2. The chief contents of the bitter waters are the sulphates of magnesia and soda; and the best-known spas of this class are those of PillIna, Saidschtltz, Sedlitz, Friedrichshall, and Kissingen; although there are two English spas--namely, the bitter water of Cherry Rock, near Kingswood, in Gloucestershire, and the Purton spa, near Swindon, in Wiltshire—which "are, by their chemical composition, admirably suited for the treatment of many cases of disease, and may perhaps even prove superior to the continental spas of this class."—Althaus, op. cit. p. 360. These waters act both a.s pur gatives and diuretics, and may therefore be used advantageously in the numerous cases in which it is advisable to excite the action both of the bowels and kidneys.
3. The muriated waters are divisible into (a) Simple muriated waters, of which the thief contents are a moderate quantity of chloride of sodium, or common salt. The chief spas of this class are Wiesbaden and Baden-Baden, -which are hot; those of Soden (in Nassau), of 3Iondorf (near Luxembourg), and of Canstatt (near Stuttgart), which are tepid; and those of Kissingen, Homburg, and Cheltenham, which are cold. They are chiefly employed in cases of gout, rheumatism, scrofula, and abdominal plethora. (h) Muriated lithia waters, of which the chief contents are the chlorides of sodium and lithium. The discovery of lithia in some of the Baden-Baden springs is so recent that there is as yet no sufficient experience concerning their therapeutic action. In gout they first aggravate the pain, but then give relief; and in periodic headache they have been found serviceable. (c) Brines, whose chief contents are a large amount of chloride of sodium. Amongst the spas of this kind those of Rehme, in Westphalia, and Nauheim, in Hesse. have the greatest reputation. They are mostly employed for bathing, and are often of much service in scrofula, anfemia, rheumatism, certain forms of paralysis, and catarrh of the mucous membranes. (d) muriatcd waters, in which, besides a moderate quantity of chloride of sodium, the iodides and bromides of sodium and mag nesium are contained in an appreciable quantity. Kreuznach is the most celebrated of the spac of this class. Its waters are used both for drinking and bathing, and are of service in scrofulous infiltrations of the glands, in scrofulous ulcers, in chronic inflamma tion of the uterus and ovaries, etc. The waters of Hall, in Austria proper, are also of
this class, and have a high reputation in cases of bronchocele or goiter.
4. Earthy waters, of which the chief contents are sulphate and carbonate of lime. The most important waters of this class occur at Wildungen, Leuk, Bath, Lucca, and Pisa. c. The Wildungen water, which is exported in large quantities, is, according to Dr. Althaus, " a capital diuretic, and not only promotes the elimination of gravel and renal calculi, but by its tonic action on the mucous membrane of the urinary passages serves to prevent the formation of fresh concretions. It is also much used for chronic catarrh of the bladder, neuralgia of the urethra and neck of the bladder, dysuria, and inconti nence of urine." The baths of Leuk, in which many patients remain nine hours daily (viz., from 4 A.m. to 10 A.m., and from 2 P.M. to 5 p.m.), until an eruption appears, are chiefly used in chronic skin diseases. The waters of Bath, Pisa, and Lucca, which are thermal, are useful in chronic skin diseases, scrofula, gout, rheinnatism, etc.
5. Indifferent thermal waters, which usually contain a small amount of saline con stituents. Of the spas of this class, the most important are Gasteiu (95° to 118°), TOplitz Wildbad (96'), Warmbrunn (100'), Clifton (86"), and Buxton (82°). Their most striking effects are to stimulate the skin and excite the nervous system. " They arc pecially used in chronic rheumatism and atonic gout; in diseases of the skin, such as prurigo, psoriasis, lichen; in neuralgia and paralysis due to rheumatic and gouty exuda tion.s, to parturition, or to severe diseases, such as typhoid fever and diphtheria; in hys teria; and in general weakness and marasmus."—Althaus, op. cit. p. 421.
6. Chalybeate waters, which are divisible into (a) Simple acidulous chalybeates, whose chief contents are carbonic acid and bicarbonate of protoxide of iron; and (b) Saline acidulous chalybeates, whose chief contents are sulphate of soda and bicarbonate of pro toxide of iron. These waters are consideied in a special article. See CRALYBEATE