t

REPORT,

CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL,

OF THE

MINERAL SPRINGS

AND A

LIST OF PH^NOGAMOUS PLANTS

COLLECTED IN THEIR VICINITY.

By WILLIAM HUTTON FORREST,

LICENTIATE OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL, CHARLESTON, SOUTH
CAROLINA; AND OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS,
EDINBURGH ; ORDINARY MEDICAL ATTENDANT
> OF THE STIRLING DISPENSARY, &C.

STIRLING:

MDBLISHED BY JOHN HEWIT ;
^AiUjJsOLD BY ADAM BLACK, EDINBURGH; M. LOCHHEAD,
AND ATKINSON & CO., GLASGOW.

1831.

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2015

https://archive.org/details/b21970439

TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE
LORD ABERCROMBY OF ABOUKIR,

THESE PAGES
ARE, WITH HIS lordship's PERMISSION,
MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY HIS

lordship's obedient and OBLIGED SERVANT,

WILLIAM H. FORREST.

Bridge Street, Stirlinc/, ^
May 2Qth, 1831. S

PREFACE.

The followiBg is an attempt to furnish what has
been considered for some time past, a desideratum
in this neighbourhood, viz. a succinct account of
the chemical and medicinal properties of the Airth*
rey Springs. These Springs having been examin«
ed by Dr Thomson of Glasgow, their chemistry,
it may be said, is perfectly imderstood ; -and little,
therefore, can be expected from any fitture in-
quirer into this subject. It is not so, however,
with -their medical history. This, so far as I know,
has not yet been touched -upGn by -a*iy -of our pro«-
vincial practitioners, a circumstance not a Httle
surprising when the peculiar and mteresting na-
ture of the inquiry is considered. Tn the attempt
which I have made to supply this desideratum, I
wish it to be understood, that I offer it, not as a

A

iv

PREFACE.

complete medical history of these Springs, but
rather as a few general conclusions deduced from
such facts as have presented themselves in the
course of my practice. The time, I conceive, has
not yet arrived for wi-iting a complete medical his-
tory of these Springs.

Although not in any ■ way connected with the
present inquiry, I have taken the liberty of ap.
•pending to it a Catalogue of Plioenogamous Plants
growing in this vicinity. It may prove useful to
Botanists visiting the iVfrthrey Springs.

For the habitats of several of the plants, I am
indebted to Messrs. WiUiam Drummond, Coney
Park ; Peter M'Kenzie, gardener to Robert Lowis,
Esq. J and James Drummond, gardener to Henry
Home Drummond, Esq.

INTRODUCTION.

The hill in which the Airthrey Springs take their
origin is composed of TraptuiF, intersected hy sev-
eral veins of Sulphate of Barytes.* One of these
veins has a thin layer of Copper Ore traversing it.
This vein, Dr. Thomson informs us, was wrought
at two different times, and abandoned, on both oc-
casions, in consequence of the ruin of the adven-
turers.

. During the working of the copper vein, sever-
al Mineral Springs were discovered, issuing from
the eastern wall of the mine. The time of their
discovery cannot, I believe, be precisely ascer-
tained. Dr. Thomson, in his Paper on the Min-
eral Waters of Scotland, published in the first vol-
' ume of the Glasgow Medical Journal, states, that

* See Appendix,

6

INTRODUCTION.

they have been known to the country people for
upwards of forty years ; but one of the old inmers,
an mteUigent man, and an enthusiastic admirer
of the medicinal virtues of these waters, informs
me, that they have been known for at least one
himdred years. Thirty-five years ago, according
to my informant, the watei* waS' collected in a
wooden trough, for the use of the miners, and of
the country people, some of whom used it as att
aperient, whilst others, deeming the water impreg-
nated with common salt merely, employed it for
culinary purposes. The only stranger who used
the water medicinally at this time was Dr. Porteous
of Glasgow. It was, however, much used as a
liiedicine by the country people of the neighbour-
hood, who attended regularly every Sunday morn-
ing to partake of it.

About the year 1807, the Airthrey Mines were
abandoned and locked up ; and the springs being
inaccessible, were for some years almost entirely
forgotten. At length, in consequence of the suc-
ces5-of the Dunblane Springs, they attracted the
attention of several persons residing in the neigh-

.1

INTRODUCTION.

