Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injuriousJohnson, James
Science
Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injurious
Johnson, James
Balneology; Health resorts; Mineral waters
This is the most ancient of the springs. It is situated in the middle
of the town, surrounded by a marble basin, whence is bottled immense
quantities of the waters for France, England, Holland, and Germany.
Steers, who practised here for twenty-five years, is not behind his
brethren of the spas, in his eulogies of the Pouhon waters. “They have
an agreeable tartness, and have worked many miracles. Their effects are
all but supernatural, and have excited the curiosity and admiration of
physicians and philosophers who have come here from various countries.”
It is very clear when received into a glass, which becomes covered on the
sides with bubbles of air, that also rise on the surface. The acidulous
and piquant taste is succeeded by a smack of steel. On standing for
some time there is a deposition of iron at the bottom of the glass, in
consequence of the disengagement of carbonic acid. Peter the Great, who
came here exhausted, and menaced with dropsy, completely recovered—and
his statue stands over the Pouhon as no mean certificate of the medicinal
powers of the spring.
The SECOND SOURCE, SAUVENIERE, is half a league out of the town, and
situated in a romantic spot. This spa contains less iron than the Pouhon,
and used to precede the others in drinking.
The GERONSTERRE was known to DE STEERS. It is to the south of the town,
but now of easy access by a beautiful road. This spring disengages some
sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which distinguishes it from the others.
The TONNELET is situated between the Pouhon and Sauveniere, and has three
springs, all of the same quality.
_Constituents of One Gallon (231 Cubic Inches)._
+-----------+------+--------+-------+---------+---------+------+-------+
| |Carb.-|Solid |Muriate|Carbonate|Carbonate|Oxide | |
| SOURCES. |Acid |Matters.| of | of | of | of |Temper-|
| |Gas. | | Soda. | Soda. | Lime. |Iron. |ature. |
| |Cub. |Grains |Grains | Grains | Grains |Grains| |
| |Inch. | | | | | | |
+-----------+------+--------+-------+---------+---------+------+-------+
|POUHON | 262 | 27 | 1 | 2¼ | 9 | 5¼ | 50°F. |
|GERONSTERRE| 168 | 12½ | ½ | 1½ | 5¼ | 1 | 49° |
|SAUVENIERE | 241 | 8½ | ¼ | ½ | 3¾ | 2¼ | 49° |
|TONNELET | 280 | 5½ | .. | .. | 1½ | 2¾ | 49° |
+-----------+------+--------+-------+---------+---------+------+-------+
From the above it will be seen that iron and large quantity of carbonic
acid gas are the main ingredients in the spa waters—and consequently that
they are simple chalybeates—without aperient qualities.
Superb baths have been erected near the Pouhon, for the accommodation of
visitors.
MEDICINAL AGENCY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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