The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-18


fouIthly (what no one would suspect, Judging from
the nse oismel) there less uphuretlsC hydrogen
III the white than the red by nearly opefourth.
Again there are IN the white lis 73j-l00O OF sa
line matter TO 20 $1,000 in Che red, five tunes
much. lnclrded in this amount however, there il
OF the peculiar organic matter termed sulphur COM
pound, in the white only 100000 while ia the red
there is 20l00, or nearly double.
careful review OF these data will enable us to
Judge with some accuracy OF the probable mode OF
action OF both waters. First, as TO the gases the
most palpable agent, OF course in all sulphur waters
Ii that which distinctly marks their character, viz
sullhuretted hydrogen, or hydrosnlphurc acid gas
II is known TO be the most active OF all the gases
found in those waters, AID as their constitutional
effects on the human system in state OF disease Is
mainly to be expected from the searching and atcra-
tive power of this gas and its combinations it is
sential to understand whether 1t belongs to the class
OF stmulants or sedatives. An attempt has been
made to characterize it as nervine st.mulant,"
and To establish as fact that the of the
iresh ron the spring was in many cases highly dele
terous While the same water, after this noXious gas
Was suffered to escape, became admirably adapted
Is suphuretted hydrogen a stimulant? Hear the
answer:--"sulphuIette hydrogen is colorless gas,
having the odor OF putrid eggs; 1t is most offensive
III small quantity, when mere trace is present in
the air. 1t is not irritating, but, on the contrary,
powerfully narcotic. When set fire it burhs with
blue flame, producing water and sulphurous acid
when the supply OF air is abundant, and depositing
sui 5hur when the oxygen Is deficient. Mixed with
chlorine It is instantly dccomp0sed, with separation Of
the whole Of the sulphur (Fowne's Chemistry
p. lG1 Here then is at authoritative contra
dctlol OF bold assertion The agent represented
stimuant is in fact powerful sedative will more
fully appear by the Illustrations that follow.
II has been seen by the analysis that this gas in
the red sulphur is more abundant, bv nearly one
fourth, than III the white. have never yet any
Intelligent man, who knew anything OF the red sui
phur, that did not give it rank as sedatiye. The
following quotation from DIR. Norman admits the
less stimulant character of the red -
The REQ sulphur is the least stimulating of sui
Phu waters, ana by some IL even regarded sedave
II Is 80 plos ed with good effect in many for which
our otntr sulphur waters prescribed aud besg las.
ting than any other, MAJ be successfully used ia
some cares IN which other waters would DO indi
Gated
The increased odor O. the white sulphur is readily
accounted for by the fact already stated by tue
chemist, that the smaller the quantity OF gas there
is in the atmosphere the intense is tue smell,
while from the same paragraph W" learn that when
there is deficiency OF oxygen combined with it it
deposits sulphur more readily. | ask the reader
now to look at the comparative analysis OF the red
and white sulphur waters. He will see that oxygen
in the red being more than double that in the whiue
the gas is retained longer while the smaller amount
OF oxygen in the white the gas to be deposited
in the form Of sulphur and this accounts for the
more abundant deposit of sulphur by the white than
The red. These are important facts, all proving the
tasty OF the uniounded theory that has been con-
fdentiy pr0pagated.
This valeable medical agent then, has been wrong
ed, II not slandered. There cannot be q doubt that
many try this water annually with whom it disa-
III,
in such case it is the duty Of candid physician to
direct his patient to some other Sulphur Spring,
if he has reason to believe that from popularity
or idiosyncrasy, there is no one Of those waters
adapted to the case, he should direct him to some
other of the great family of springs in this region
should send him back to the comforts and endear-
Ments Of home.
In relation to the other gases appears that car
Donate acid largely predomnates. fits this probably
that gives the water that brisk, light feeling in the
stomach, which is so generally ascribed 70 it.
Nitrogen gas, of which it also possesses q consid-
cradle volume, is believed to possess OF itself very
little medicinal power, though it is impossible to say
how it may act in combination with agents. That it
has no stimnlant tendency may be inferred from its
being found more largely in the Red Sulphur.
We must, therefore, look for the stimulating pro-
perties of the White Sulphur and other analogous
waters, to something besides the gases, unless, in
deed, the carbonic acid, as is highly probable,
tributes to that property. But to the presence Of
large amount Of saline matter is doubt, most of
all owing to its stimuant properties and to the fact
that some of the saline ingredients dissolved in
bonic acid and IN well balanced proportion with the
other gases, act not only the digestive organs,
but are carried directly into tue system by the alb
solbeLts.
Ii the premises have adopted be correct, it fol-
lows that relief may lie generally expected in the
chic foms of those diseases that will admit of
stimulation Of tie organism Accordingly we find
that such is in fact tie case as may be seen by III
spection OF the large class in which they are known
10 be the most efficient. These are-diseases OF the
liver such as enlargement induration connections,
jaLndice ard other functional alterations and abnor
NAL conditions, usually the consequences Of exposure
to miasma and residence in sickly southern locates
constipation, bilious diarrlGa, dyspepsia in some OF
is forms; neuralgia, proceeding from impaired di
eestion, bamorrhoids and dry piles, chorosis cuta
eruptions generally hysteria, chorea, symptom
attic paralysis symptomatic epilepsy, ameaorrhosa,
chronic rheumatism and govt anasarca, enlarged
spl en-, secondary syphilis, gleet, &c.
he Of The water is contraindicated in affections
Of the larynx trachea and bronchia; in fae in all
irritatioEs OF the mucous membrane whether OF the
tholacc abdominal viscera in phthisis, organic or
functional disease of the heart chronic irritation OF
the uterus, dyrmenorrhGa, menorrhagia, cancer OF
the uterus idiopathic epilepsy and par yss, and all
irritatiOns of the brain or spinal marrow.
Those enumerated are only portion Of the dis
eases that make up the debit and credit account and
the side to which may be brought the balance in any
one season will mainly depend on the ability and
honesty OF the medical adviser on whose shoulders
accordingly rests no incOnsderabe responsibility
speech Ut Sir Charles Ly ell ut the yst~l
Palace Banquet.
Owing to the pressure upon columns on Sa
turday we could not do full justice to the gentlemen
who spoke on the occasion. We gave Baron Won
Gerolts remarks yesterday. We now give those OF
Sir Charles Lyell, the eminent geologist:-
have to return as your President has called upon
me SO to do in my own name, and that of my col
leagues thanks for the honor you have done us in
drinking our healths. After what the President Of
United States and the President Of this Society have
kindly said of their regret for the absence of the
Earl Of Ellesmere, it is almost unnecessary that
should, although he commissioned me to do SO, apo
logse to you for his unavoidable absence. Not only
in spite Of indisposition did he press his journey
from Canada to this city in the hope Of being present
yesterday at the inaugural ceremonies, but he re-
to you that he should have been here
to-day had he not been confined to his bed by illness
He also begged me to say how much gratiied b
has BEEN during his late tour through this country
with the kind welcome he has received, aad, to use
his own words, "the cordial yet unobtrusive hospital
ties he has everywhere met with Gentlemen, the
President of the United States has spoken of me in
so com Mime ntarv q strain TINT with every disnnsi