7

bourhood of Airtlorey, who were induced to solicit
Sir Robert Abercromby, the lord of the manor, to
have the Mineral Springs, formerly enjoying some
local distinction, examined by men of science. Sir
Robert, conceiving that these springs might be
really medicinal, acceded readily to this propos-
al, and about the year 1820, he caused the mine,
which had fallen in and become choked, to be
cleared and repaired. A specimen of the water,
as it issues from the rock, was then procured, and
sent to Dr. Hope, Professor of Chemistry in the
University of Edinburgh. The Professor, how-
ever, was at this time so busUy engaged with his
pupils, that he could not undertake its analysis.
In the winter of 1821-2, Dr. Thomson, Professor
of Chemistry in the University of Glasgow, ana-,
lysed two of the springs. He foimd their ingre-
dients similar to those of the Dunblane water — :
the Airthrey water, however, being by far the
stronger of the two.

Sfr Robert Abercromby being now convinced of
the medicinal properties of the Airthrey Springs,

adopted measures for having the water conveyed
a2 ■ ■

in-production;

•fo a, situation accessible to visitors. He caused
the water of the two Springs analysed by Dr.
Thomson, one of which was characterised by its
strength, the other by its comparative weakness,
to be carefully collected and conveyed apart in
earthen pipes, to two stone troughs placed in a
convenient situation, from which it was raised by
two weU-constructed forcing pumps. Over these
pumps a commodious house was erected.

In 1822, several thousand copies of Dr. Tliom-
son's analyses were cu-culated ; and the water ac-
quired'immediate' celebrity. Invalids from all
parts' of the country, but especially from Glasgow,
and its vicinity, resorted to Afrthrey. Every
house, in fact, m its neighbourhood, however mean
and incommodious, was occupied by sti-angers ;
and so great was the popularity of the new springs
that even in 1823 they tlireatened to supersede'
all the other sahne sprmgs of Scotland.

About this time an attempt was made by per-
sons interested in the success of the Dunblane
Springs, to depreciate the character of the Afrthrey
Water. It was confidently stated by tliese per-

INTRODUCTION. 9

sons, that this water, from its vicmity to the cop-
per vein, must be necessarily impregnated with
copper, and that, although it was not altogether
poisonous, it was, said they, certainly highly in-
jurious to the constitution. This gratuitous as-
sertion was easily refuted. Rigid chemical analysis
proved that the water contained no copper; and
daily experience with it in various diseases showed
in a manner no less decided, that it might be used,
not only with safety, but with great and perma-
nent benefit to the patient. The assertion, m con-
sequence, was justly interpreted by the pubUc ;
and the celebrity of the Airtln-ey Springs remain-
ed unimpaired. During the past year, 1830,
not fewer than one hundred strangers were com-
pelled to leave these Springs in the course of one
week, for want of accommodation, although several
houses have been built in the viUage adjacent to
them, since 1823,

The demand fortius water having been steadily
on the mcrease since 1823, Sir Robert Abercrom-
by determmed, in 1826, to secure it in a perma-
nent manner, for behoof of the public. In tliia

10

.INTRODUCTION.

year consequently, the mine was surveyed by
Messrs. Stevenson and Bald, civil engineers.
These gentlemen reported the arrangement of the
whole work as good, and incapable of improve
ment. They recommended, however, the earthen
pipes, which had hitherto been supported on wood,
' to be supported on brick, and those parts of the
roof of the mine hable to decay, to be arched.
These alterations, they stated, would afford a per-
manent support to the pipes and prevent the mme
becoming again choked by the falhng m of the roof

Before these alterations were carried into effect,
several specimens of the water were agam subject-
ed to analysis by Dr. Thomson, and their excel-
lence established by this consummate chemist, be-
yond all manner of doubt.

The alterations recommended by Messrs. Stev-
enson and Bald, were then executed with great
care, and in a very substantial manner. A series
of brick pillars was erected about a yard distant
from each other, and over these a continuous
course of flags was laid for the pipes to rest upon.
To enable it to resist the damp of the mine, the

INTRODUCTION.

11

mortar employed was composed of lime intimately
mixed with calcined ironstone ;. and the earthen
pipes which were laid anew were carefully luted
with Roman cement. The arches recommended
by the engineers were also built, and the water, it
may be now said, is, by the patriotic exertions- of
the late Sir Robert iVbercromby, permanently se-
cured to the comitry.

