The New York herald., 1868-03-21
THE GETTYSBURG SPRING in NEW YORK.

ldrker ana Otner lneHUerS OF SANITARY
tee, been placed at the drug store OF Hudnut Co.,
portion OF the HERALD Building to be
irawn upon free Of charge by physicians and others
lesirous OF trying 1t as a medicine.
Such marvellous things have been written and said
lbout this water the last few years that many sensi
Die people are curious see and partake OF the fluid
Which has so suddenly obtained the worlds atten-
ion. These have availed themselves Of the opportu-
lity thus afforded to crafty their curiosity, and the
new drug store has been the OF some consider
able excitement and interest, where much that was
amusing and instructive might be witnessed. The
SURPRISE ncredulity and bewiderment Of the tasters
were uniform at the want or flavor or other signs
about this water 10 indicate its real character Those
therapeutic effect, appeared to be more excited and
eated than they would have been II it had possessed
a strong mineral taste or odor, from which 1t would
seem that the sensible properties OF the Gettysburg
water are an element OF popular success after the
ascertainment OF its medicinal qualities.
AS there is nothing about its taste or other sensible
properties to Indicate It's proper classification, we
are left to determine this from chemical analysis and
medical experiments, which assign 1t to the alkaline
which it belongs supply the most valuable and
extensive curative agents, especially for civilized
men, with which medical science has made us ac-
qnanted. This is owing to the fact that they furnish
natural antidOte to the acid poison generated in
the human system by artificial life, by the uXuries
and vices OF high civilization, and which is the
springs are for this reason the most popular in every
civilized country. The Vichy springs OF France are
not only the resort Of the largest number of invads
OF any IN Europe but their waters are more exten-
sively exported. Louis Napoleon has taken these
springs under his special protection, and has pro-
vided for the treatment at them of officers
OF the French army and navy. who may re-
quire it, either at the public expense or
at reduced rates as compared with the outside world
for everybody in France not in the army is an out.
slider. distinguished American physician has pro-
nounced the spring Of Gettysburg identical In some
In nth Tn fha Uats,,
water" Its superiority to the great alkaline spring
OF the Old World and of all others, is thus stated in
publication embodying the reports OF physicians and
character OF the Gettysburg water which has fallen
under my observation
'Urc acid, when present in the system In undue
nom it by the Kidneys combines with the
alkaies of the human body, or with those
compound called urates. Some Of these have
the appearance and consstence OF cream dissolved
matics. But they are OF different appearance and
character, owing to the alkali with which the acid
has combined. These nrates are formed or intro
duced into the blood, thus cogging the circulation
and destroying Its normal and healthful character.
AS they accumulate they are deposited around JOINTS
in the gall and urinary bladders and In various other
organs Of the system, thus producing such num-
Der and variety OF distressing and fatal maladies
that it would require small book to catalogue
various forms Of dyspepsia, Of rheumatism, OF gout
OF gravel and Of kidney and urinary diseases gen.
orally are known to be directly produced by urates.
