development of tuberculosis and of other pulmonary diseases. Those that cannot go to the coast are recommended to sponge daily the face, throat, and upper part of the chest with hot water first, and then immediately with cold. This would greatly fortify the organism against the injuries arising from unfavourable skiey influences. According to the late Dr. James Johnson, one of the most talented physicians, this process has been successfully applied to young children, to ward off threatening consumption.

The douche acts through its violent shock, according to its height, as a more or less exciting local agent. The shower-bath produces a sort of titillation of the peripheric nerves, and diminishes excessive nervous sensibility.

With reference to the imbibition of the constituents, we must bear in mind that organic cells and tissues have sometimes more attraction for one combination than for another, and thus counteract the purely chemical influence.

Some constituents of the mineral waters no doubt possess a restorative power, supplying substances requisite for the proper performance of organic functions; others cause chemical action by displacing particles without undergoing changes themselves. Most spas possess, therefore, the character of alteratives.

I shall now bring to your notice the classification adopted by Vetter, who divides all the mineral waters into two large classes, viz. Akratopega (from a negativum, κратos power, and ηN spring), such springs which have as it were powerless constituents, notwithstanding their noted efficacy, and Synkratopegæ (from σvv with, κраτоs power, and ŋŋ spring), such mineral waters in which the power of the constituents to a certain measure corresponds with the observed effect.

We shall first occupy ourselves with the waters belonging to the former class, also called 'chemically indifferent.' They are clear, tasteless, and generally inodorous (sometimes possessing a slight smell of sulphuretted hydrogen), of nearly the same specific gravity as water, containing in sixteen ounces less than five grains of solid ingredients, and not above the tenth part of the quantity of gas which would correspond to their tension. The constituents are not such as exhibit strong effect in small quantities. These are subdivided into :

Akratothermæ, chemically pure thermal springs, as Gastein, Landeck, Pfeffers, Teplitz, Warmbrunn, Wildbad, &c. Akratokrenæ, chemically pure cold springs.

The akratopega arise out of primitive mountains or such as are

composed of little soluble fossils; they are alkaline or earthy, deficient in gas, with the exception of nitrogen or sulphuretted hydrogen. The more water approaches chemical purity, the greater is its latent heat; therefore they may stimulate more than common baths of the same temperature. Their power of solving animal evaporation and of entering the peripheric vessels is likewise greater. They are particularly useful, where earthy formations are deposited in tissues from a deficient power of excretion, or from diminished circulation. On this account they are especially adapted to old age, by strengthening the innervation, and diminishing the rigidity and weakness of the limbs.

LECTURE IV.

WILDBAD.

To proceed to Wildbad, in Würtemberg, lat. N. 49°, long. E. 8°, we have first to reach Mayence, which we can do from London in twenty-eight hours, thence the railroad takes us through Heidelberg to Pforzheim (in 64 hours). From here a three-hours' diligence ride through a most beautiful part of the Black Forest brings us to our place of destination.

The road from Baden-Baden, about thirty English miles distant, is highly picturesque. After having enjoyed the views of the surrounding peaks from the acclivities you have to mount, you will descend a winding road to the town of Gernsbach, in the valley of the Murg; you then ascend to the village of Laffenau; the path winds downwards again to Herrenalb, encircled by majestic mountains. Turning to your left, you perceive curious groups of basaltic rocks, with the appearance of a fortress. Ascending, you reach a plateau, which continues for six or seven miles, and offers extensive prospects towards the north-west. After passing a deep wood, you descend to the town of Neuenburg, on the Enz. From here you ascend for eight miles on the right bank of the river, and you will find yourselves in the valley of Wildbad, about 1,300 feet above the level of the sea, whilst the mountains reach on each side the height of 1,500 feet. The fall of the Enz during this short distance is 370 feet. You see the course of the river to be from south to north, consequently the spa is exposed to these two winds, while it enjoys mountainous protection at the east and west.

