482 ANALYSIS OF THE 



diluted state, it acts, when received into the stomach, over a 

 more extended surface ; and, besides this, whatever effect may 

 be due to the high temperature of the Eath water, in aiding 

 the operation of the minute portion of iron it contains, the 

 same effect must be equally obtained in aiding the operation 

 of the much larger quantity of muriate of lime. The conclu- 

 sion, indeed, as to the importance of this effect, is much more 

 probable with regard to the muriate of lime, than to the iron ; 

 for supposing the quantity of the former to exist in the Bath 

 water, which has been assigned, the dose of it taken in a quart 

 of the water, is not far from its proper medium dose, and is at 

 least equal to one-half the largest dose which can be given, 

 and continued without producing irritation ; while the dose of 

 the iron is not the one-hundredth of that which is usually pre- 

 scribed. Under the circumstances, therefore, in which the 

 muriate of lime is presented in the Bath water, it is reasonable 

 to infer that it must be productive of considerable immediate 

 effect. 



The speculation is farther not improbable, that, to produce 

 its more permanent effects on the system as a tonic, it is ne- 

 cessary it should enter into the circulation. In a dilute state 

 of solution, it may pass more easily through the absorbents ; 

 while, in a more concentrated state, it may be excluded, and 

 its action confined to the bowels. Hence the reason, perhaps, 

 that in some of the diseases in which it is employed, scrofula 

 particularly, it has frequently failed, its exhibition having been 

 in doses too large, and in too concentrated a form. And hence 

 it is conceivable, that in a more dilute state, as that in which 

 it may exist in the Bath water, besides its immediate opera- 

 tion, it may produce effects as a permanent tonic, more import- 

 ant than we should otherwise expect *. 



I 



* I may mention in confirmation of this, that I found a mineral water of 

 considerable celebrity in Yorkshire, that of Ilkley, and which in particular was 



held 



