White Sulphur papers; or, Life at the springs of Western Virginia

158 APPENDIX.
SALINE
APERIENT SPRINGS.
" Tliis class of Springs is distinguished from others iu
containing as a predominating ingredient sulpliiate of soda,
(Glauber's salt) or sulphate of magnesia, (Epsom salts)
which sometimes exists in large quantities ; the other mineralizing
substance, exist in comparatively small proportions.
Some of these Springs are very ga&eous and of
a high temperature, others are cold and contain but little
gas.
The Hot Springs are usually energetic in their action
and exceedingly exciting to the system, generally stimulamulating
the vascular aparatus, and increasing the secretions.
The cold ones are antiphylogestic, cooling, and
aperient purgative, or diuretic, according to the quantity
taken. They usually bear exportation well, and are
less objectionable than the majority of mineral springs
in states of vascular phethora, febrile affection, and congestion.
Artificially prepared they are nearly as efficacious
as the natural waters, especially the imitations of those
which contain but little carbonic acid gas, manufactured
Epsom, Seidlitz or Cheltenham salts are but little inferior
in efficacy to those procured from the springs themselves,
and are very commonly usedjin the ordinary practice ofmedicine.
Seidlitz is a village in Bohemia, celebrated on account
of its bitter purging water ; the predominating salt, is the