The arrangement of the whole work, as it at
present stands, may be learned by referring to the
section of the mine. In it the relative situations
of the different springs and troughs, and of the
copper vein are distinctly indicated. The reader
win perceive at a glance that the springs and this
vein of which so much has been said, are in no
ways connected. The vein is situated in the roof
of the mine, and the sprmgs, with one exception,
issue from the rock at the base of its eastern wall.
The water, again, which drops from the roof of
the mine in which the vein is situated, is insipid,
and possesses all the characters of ordinary spring
water, and from it the mineral water is carefully
potected by the pipes in which it is conveyed.

12

INTRODUCTION .

This water and the waste mineral water, run along
the sole of the mine, three feet below the level of
the earthen pipes, and issue into day at the mouth
of the mine.

Some time after the mineral water was perma-
nently secured in the manner described, the Cale-
donian Mining Company made overtures to Sir
Robert Abercromby, for having the copper vein
again worked ; but so great was the importance
attached by this gentleman to the mineral watei-,
that he dechned their proposals, although in every
respect highly advantageous to him. By working
the mine. Sir Robert thought it possible that the>
water might be injured or lost ; and as he had re-
solved, at whatever expense, to presence it to the
public, he cheerfully submitted to the sacrifice.

That Sir Robert Abercromby was not actuated
in the foregoing decision by mercenary motives,
the munificent offer of these Springs which he
made some time afterwards to the Town of Stir-
ling clearly proves. The Abbey Craig, a barren
but beautiful and highly pictui-esque rock, which
overlooks the estate of Airthrey, and which in fact

INTRODUCTION.

13

forms naturally a part of it, belongs to one of the
Hospitals in Stirling, over whose funds, the Ma-
gistrates, as patrons, have the sole control. For
this rock and the other Hospital lands attached to
■it, contiguous to the Airthrey estate, Sir Robert
Abercromby offered to exchange other lands be-
longiog to him, which are contiguous to lands be-
longing to the Hospital. The exchange, it is
thought by many persons, would have been mu-
tually advantageous to the proprietors. In the
bargain, the quantity and quality of the land were
to be considered ; and, without any equivalent. Sir
Robert offered to convey to the Magistrates the
sole right to the mineral water, it being under-
stood that it was to be carried by them in earthen
pipes to the Causewayhead or Bridge of Stirling.
The Magistrates declined the proposal, unless a
road of forty feet wide along the brow of the Abbey
Craig was reserved by the hospital for the use of
the inhabitants of Stirhng. Sir Robert would not
agree to this, but offered a right of entry at all
times to the Magistrates, and to persons recom-.
mended by them; and to secure this effectually,

^ INTRODUCTION.

axe would agree that a .key to the grounds should
he keptby the Chief Magistrate. The Magistrates,
however, declined also this proposal, and the cor-
respondence ceased. Had Sir Robert Abercrom-
by succeeded in effecting this exchange, it was his
mtenlion, I have been told, to plant the Abbey
Craig„and erect onits summit, an obehsk or apy-
ramid, commemorative of his brother's brilHant
martial achievements and glorious death in EgjTt-
Whatever may be the attachment of the inhab-
itants of Stirling to their scenery, and the view
from the Abbey Craig is perhaps unrivalled in
Scotland, and indeed in any other coimtry, there
can be no doubt that Stirlmg, in a commercial
point of view, has lost much by the refusal of Sir
Robert Abercromby's offer. Judging irom the
great immbers of persons who, during the summer
months, are compelled to leave Airthrey for w,ant
of accommodation, and from the uniform sucoess
which has attended the mineral springs in other
parts of Great Britain, most of which axe infinitely
less valuable than the Afrthi-ey Springs, it is surely
not too nmch to say,tlmt at the present day ihe

i

INTRODUCTION.

15

rental of the Wells would have been betwixt two
and three hundred pounds annually, . and that our
merchants and householders would have been now
enjojdng all the emoluments arismg from a resi-
dence of at least two hundred opulent individuals
amongst us during six or eight months. of the year.
These advantages, however, some, may be inclined
to say, would not have compensated, us for the. re-
straint imposed upon us in our rambles upon the
Abbey Craig. I confess I think otherwise. Who
would not rather visit, under a little restraint, this
romantic hill, adorned with its obeUsk, and woods,
and beautiful walks, than ramble, in ideal, hberty,
amidst its present desolation ?

