Artificial Preparation of Medicinal Waters. 331 
much used as a gentle refrigerant, aperient and diaphoretic. The na- 
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 nfay produce, still the name is quite in- 
appropriate, for the mineral waters of Sedlitz, do not contain a sin- 
gle substance in common with these powders. The Sedlitz water 
according to Bergman, and Hoffman, contains no carbonic acid gas, 
is neither brisk or acidulous, but is simply a saline mineral water, 
holding in solution no neutral salt except sulphate of magnesia, which 
gives it considerable cathartic qualities. The Sedlitz powders of 
commerce constitute an effervescent mixture which 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 discovered in the Sedlitz, 
or any other mineral water whatever. 
