On Mineral Waters . 
479 
York spring, purgative. I could never find any effect of either 
kind, fiom a quart of these waters, or the waters of the Bedford 
springs, beyond what a quart of common water would produce ; 
and I am well persuaded that the common pump water of the 
streets of Carlisle (which leave a residuum of 7 grains to the pint) 
and still more those of Philadelphia, according to my friend Dr, 
Hunter’s analysis, contain a larger portion of cathartic ingredients 
than the waters of either of these medicinal springs. 
Even according to Dr. Gutbush’s analysis of the York spring 
water, one pound weight contains but 24 grains of purgative salt, 
for gypsum is not usually ranked in this class. That is 20 grains 
of epsom and 4 grains of common salt. 
Now, the common dose of giauber’sor of epsom salt when used 
as a cathartic is Id oz, or 720 grains : less than a fourth of this 
dose, or 180 grains, can hardly be deemed a permanent laxative : 
but to obtain this laxative quantity, near eight pints or eight pounds 
weight of water must be swallowed ! Doubtless, if a man pours 
down his throat within 2 or 3 hours, a gallon of water of any kind, 
it must find its passage out again, either by diuretic, cathartic, or 
diaphoretic operation, or by all. 
Still the fact is, and it is not to be denied, that people who stay 
two or three weeks at either of these springs, generally come 
away with improved health, provided they use exercise, dilute a 
good deal with the water, and live abstemiously in the articles of 
wine and ardent spirits. This may be accounted for 
From the beneficial effect upon the skin particularly of the 
sulphuretted hydrogen gas ; which certainly possesses virtues in 
cutaneous affections : nor are we as yet fully aware how much the 
general state of health depends on the state of the skin. 
From the temporacy cathartic effect in a slight degree, which 
change of water frequently induces. 
From the tonic effects, of change of air, change of society, 
change of scenery, change of amusements, from having the mind 
and the body pleasantly occupied, and from comparative temper- 
ance and great dilution among the male part of the society. 
From early rising and the use of the bath, warm or cold, these 
are causes sufficient to account for all the beneficial effects receiv- 
ed, without resorting to supposed ingredients or supposed quali- 
ties in these waters, which experiment carefully made, does not 
countenance. T. C . 
