452 DR R. E. SCORESBY-JACKSON ON THE TEMPERATURE 



mating the influence of mineral waters three elements are to be considered, — 

 the water itself, the substances dissolved in it, and the temperature. Anglada 

 has remar]{:ed, that water alone, with the aid of certain temperatures, is capable 

 of producing the diversified effects of a crowd of medicines. Thus, he says, the 

 same liquid which, at a temperature of 35" to 37" Cent, may be used as an 

 emollient, becomes powerfully excitant at from 39° to 41° Cent, and is trans- 

 formed into an energetic irritant from 42° to 45°, — a temperature which the body 

 can support only for a few seconds (Op. tome ii. p. 381, et seq.) M. Fontan, 

 medical inspector of the waters at Bagneres-de-Luchon, divides the action of 

 thermal mineral waters into two parts; an immediate ov physiological action, due 

 to the temperature of the water, and a mediate or tlierapcutic action, due to its 

 mineral ingredients. He remarks that the springs which enjoy the highest and 

 most enduring reputation are those whose temperature approaches nearest to 

 that of the human body, and is constant. He declares, that by means of different 

 temperatures alone he can, by the use of mineral waters, either allay the nervous 

 susceptibility of a Belle, or excite a very Hercules.* M. Ouegaud, the medical 

 inspector of the waters at Ussat, amusingly describes his establishment as a 

 thermal gamut, having a note, that is, a degree of temperature, for every phase 

 of disease.! 



But from whatever point of view the suliject of the temperature of thermal 

 springs may be regarded, it cannot but be interesting to know whether the tem- 

 perature be constant or variable. 



" It is a singular fact," Principal Forbes remarks, " that we are not only 

 unacquainted with the progressive variations of temperature in springs during long 

 periods of time, but even with the diurnal or monthly changes to which many 

 thermal waters are probably subject. The usual statement of the constancy of the 

 heat of such springs at all seasons is abundantly general, but perfectly vague." 

 This statement, made in 1835, does not seem to have induced any regularity of 

 observations. The same general but unsupported assertions of the constancy 

 of the temperatures, from season to season and year to year, were made to me at 



* " Je crois que I'on doit tenir compte avec beaucoup d'exactitude des temperatures auxquelles on 

 administre les eaux thermales, et je suis persuade, pour ma part, que les mots fortes et faible, que 

 I'on prodigue, sans examen, k telle ou telle eau, sont appliques le plus souvent d'une maniere 

 irreflecliie quant a la composition de I'eau. Que si Ton entend par forte la propriete immediatement 

 excitante d'une eau tliermale, elle doit etre bien plutot entendue de sa temperature que des propor- 

 tions chimiques des substances qui j sont contenus. Je me cliargerais, pour ma part, de calmer la 

 susceptibilite nerveuse d'une petite-maitresse avec un bain d'eau de la Grotte de Bagneres-de-Luchon 

 — applique h, + 32 ou + 33 Cent., et d'exciter un Hercule avec la source de la Preste ou du Pre 

 de Cauterets a la temperature de + 44° et de -f- 47° Cent." — Recherches sur les Eaux Minerales, 

 p. 185. 



\ " D'ou il resulte que ces bains, disposes successivement commc les touches d'un clavecin, 

 offrent une serie de temperatures decroissantes, entre 37 et 31 degres centigrades, qui forment una 

 sortedegamme thermale modulee selon les divers besoins de la therapeutique." — Precis sur les Eaux 

 Thermo- Minerales cZ' Ussat-les-Balns. 



