other salts with which they are associated. Some of the best-known springs of the kind are: Challes, Wildegg, Castrocaro, Hall, Adelheid’s Quelle, Krankenheil, Kreuznach, Woodhall Spa.
Iron or Chalybeate Waters.—Iron usually exists in waters in the state of protoxide or its carbonate, less frequently as sulphate or crenate, and very rarely, if at all, as chloride. The quantity present is usually extremely small. It may be said to vary from 0·12 to 0·03 in the 1000 parts of water. Some wells considered distinct chalybeates contain less than 0·03. Many wells, especially in Germany, have a rich supply of carbonic acid, which is unfortunately wanting in French and English ones.
| Locality. | Chloride of Sodium in 1000 parts of Water |
Therapeutic Application. |
| Rheinfeld, Aargau, Switzerland | 311 | Scrofula, effects of inflammation, chronic exudations, some chronic exanthemas, rheumatism, uterine infiltrations. |
| Salzungen, North Germany | 256 | Do. do. |
| Ischl, Austria (1440 ft.) | 256 | Do. do. |
| Hall, Tyrol (1700 ft.) | 255 | Do. do. |
| Reichenhall, near Salzburg (1800 ft.) | 224 | Do. do. |
| Bex, Rhone Valley (1400 ft.) | 156 | Do. do. |
| Castrocaro, Tuscany | 36 | Do. do. |
| Droitwich, near Worcester | 233·6 | Do. do. |
| Sea Water | 30·4 | |
| Rehme, Westphalia (92° F.) | 24–85 | Do.; special use in loco-motor ataxia. |
| Nauheim, Wetterau (80°–103° F.) | 29 | Do. do. |
| Locality. | Height in Ft. |
Carb. of Iron. |
Therapeutic Use. |
| Rippoldsau, Black Forest | 1886 | 0·12 | For anaemic conditions; laxative. |
| Homburg, near Frankfort | — | 0·10 | Do. do. |
| Elster, Saxony | 1465 | 0·08 | Do. do. |
| Liebenstein, North Germany | 911 | 0·08 | |
| Schwalbach, Nassau | 900 | 0·08 | Do.; much of a ladies’ bath. |
| Bocklet, near Kissingen | 600 | 0·08 | Do. |
| Griesbach, Black Forest | 1614 | 0·07 | Do. laxative; a ladies’ bath. |
| Franzensbad, Bohemia | 1293 | 0·07 | Do. do. |
| Pyrmont, Germany | — | 0·07 | Do. |
| Spa, Belgium | 1000 | 0·06 | Do. |
| Petersthal, Black Forest | 1333 | 0·04 | Do.; laxative. |
| St Moritz, Engadine, Switzerland | 5464 | 0·03 | Do.; sought for its air. |
| Forges-les-Eaux, France | — | 0·06 | Do. |
| La Malou, Hérault, France (temp. 88°) | — | 0·08 | Do. |
| Recoaro, North Italy | 1943 | 0·04 | Do. |
| Tunbridge Wells, England | — | 0·06 | Do.; deficient in carbonic acid. |
| Muspratt Spring, Harrogate (chloride) | 600 | 0·15 |
It has long been the prevalent idea that want of iron in the blood is the main cause of chlorosis and of other anaemic conditions, and that these conditions are best relieved by a supply of that metal. Since the detection of it in haemoglobuline this view has been still more popular. It is pretty certain that the blood contains 37 to 47 grains and the whole system 70 to 74 grains of iron; and it has been calculated that in normal conditions of the system somewhat more than one grain of iron is taken daily in articles of food, and that the same amount is passed in the faeces; for although the stomach takes the iron up it is excreted by the alimentary canal mainly, it being doubtful whether any is excreted in the urine. It is possible by drinking several glasses to take in more than a grain of carbonate of iron in the day, equivalent to half that amount of metallic iron. It has further been ingeniously reckoned from practice that 10 to 15 grains of metallic iron suffice to supply the deficiency in the system in a case of chlorosis. It is thought probable that a portion of the iron taken up in water is in certain pathological states not excreted, but retained in the system, and goes towards making up the want of that metal. But whether this or any other explanation be satisfactory, there is no question as to the excellent effects often produced by drinking chalybeate waters (especially when they are carbonated), and by bathing in those which are rich in carbonic acid after they have been artificially heated. As regards the drinking cure we must not, however, forget that carbonate and chloride of sodium, and also the sulphate, are often present and must be ascribed a share in the cure. Thus chloride of sodium is a powerful adjuvant in the strong Stahl Quelle of Homburg and in the Putnam Well at Saratoga. A whole category of female complaints is treated successfully with these waters. Indeed, anaemia from any source, as after fever or through loss of blood, and enlargements of the spleen, are benefited by them. The stimulating action of the copious supply of carbonic acid in steel baths is a very important adjuvant; no one now believes in direct absorption of iron from the bath. Iron waters are scarcely ever thermal. They are extremely common in all countries—frequently along with sulphuretted hydrogen in bogs and near coal-measures. But such springs and non-carbonated wells generally are weak, and not now held in much esteem.
