On The Use Of Mineral Waters

CfjePidjipulirps Fnra (jood llealth. li at are mineral waters f aters mi pregnated with mineral substanoes woulc scviu to be a perfectly plain and correo auswer, and yet a littlo refleetion wil show that this definition is by no mean justitied in tho light of physical or chemi oal faot. Doos not all water chiefly be long to the mineral kingdom, and doe not even the rain water contain foreigu substances in admixturo with its own os sential elements? And if the tem "mineral water" iinplie?, indeed, th prrsencc of a largor quantit.y of minera Bubstancos than is usually found in com mon sweet water, we must not lose sigh of the fact that thore are springs note all over the world L6r thoir efHcacy anc healing power. The melhodieal use of mineral waters i alono indicated in chronic aflfeetions, anc then only when the organism is not ye wholly reduced by protracted disease o fatal diathesis. Mineral waters can be used either a the home of the patiënt or at the spring but the latter is, for obvious reasons, fa more preferable, and should be insistec on whenever practicable. The physician in recommendiug a spring, must, how ever, not be guided solely by the chemi cal ingrediente of tho water, but almos as much so by situation, climate and sur roundings of the spring. To seud a patiënt, suilering from in flammatory irritation of the respirator; mucous membrane, to a spring situatec in a región where the air is very dry i just as irrational as to send a rheumatic to a fouutain whose atmosphero is alway surchargcd with aqueous vapor, anc theroforo apt to restrain transpirution. Neither very hot and dry, nor eool anc rainy seasons, are propitious for the use of mineral waters, and in either caso 1)1 physician must give his patiënt especia directions for their conduct. Little ac tive exercise, lighter raiment and coole baths are indicated pending the hot term and the reverse after the heat has moder ted. Patients should, as a rulo, drink smaller quantities of mineral water during the cold season, shouUi but gradually anc eautiously iucrease the dose, take their breakfast sonie time after the last glass i consumed, and bathe not before severa hours havo elapsed. The baths require no higher teinperuture than in summcr but if tho skin is to be excitcd to greatcr activity, tlie patiënt must stay some time in bed and take no active exercise in tho open air before the warmer hours of the day, and then, only wherè he is not exposed to cold winds. The use of mineral water cannot be ad Tantogeous unless prescribed, directed oontrolled and carefully watched by a physician, who is cognizant of its charac ter and effects ; he alone can, during the progress of the cure, determino whethe it is suitable or not, how long and ii what daily quantities it must be taken whether bathing hould be comwnec with drinking, what should bethe prope diet and régimen, and he alone can insti tuto all those modifications necessitatec by individual cases, constitutions anc idiosyncrasiiM. As in every treatment, so chiefly in the use of mineral water, and even in sea bathing, a rigorous diet is of supremo ini portance, and one of tho most cssentia conditions of snecess. Drinking four or five glasses of mineral water in the mom ing and then sitting down to a breakfas of hot cakes and fried hum, or to a more sumptuous dinner table, laden with al the choice luxuries of the season, and al the delicious yet indigestible dishes o salads, and the no less reprehensible one of pies and pastries, not only annuls the desired effects of tho cure but is produc tire of positivo harm. But too often tho homo physician is blamed for having sen the patiënt to an unsuitable spring ; bu too of ten the latter returns not only un relieved of his complaints, but cvon ii a worse condition ; and yet the cause o all this can frcquently be traced to his own imprudence and intemperanco.