, Strathpeffer and 
others, have been brought more prominently before the 
notice of medical men, and through them to the public, 
by reason of similar research work conducted on scien- 
tific lines into the nature of the action of their respective 
waters and baths, by which their claims to equality with, 
if not superiority over, many of the continental resorts have 
been abundantly demonstrated. To illustrate this let us 
take Harrogate as an example, as possessing the greatest 
numberand most varied assortment of mineralsprings, and 
the most complete bathing establishment in this country, 
if not in Europe, and consider it with regard to its waters 
and baths. The former, some eighty in number, may be 
classified into certain groups of saline-sulphur waters, 
alkaline-sulphur waters, pure sulphur waters,® saline- 
F _x.—Entrance-hall and pump-room at the Royal Baths, Harrogate. 
chalybeate waters, and pure chalybeates, each group em- 
bracing several members presenting fine gradations in 
quality and strength. The most important of these are 
set apart for drinking purposes ; the others being col- 
lected, stored, and used for bathing. Long experience 
and trial of the waters has indicated the class of diseases | 
in which they may be expected to prove beneficial, either 
individually or in combination, and these fall somewhat 
definitely into the following main groups, which, 
however, by no means include all cases which may 
derive benefit: disorders of the liver, functional or 
organic ; cases of gout in its many manifestations ; cases 
of rheumatism and so-called rheumatic gout ; and cases 
of skin disease. The results obtained have been good, 
though based upon empirical knowledge, and a consider- 
able reputation has been built up. In recent years, how- 
ever, this has been strengthened by experimental work 
which has been carried out to determine the modus 
operandi of many of the waters, and the results of these 
researches have not merely corroborated in the main 
empirical practice, and furnished reasons for it, but have 
indicated new directions in which these agents may be 
advantageously employed. For example, the Old Sulphur 
NO. 1557, VOL. 60] 
INA TORE 
417 
Spring, the most valuable possession of Harrogate, has 
long been used in the past as a stimulant to the liver in 
sluggish or congested conditions of that organ. Recent 
research has shown by experiment on man and on ani- 
mals that administration of this water definitely increases 
the flow of bile, as to rapidity, quantity, and the amount 
of solid constituents. And a further indication of in- 
creased activity of the liver is proved by an increase in 
Fic. 2.—Interior of the Turkish Bath. 
the amount of urea eliminated from the body. It has 
been used: largely as a valuable remedy in gout, a part 
explanation of which is furnished by the diminished pro- 
duction of uric acid, which experiment shows to be one 
of the effects of this water. It has a well-marked effect 
on the blood in diluting it and diminishing slightly the 
amount of hemoglobin, which explains its frequent use 
in plethoric conditions. The milder sulphur waters have 
Fic. 3.—Cooling room of Turkish Bath. 
been shown to have similar effects to a less extent. 
Further, the group of iron waters have been examined, 
and their effect on the blood in the building up of 
haemoglobin repeatedly proved, and other unsuspected 
results on the general vital processes of the body been 
discovered, the Chloride of Iron water, for example,. 
markedly increasing the elimination of urea, and 
diminishing that of uric acid; the “ Kissingen” water 
