THE 
AMERICAN  JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
MAKCH,  1861. 
ON  THE  IMPORTATION  OF  MINERAL  WATERS. 
By  John  M.  Maisch. 
In  continental  Europe,  the  practice  has  been  prevalent  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time  of  sending  the  water  of  many- 
mineral  springs  abroad,  put  up  in  glass  bottles  or  in  jugs. 
This  practice  has  been  found  remunerative,  since  it  was  imitated 
with  the  waters  of  several  mineral  springs  of  our  country,  and, 
among  others,  those  from  the  various  springs  of  Saratoga  are 
probably  found  now  in  all  towns  of  some  note  on  the  North 
American  continent.  The  mineral  wealth  in  which  the  Union 
abounds,  makes  it  more  than  probable  that  we  likewise  possess 
springs  charged  with  the  most  different  saline  compounds,  which, 
when  once  known,  would  prove  highly  valuable  auxiliaries  and 
remedial  agents  in  the  hands  of  a  judicious  physician. 
It  appears  to  me,  that  this  subject  has  been,  from  some  cause 
or  other,  too  much  neglected,  while,  if  we  look  at  the  success  of 
the  multitude  of  watering  places  in  Europe,  and  at  the  enormous 
quantities  of  water  bottled  and  sent  out  from  them,  it  might 
well  instigate  all  concerned  to  pay  more  attention  to  it  here. 
But  does  the  necessity  exist  for  us  as  much  as  for  Europe,  where 
such  matters  usually  obtain  the  influence  of  the  various  govern- 
ments ?  As  an  answer  thereto,  we  need  but  look  to  the  impor- 
tation of  foreign  mineral  waters  into  this  country,  and  we  will 
find  that  the  quantities  brought  on  here  from  France  and  par- 
ticularly Germany,  exceed  probably  the  expectation  of  all. 
If  we  refer  to  the  lists  of  importation  of  drugs,  as  published 
in  the  Druggists'  Circular  and  compiled  in  several  reports  to  the 
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