1875.] 429 [Swallow. 



irritation and healing skin diseases. Taken internally it acts espec- 

 ially on the mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive 

 organs, consequently it is very beneficial in internal catarrhs and 

 hoetnorrhoids. It is especially adapted to sensitive temperaments 

 and nervous constitutions, hence is potent in female diseases. It is 

 very highly extolled in nephritic and calculus complaints. 



If we now consider the waters which are known to contain either 

 borax or borate of magnesia in respect to the diseases which they 

 are celebrated for curing, we shall find a noteworthy coincidence, to 

 say the least. 



The following statements concerning foreign waters are taken from 

 " Balneotherapies edited by Dr. Valentiner, and those referring to 

 American Springs from Walton's " Mineral Springs of the United 

 States and Canada. " 



Eilsen, among the sulphur waters, is beneficial in catarrh, and the 

 mud baths are still more noted as curative agents and are said to be 

 somewhat different in their action from the Nenndorf baths, without 

 any apparent cause. St. Sguveur, used for bathing, has " a very 

 marked sedative effect on the skin, and is the most noted bath for 

 women in France." Eaux Bonnes, " the only drinking water among 

 the several springs, has a very marked effect,*even on the first day. 

 . . . . this action is not to be expected according to the chemical 

 analysis. Its great fame lies in the cure of bronchitis, catarrh, and 

 tuberculose phthisis. " Among the alkaline waters, Fachingen, Nas- 

 sau, is very effective in all bronchial diseases, blennorrhea, and 

 catarrh, of the urinary organs with gravel and stones; it contains of 

 borax 0.03 part in 100,000, according to Fresenius. Giessubel, a mile 

 from Carlsbad, is much used for the same diseases. The famous Vichy 

 and Carlsbad waters contain traces of boracic acid, as also nine out 

 of the fifteen springs at Saratoga, and the Balston Spa. Others less 

 known are St. Leon Springs, Canada, the Tuscan Springs, Shasta 

 Co., California, and the Gettysburg Springs which contain 0.032 grain 

 of borate of magnesia in a gallon. The latter water has great reput- 

 ation in gravel, calculus, and catarrh of the bladder and stomach. 



Now as it is acknowledged by the best authorities in all schools of 

 medicine that it is often the substances present in small quantity in 

 mineral waters that are the most efficacious, and as many springs are 

 curative in their action without any apparent reason, it may be possi- 

 ble that the remedial virtue lies in the presence of the neglected con- 

 stituents like that one under consideration. 



