Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-03-22
ExPERIsNoE TINE ONLY TEST
what the ss,ysSurs water HA, Cured,


tFrom New York Medical Rsoord.i
In our last number We made some general
remarks In regard TO mineral waters which
have recently attracted considerable atten-
tlon. We made II sufficiently clear, We trust
that We must distinguish between our own
notlous as to tho action on the body OF the
known chemical ingredients aad the actual
and visible effects which these waters pro-
duoe. We stated that In many Of them chem
leal Analysis cannot detect the active priucl-
pie; yet that they do produce q visible effect
upon the body.
The GeItysburg water, for example, con-
talns small quantities Of the blcurbonAtes Of
soda, llthia, potash, magnesla, Iron aud lime,
with traces OF the sulphates, ehlorides aud
phosphates Of the same; and yet In such
minute quantities are they all as TO lmpart
no sensible qualities, and yet thero seems
sufficient and reliable evidence to show that
they do produce the most Important curative
effects. From observations We have made In
several cases who're they have been taken, we
have no hesitation In saying that they act as
powerful Alternative, restoring healthy ac-
lions and removing dlsoriored ones, without
Auy OtuCI tutCt NtIl OoNiOun W Nuo huuoDaf
the improved health being the ouly visible
change.
We might indeed, class all mineral waters
a. eyacIants, alternatives and tonics. The
Saratoga Congress water may we'll serve rs
an example Of the hrst, the Gettysburg Of the
sccoud, aud any Of our Chalybea springs OF
the third. II Is worthy Of notice, that nature
has In so many Instances 80 combined eyao-
uauts and tonics, or alternatives and touics In
her laboratory, that while they Increase the
secretory and excretory actions, thcro 10 no
dlminution, but an actual increase Of power.
Thus the small quantity Of iron conta ined In
the Gettysburg water, 80 lar from Interfering
with iu catAlytic action on morbid tissues
and deposits would seem TO increase IL. We
have been inerodulous In regard 10 this water
haviug any such power as represented by
Drs. John Bell, 3. T. Hall, and other medical
writers, Of diasolving the urates or chalk for
nations In the body or on limbs and joints, a
power unknown 70 any other mineral water
Ia the United States, so far as We are in-
formed. But when we consider that these
waters coutAln notable quantity OF carbon
ate Of llthlA, which has a strong aiiiItty for
uric acid, together with Its email combining
proportion, and the great solubillty OF urates
OF lithia, We are compelled 10 admit that
probable. We see, then, there l.
nothing unreasonable 10 the assertion that
the waters Of the Gettysburg Alkaline Spring
have the power Of dissolylnR aud removing
uodosites Of the joints, whether produced
by chalky deposinons or thickening OF tho
nbrous tissuesi as is borne out BY the state
menu OF numerous patients US well as emi-
nent medical authors.
In regard To the other affections In which
these waters are claimed to act very bene-
ncially, ~ those Of the digestive aud pull
monary mucous surfaces, we sec no good
reason TO doubt the positive statements that
have been made, as they are not only sup
ported by careful observation, but also by
theoretical considerations. From expert
ments made on our own person, a. wsn as
| Others, we can state that the Gettysburg
water IL q regulator OF al! the secretlons and
excretlous- Under iA influence the kidney
aud liver, the glauds Of the intestinal canal
and skin, all perform their normal functions;
the bowels Il constipated, become regular;
the skin, II dry, becomes moist; the torpid
liver Ia excited TO healthy action, and the
kidneys perform their functions with perfect
regularity. There Il q total absence Of any
| disagT eeable sensations whatever; the via
| mediodtri1 seem reused TO Increased ACTIVITY,
and all morbid causes Of bodily, or even men-
tai disorder, seem rapidly to pass away. The
result Is increased appetite and digestion,
freer circulation, q stronger pulse, oalner
mind, more tranquil sleep, a clearer com.
| cular uower
rnere Ia one very remarkable effect pro-
dueed by the Gettysburg water which we
have experienced ourselves a. well as noticed
In othors, and that Ia feeling OF dizziness OF
| lntoxioatlOn, but without any exAltAllon or
apparently stimulating influence. At nrst
We were Inclined to attribute the feeling 10
| some other cause, but as we had drunk no
thing stronger than water for q mouth and
found tbs same feeling Whenever We took
half q pint four times day Of the Getty sbuTg,
We came 10 the conclusion Il must be the min
sfal water. Since then We have noticed the
/ same effect ln other individuals. Such effects
are often experienced for a week or longer,
when they gradually disappear. They prove
not only that the water has power, but thai
Its properties arc somewhat peculiar. To
/ produce the effect above mentioned, we have
iound k necessary to take about phree gtlla
per day between meals and Gradually In
creased. Where gouty or rheumatic peTsous
are taking the water 10 this extent we hnd
an extraordinary quantity OF uric acid secretcd
i or deposited from the urine; the sweat no
longer contains this principle In excess, aS II
generally does In gouty subjects; aud with
proper attention TO regimen and diet, thu
health rapidly Improves, distorted llmbs be,
come strAighteued, and enlarged jolntA grad
ually reduced TO their natural slEe.
The commission appointed under the dlrec'
ton Of the French Government by the Acade
mic Royals do Medicine, 10 report on the
mineral waters Of France, declare their con-
yietiop that chemical analysis has not YET
added In any considerable degree TO thai
| knowledge OF the therapeutlcal effects oi
mineral WBter, which the experience Of their
eifects had proved before chemistry was
brought 70 their slucldatloui and they Insist
| on the Importance Of taking Into considers
ton the information which the inhabitants
OF the spot can furnish.