Since the idea of conveying the Airthrey Water
to Stirling has been abandoned, several proprietors
in the neighbourhood of the Sprmgs are erecthig
suitable houses for the accommodation of the
visitors ; and one gentleman, I imderstand, has it
in contemplation to build a large and commodious
inn at Bridge of Allan.* These buildings, there

* We would particularize the Bridge of Allan,

16

INTRODUCTION.

can be no doubt, will amply repay their owners.
Airthrey, at no distant date, must necessarily be-
come the Cheltenham of Scotland. Its water, as
I shall afterwards prove, is much superior as an
aperient to any other in Scotland, and its situa-
tion,, commanding as it does the scenery of the
Forth, is generally acknowledged, even in this
picturesque land, to be quite unrivalled.

as every thing which a village ought to be ; soft,
sunny, warm; a confusion of straw -roofed cot-
tages and rich massy trees ; possessed of a bridge
and a mill, together with kail-yards, bee-skeps,
colleys, callants, old inns with entertainment for
man and horse, carts with their poles pointing up
to the sky, venerable dames in drugget, knitting
their stockings m the sun, and young ones in ging-
ham and dimity, trippmg along with milk pails on
their heads. Besides all these characteristics as a
village, the Bridge of Allan boasts of a row of neat
little villas, for the temporary accommodation of
a number of fashionables who flock to it in sum-
mer, on account of a mineral well in the neigh-
bourhood.—CTiamJers's Pidure of Scotland, vol. ii,
p. 320.

INTRODUCTION.

17

Aware of the danger, I shall not attempt to de-,
scribe this scenery. The inhabitants of this dis-
trict have ah-eady been accused of over -rating its
beauties, and drawing invidious comparisons be-
twixt it and other celebrated Scottish scenes. It
will be much better therefore, to adopt the descrip-
tions of strangers. Of these I shall select two, the
one by a distinguished philosopher, the other by a
celebrated tourist. " Airthrey," says Dr. Thom-
son, " is situated at the bottom of one of the west-
ernmost of the OchUs, about two miles north of
Stirling, and commands a magnificent prospect of
one of the richest districts in Scotland. The view
to the west is boimded by the Grampians, which
are seen from hence or at least from the Castle-
lull of Stirling, to more advantage than from any
other place. Four peaks tower conspicuous above
all the rest, and are not more remarkable for their
size than for the varied elegance of their form.
These are Ben Lomond, Ben Ledi, Ben More,
and Ben Voirlich — mountains which must be fa-
miliar to every one who has ever been in Stirling.
The Ochils constitute the northern boundary, be-

18

INTRODUCTION.

ginning apparently where the Grampians recede
from the view/and continuing without intemiption
to the east, as far as the eye can reach. These
mountains, though very steep on the south side,
are mostly covered with grass or wood, and pre-
sent a back groimd at once lovely and magnificent,
'riie Touch mountains on the south-west, skirted
with wood — the numerous little hills that rise like
castles from the carse of Stirling — the Forth flow-
ing majestically through the level ground, and
winding in so intricate a manner between Stu'ling
and Alloa, that the eye even in the most favour-
able situations, cannot trace its course, and spread-
ing, out into an extensive Frith, which maybe fol-
lowed without interruption till it mingles with the
eastern horizon. All these and a thousand other
beautiful, rich, and picturesque objects which it
would be vain to attempt to particulai'ize, render
the view from Airthrey at once one of tlie most
magnificent and beautiful that Scotland can pro-
duce. The roads during summer are excellent
in levery direction. The rides to the west, east,
and south, possess numerous beauties to attract the

INTRODUCTION.

19

attention of the man of taste ; and being the spots
where many of the most eventful actions connect-
ed with, the history of Scotland were performed,
they have claims upon our curiosity of no ordinary
nature?"—" The Castle-hill," says Mr. Chambers,
" is an extensive esplanade between the Castle and
the town, from which a vast prospect presents it-
self to the eye in all directions. On the north side
are seen the windings of the Forth through the
carse of Stirling, with the Ochil hiUs for a back
ground. On the west lies the vale of Menteith.
In the remoter parts of the scene the spectator sees
Ben Lomond, and his fraternity of lesser brothers,
including Ben Ledi and Ben Voirlich, which
give an inconceivably magnificent air to the pic-
ture. Here it is curious to consider, that from the
Castle above you, you can see, on one hand, the
towers of academic Edinburgh, a place where
civihzation may be said to be carried to a pitch of
exquisite perfection, while, on the other, you gaze
on an Alpine region, where the people yet wear
part of the dress, and mostly speak the language
which obtained in Europe before even the early

20 INTRODUCTION.

ages of Grecian and Roman refinement. It is
strange thus to link together the extremes of
human society, — thus to associate the nineteenth
century before Clu-ist and the nineteenth century
after him, for no less remote from each other ui
reality are the ideas arising fi-om a view of Edin-
burgh and the Highlands."

