Memoranda on Tours and Touraine Part 8

Pa.s.sy which has long been distinguished for its mineral waters is situated contiguous to one of the barrieres of Paris, on the right bank of the River Seine.

This water is remarkably clear and has a chalybeate taste. It contains sulphate of Lime, proto-sulphate of Iron, sulphate of Magnesia, muriate of Soda, Alum, carbonate of Iron, carbonic acid and some traces of bituminous matter.

Owing to the very large proportion of sulphate of Iron and the saline substances, which are found in it, this water is seldom administered internally until it has been allowed to deposit for some time, it is then given in obstructions of the viscera, in dyspepsia, inappetence, hypochondriasis, and in all relaxed and cachectic states of the const.i.tution. Dr Alibert who has frequently prescribed it in debility of the digestive organs, chlorosis and in pa.s.sive haemorrhages, considers it may be cla.s.sed amongst the most powerful of Chalybeate waters.

The dose is from two to three gla.s.ses daily, it is purgative when taken in a large quant.i.ty.

When used as Baths it is transported to the bathing establishment, or _maison de sante_, at a short distance from the spring.

ROUEN.

Chief town of the department of the Seine-Inferieure, thirty leagues from Paris.

Mineral springs of a ferruginous and calcareous nature, abound in the town and neighbourhood.

Those of the _Fontaine Marecquerie_ are the most common in use. The three sources which supply these fountains are respectively designated;

The _Royale_, the _Dauphine_, and the _Reinette_.

The waters have been a.n.a.lyzed by Mr Duboc of Rouen, who thereby demonstrates that every pint of the _Marecquerie_ water, contains one grain of carbonate of Iron, three grains of muriate of Lime, three fourths of a grain of carbonate of Soda, two grains of a vegetable extractive matter, and carbonic acid gas.

Several of the medical pract.i.tioners in Rouen, strongly recommend these waters in obstinate intermittent fevers, engorgements of the Liver, uterus and in leucorrhoea depending on general debility, and some cutaneous eruptions.

Three or four gla.s.ses const.i.tute a dose of the waters of the _Marecquerie_, they should be drank at the fountain, as they soon become tainted.

SAINT-GONDON.

A small town in the department of Loiret, near the banks of the Loire, three leagues from Sully; its mineral waters rise a short distance from the town.

The a.n.a.lysis of these waters is very incomplete, besides containing a little carbonic acid gas, they hold in solution the carbonates of Iron, Lime, Magnesia, etc.

The action of the Saint-Gondon mineral waters seem to affect more particularly the urinary organs, the secretions of which, they increase in a marked degree; they may be advantageously used in feebleness of the bladder, as also in chronic catarrh which attacks this organ in old men.

In some cases they are purgative. One pint every morning is the customary dose.

FORGES.

A small town in the department of the Seine-Inferieure, situated on a height; twenty-five leagues from Paris, and nine from Rouen.

Its mineral waters, which have their source in the pleasant valley of Bray, were celebrated as far back as the time of Louis 13th who with the cardinal Richelieu, derived signal benefit from their use.

There are three springs called the _Reinette_, the _Royale_, and the _Cardinale_.

M. Robert who a.n.a.lyzed these waters demonstrates that they contain in different proportions, according to their source, Carbonic Acid, Carbonate of Lime, Carbonate of Iron, Muriate of Soda, Sulphate of Lime, Muriate of Magnesia, Sulphate of Magnesia, and Silex.

The waters are under the superintendance of a physician. They are an excellent tonic, and administered in leucorrhoea, dropsy, engorgements of the abdominal organs, paralysis, and sterility.

We think this water might be prescribed with much advantage in all cases of pure debility, unattended with fever or local inflammation; and in leucoplegmatic const.i.tutions; the pallid female affected with complaints peculiar to her s.e.x, may reasonably antic.i.p.ate the glow of health, and a return of bodily strength to result from a proper course of these waters.

General preference is given to the _Reinette_ spring, but when it is desired to produce a more powerful effect upon the system, as in paralysis, the _Cardinale_ is recommended, and which must be commenced with by taking one gla.s.s only. The season for taking these waters is from July to the middle of September.