Cold naturally prevails in its climate, the summits of the mountains being covered by snow from November till May. The heat is correspondingly great in June, July, and August. I need not tell you, as regards Wildbad, that the road from BadenBaden is nearer still, if you walk through the fields and valleys straight eastward, as is often done by the inhabitants of the

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environs. The town of Wildbad lies eleven leagues (thirtythree miles) to the west of Stuttgart, and has about 1,800 inhabitants. Karlsruhe lies at a distance of nine leagues to the north, Calw four leagues to the east, Pforzheim six leagues to the north-east. The wild and picturesque character of the environs is well worthy of admiration. An early walk along the river Enz, which rushes with violence through the spa, led to the following notes in my journal, which I beg leave to quote: I cannot imagine anything more romantic and delightfulthough shallow and narrow, the river foams and hisses, so that one might suppose oneself near the seashore. On both sides. rise the mountains, covered with beautiful fir and pine-trees, of every variety of green. Particularly charming appear the rays of the sun, when they begin to force their way over the peaks of the eastern mountain to gild the yellow waves of the furious little river.' By reason of the almost perpendicular acclivity of the enclosing mountains, the beneficent influence of the sun is obtained an hour later from the east, and departs an hour sooner in the west, than on the surrounding localities. The spa enjoys the reputation of great antiquity; and in the beginning of the sixteenth century its curative powers were already extolled. A remarkable charter was given to the place by Charles V.; viz. 'that all criminals, with the exception of murderers and highway robbers, should enjoy here peace and liberty for a year and a day.' The surrounding mountains consist of ferruginous red sandstone and granite. The springs flow out of cleft granite rocks in four divisions from north to south, forming several independent basins. They vary in temperature from 88° to 99° Fahrenheit. The largest bathing space, also enclosing the warmest springs, is called Herrenbad' (gentlemen's bath). On the left we observe a niche, which reaches to a considerable distance into the wall, and is called the 'Hölle,' being the hottest spot, out of which the chief source originates. The basin is separated by boards from another bathing space, called Bürgerbad' (citizens' bath). Then there is a space called 'Fürstenbad' (princes' bath); and another called Frauenbad' (ladies' bath). The bottom of the baths is covered with sand; and it excites extremely pleasurable sensations to move along on the warm

League, the German Stund,' or hour, signifies such a distance as might be walked in an hour; it corresponds to about three English miles. A geographical German mile is rather less than two leagues or 'Stunden,' and equal to about five English miles.

sand, and dig it up with the fingers, causing bubbles of gas to rise to the surface. The temperature of the water being identical with that of blood, neither heating nor cooling is required to adapt it for use. This circumstance must be considered as highly advantageous. Another point of great importance is the constant influx and efflux of the same water, with unvaried temperature and constituents. This would be positively unobtainable by any artificial contrivance. You see the water bubbling up from several holes in the sand, exhibiting a greater heat than the more distant parts. You may thus consider that the natural stimulus of this congenial warmth, instead of acting continuously on the organism, rather divides itself into repeated and constantly renewed stimulating forces. The extent of the basins allowing muscular movement, compensates in some measure for the disadvantages of bathing in common (with separation of sexes) which is generally practised here. The water is let off every night, the sides are cleaned, and the sand is levelled. Before commencing the course, the visitor is enjoined to take a common warm bath. According to the susceptibility and complaint of the patient, the warmer and cooler baths are chosen. A peculiar feeling of comfort and general ease spreads over the bather. Refreshed and invigorated he will certainly feel on leaving the bath, with increased cheerfulness and desire for exercise. After a certain number of baths, however, a sort of reaction sometimes appears, ushered in by lassitude, depression, headache, general languor, loss of appetite, frequent feeling of chilliness, with subsequent heat and other signs of feverish disturbance. Pains of rheumatism, gout, or of wounds, sometimes momentarily reappear, after having been dormant for a long period. These ought not to discourage the sufferer; on the contrary, they are signs of a peculiar power exercised on the affected organs. The apparent systemic counteraction only shows the efficiency of the spa. With properly regulated precautions the course can be continued as soon as the signs of febrile reaction, or bath eruption, have passed away. On the other hand, this must not be looked for as an indispensable condition of cure. Patients sometimes are gradually relieved or cured of obstinate chronic diseases without these rebellious symptoms. This chiefly depends on individual idiosyncrasy. I can conceive the baths benefiting one individual by the titillating contact with the sentient extremities of the nerves, stimulating the cutaneous function, and indirectly promoting the secreting power of vascular and sero