Gladstone, and calculus stone, In the urinary
bladder and the chalk stones OF rheumatism and
gOut are but other names for urate deposits Lef-
man, an eminent European physician, has detected
the presence in undue proportions Of uric acid In
In the blood Of fever patients Other physicians and
chemists have made similar discoveries in the urine
OF persons afflicted with other acute and chronic
diseases, which would seem to imply that Ii Is
at least the indirect cause OF human ailments In
the production Of which 1t has not hitherto been sup
posed to have any agency. The alkaline equilibrium
Of the system, subverted by this absorption Of its
alkalies by this acid in the manufacture of urates
may be measurably restored by the administration
OF the akalies Of the Materia Medca and OF alkaline
spring water. But there is no medicine nor mineral
spring, except that at Gettysburg, which will dis
solve and eliminate from the system the urates
already formed especially when once de-
posted by the circulation. Fabulous history 1t is
true, informs us OF the existence in different parts
OF the world OF springs which have dissolved stone
In the bladder, but modern science and exploration
have not as yet discovered them; as they have ap-
preached, these wondrous fountains have receded in
the distance OF time or space till they have wholly
disappeared The nearest approach TO such SOL
vent among mineral waters Is that supplied by the
Vichy and Baden Baden springs OF Europe; but we
have not yet seen any evidence OF the eXerton OF
that solvent power upon deposits OF urates in the
form OF the chalk stones OF rheumatism and gOut or
OF gravel, nor is 1t claimed in their behalf by the
proprietors of&ther of these springs The managers
of the spring at Gettysburg distinctly put forward this
claim, and sustain 1t by medical testimony Whether
derives this power from the lthia detected in 1t by
chemists or from some other, or all the ingredients
combined, IT Is not material to inquirer
The solvent power over urateS or over those at
least, which produce rheumatism and gout claimed
In behalf OF the Gettysburg water appears to be
abundantly sustained by facts and by medical au-
thority. Quite number Of cures OF rheumatism and
gout involving the solution Of urate deposits, or
chalkstones, are reported by regular physicians in
good standing; and this testimony Is confirmed by no
less an authority than Dr. John Bell, of PHILADELPHIA
highly respectable physician and the author Of book
on the mineral springs Of the United States and Cam
ada, winch Is adopted as standard work by Amer-
can physicians.
Though there is not as yet any medically authenti
Gated instance OF the solution OF calculus by this
water, reasoning from analogy irresistiby conducts
us to the conclusion that this spring supplies to
greater or less extent the long sought solvent of the
stones OF gravel as 1t does OF rheumatism and pout
for both are produced by the same agent uric acid
The extraordinary solvent powers claimed for the
Gettysburg spring in this publication induced me 10
examine somewhat the authority on which the claim
Is based Repairing to one OF the houses importing
the yichy waters, procured a book Of the "vichy
Company It's Mineral Waters and Lozenges,r as
also the Vchy Circular. Referring TO its comments
on gout and rheumatism, on page 90, was not lit
even claimed Though strongly insnuated) to be
solvents OF the nodes and concreons OF these dsor.
ders, nor they claimed to be permanent cures Of
the latter The inference from what is said is that
the vichy waters after all but palliatives for
rheumatism and gout, as the following extract Will
show
ssThey may not often succeed in eradicating the
disease, but they invariably diminish the frequency,
severity and length OF the attacks and avert or at.
tenuate the accidents which may thereby arise.
Although they do not always dsperse the nodes and
other concretions deposited about the joints, they
TtllONe tue TikluitJ vi tlc HSAIHeHtS
cular conractons."
Not succeeding in obtaining any Official circulars
OF the managers OF the Baden Baden springs Of Ger
many, | had recourse to medical works. From the
reports Of Dr. Ruel, embodied by "Althars,n quote
the following pertinent TO the present inquiry IL
relates TO his treatment Of gout with these waters-
'n almost all patients the pain In the joints in
creased at first, but never spread TO healthy parts
In joints which were perfectly contracted cracking
dragging and pulling was felt as II the articulation
was being torn asunder; but after such attack OF
pain sensation Of easiness and decided improve
ment was perceived, and the mobility Of the limb
much increased. In one patient regular nt OF gout
came on while drinking the water, under the con-
tlnued use OF which this patient so rapidly improved
that he could walk about again after three days.
Gouty affections OF the joints, the sheaths Of the
nerves and muscles II not OF very long standing,
were cured after three or four weeks.v
:, Although this is the great Lithica spring Of
Europe-the last resource OF the rheumatcs on that
contnent-t does not appear from the report OF the
resident physician that II dssolves urate deposits, or
chakstones for II II did the fact is too important
not 20 be distinctly and unequivocay stated. But
perhaps did not conduct my researches far enough
on thls subject, and II so, medical men WILL am
sure, make due allowance for the shortcomings OF
province.
In bfo -