SULPHUREOUS WATERS,

LA ROCHE-POSAY.

These mineral waters are situated in the department of the Vienne, five leagues from Chatellerault, nine from Poitiers and sixty-six from Paris.

The springs of which there are three rise at the foot of a small mountain, about a quarter of a league from the town.

The accommodations for visitors are of a superior description, the surrounding country exceedingly picturesque, and the air salubrious.

According to the a.n.a.lysis of M. le docteur Josle, the waters contain a large proportion of sulphureted Hydrogen gas, Sulphate of Lime, Carbonate of Lime, Muriate of Soda, and Carbonate of Magnesia.

They are recommended for their utility in rheumatism, scrofula, chronic affections of the abdominal viscera, leucorrhoea, chlorosis, but more particularly in diseases of the skin.

Dr Johnson observes that the French and Germans are universally imbued with the doctrine that the repression of a certain malady which has got the musical sobriquet of (_Scotch-Fiddle_) is the cause of half the evils which flesh is heir to. On this account the continental folks have a great longing (or rather a violent itching) for sulphureous waters, and hence the slightest odour of sulphureted hydrogen gas in a newly discovered spring is considered a real treasure, and in the old ones it is sure to preserve a reputation for endless ages!

The sulphureous and alkaline properties of the waters of Roche-Posay may enable them to resolve obstructions, and free the functions of the skin, kidneys, and other secreting organs, to correct morbid bile as well as acidities, thus proving mildly aperient. Much benefit may also be expected to result from their use in cutaneous complaints.

The waters are drank at their source by the gla.s.s, the dose is from eight ounces to two pints; and some persons take them mixed with the wine drank during their repast.

ENGHIEN-LES-BAINS.

This village four leagues north of Paris is situated in a district remarkable for its beautiful scenery on the banks of the lake of St.

Gratien, between the heights of Montmorency and the wood of St. Gratien.

The sulphureous spring to which it owes its celebrity as a bathing place, was discovered in 1766, by Pere Cotte, the learned rector of Montmorency.

The celebrated Fourcroy ascertained by a.n.a.lysis, that the waters contain sulphureted Hydrogen gas, Carbonic acid gas, Sulphate of Lime, Sulphate of Magnesia crystalized, Carbonate of Lime, Carbonate of Magnesia, Muriate of Magnesia crystalized, Muriate of Soda, Silicium and Extractive matter.

The usual temperature of these waters is 59 Fah: but they may be heated to a much higher degree without materially losing their properties.

These waters are stimulating causing an abundant perspiration, and an increased secretion of urine. They are employed both internally and externally in many cases; in scabious eruptions and many other cutaneous affections, in chronic catarrhs, when it is necessary to stimulate in a gentle manner the mucous membrane which lines the bronchial and pulmonary cells, in the treatment of scrofulous affections, and of enlargement of the lymphatic glands.

They are also used with much success in asthma, particularly where this state depends upon latent gout, rheumatism, or repelled cutaneous affections, and in intestinal chronic affections, chlorosis, and nervous disorders.

Their alkaline properties empower them to resolve obstructions, and free the functions of the skin, kidneys etc. and to correct acidities, their intimate connexion with sulphureted Hydrogen and Carbonic acid gas enables them to give activity to the secreting vessels and evacuate unhealthy humours, while at the same time they give vigour to the whole organism oppressed by chronic disease.

Visitors will find ample accommodation in the commodious establishments, which are formed on the border of the lake, especially at the _Hotel des quatre Pavillons_, the _Hotel des Cygnes_, the _Bain de la Pecherie_: besides these are several good boarding houses, as well as public gardens and places of amus.e.m.e.nt. On the lake of St.-Gratien, in the centre of which is a small and pretty Island with a kiosk upon it, those fond of aquatic excursions will find boats adapted for sailing or rowing. Horses and a.s.ses are kept ready saddled for those who may be inclined to visit the several delightful villages in the neighbourhood, and the b.a.l.l.s which are given here during the season attract the Parisians in great numbers. The baths of Enghien are every year increasing in repute.