It may be added that some of the strongest known iron wells are sulphated or aluminated. They are styptic and astringent, and can only be used diluted. They are sometimes useful as an application to ulcers and sores. Such springs have often been brought into notice, but never retain their popularity. They are known in the Isle of Wight, in Wales, in Scotland, as well as in Elba, &c.; and of late years the Bedford Alum and Oak Orchard Springs, U.S., have been brought into notice, the latter containing 10 grains of free sulphuric acid in the pint. All such springs have been considered useful in scrofula, anaemia and chronic diarrhoeas.
Sulphur Springs.—Waters having the odour of hydrosulphuric acid, however slightly, are usually called sulphur ones. They owe their smell sometimes to the presence of the free acid, sometimes to sulphides of sodium, calcium or magnesia, and sometimes to both. Sulphuretted hydrogen is absorbed more freely by cold than by hot water and is therefore most abundant in cold springs. The sulphides decompose and give off the gas. Most of these springs occur near coal or shale measures, or strata containing fossils, or in moors and in places generally where organic matter is present in the soil or strata. Many of them contain so little mineral impregnation that they might as well be classed among the indifferent or earthy waters. One group contains a considerable amount of chloride of sodium, another of sulphate of lime, while a third has little mineral impregnation, but contains sulphides.
Sulphuretted hydrogen is a strong poison, and its action on the system; has been pretty well ascertained. It has been assumed that the gas in mineral waters acts similarly, though in a modified degree; but there is next to nothing absolutely known of the action of the small quantities of the gas that are present in mineral waters, and which certainly have no toxic effect. It has been assumed that this gas has some special action on the portal system and so on liver has been founded the idea that sulphur waters are useful in metallic intoxication. Drinking large quantities of these waters, especially of such as contain sulphates or chlorides of sodium or magnesia, combined with hot baths and exercise, may help to break up albuminates, but there is no proof of the action of the sulphur.
| Locality | Sulphuretted Hydrogen dissolved in Water. |
Sulphide of Sodium. |
| Eilsen, Schaumburg-Lippe | 42·3 | — |
| Meinberg, Lippe-Detmold | 23·1 | 0·008 |
| Gurnigel, Switzerland (3600 ft.) | 15·1 | — |
| Leuk,Switzerland (3593 ft.) | 44·5 | — |
| Challes Savoy (900 ft.) | — | 0·478 |
| Enghieh, near Paris | — | 0·106 |
| Uriage, Isère, France (1500 ft.) | 7·34 | — |
| Harrogate, England | — | 0·207 |
| Strathpeffer, Scotland | — | 0·026 |
| Lisdoonvarna, Clare, Ireland | — | — |
For similar reasons, and primarily to counteract mercurial poison sulphur waters have been considered useful in syphilis. But it may be well to remember that at most baths mercury is used along with them. No doubt they are frequently, like other warm waters, useful in bringing out old eruptions, acting in this way as a test for syphilitic poison, and in indicating the treatment that may be required. Sulphur waters, both hot and cold, are used in gout and rheumatism, in dyspepsia, in hepatic and cutaneous affections; and of late years inhalation of them has been popular in phthisis and in laryngeal affections. They have long been popular remedies in cutaneous affections. While so much doubt has been cast on the action of the sulphur of these waters, it may be admitted that the sulphides are probably decomposed in the stomach and sulphuretted
hydrogen generated. That gas is probably a slight stimulant