These views, so forcibly described by the authors
quoted, have been frequently delineated by artists,
but I have not seen any picture of them which con-
veys even a remote idea of their magnificence.
On looking upon these views for the first time,
the stranger is lost ia admiration of their extent.
The eye, at one sweep, travels over a distance of
at least seventy miles, and yet, every thing, save
the wmdmgs of the Forth, is perfectly distinct.
No paiuter since the days of Claude LoiTaine
could possibly paint such a landscape ; and m fact
the Mid-Day of this master resembles more the
western view, as seen fi-om a certain position,
than any picture of it which I have had an oppor-
tunity of seeing. In this celebrated picture, the
idea md feeling of distance are beautifully preserve-

INTRODUCTION.

21

ed, so much so indeed, that a critical writer has
remarked, that a spectator in looking upon it al-
most anticipates the fatigue of a long journey, so
great is the extent of distant country opened to his
view. It is the absence of this charm of distance,
so beautifully alluded to by Campbell in the open-
ing part of the pleasures of Hope, which renders
our modern landscapes, especially those of the
Airthrey scenery, almost entirely devoid, of interest.

" At summer eve, when Heaven's aerial bow
Spans with bright arch the glittering hills below.
Why to yon mountain turns the musing eye,
Whose sun bright summit mingles with the sky ?
Why do those cUfFs of shadowy tint appear
More sweet than all the landscape smiling near ?
'Tis distance lends enchantment to the view, '
And robes the moimtain in its azure hue."

Whatever benefits may accrue to the public of
Scotland from the Airthrey Wells, (and the excel-
lence of their water coupled with their sublime
scenery, renders it extremely probable that at no
distant day these will be of no ordinary description,)
it ought always to be borne in mind, that it is to

22

INTRODUCTION.

the liberality and kindness of the late Sir Robert
Abercromby we are indebted for them all. " We
cannot," say Messrs. Stevenson & Bald, " conclude
this report without noticing the very kind and lib-
eral manner in which Sir Robert Abercromby has
for the public good alone, at a very considerable
expense, brought these mineral waters into gen-
eral use. Their salubrious effects on the constitu-
tion are acknowledged ; and many persons of all
ranks have by their means, under God, been re-
stored to the high blessing of health ; and there is
no doubt thousands will succesively reap equal
benefits when the present generation shall have
passed away."*

* Manuscript Report, by Messrs. Stevenson &
Bald.

CHKMlCAt HtSTORT.

23

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

The only chemist, so far as my knowledge ex-
tends, who has analysed the Airthrey Water, is Dr.
Thomson of Glasgow. This gentleman informs
us, that he analysed two Springs in 1821-2, and
other four in 1827. The results of the analyses
of the first two Springs were published by the late
Sir Robert Abercromby, and freely distributed by
the tacksman of the Springs. . The following is a
copy of these results as published in the Airthrey
table.

24 CHEMICAL HISTORY.

AIRTHREY MINERAL SPRINGS, AS ANALYSED BY
DR. THOMSON OF GLASGOW.

Springs, No. 1 and 2.

Specific Gravity 1.00714.

1000 grains contain

Common salt, 5.1 grains.

Muriate of lime, 4.674

Sulphate of lime, 0.26

13.034

One pint contains

Common salt, 37.45 grains.

Miu-iate of lime, 34.32

Sulphate of lime, 1.19

73.68

Spring, No. 3.

Specific Gravity 1.00915.

1000 grains contain

Common salt, 6.746 grains.

Muriate of lime, 5.826

Sulphate of lime, 0.716

Muriate of magnesia, 0.086

13.374

A wine pint contains

Common salt, 47.534 grains.

Muriate of lime, 38.461

Sulphate ofHme, 4.715

Muriate of magnesia, 0.450

89.160

CHEMICAL HISTORY. 25

In the first number of the Glasgow Medical
Journal, a recent work containmg much useful
and original matter, Dr. Thomson published, in
an interesting paper on the Mineral Waters of
Scotland, the analyses of the other fom* Springs,
together with the two former analyses somewhat
modified. The following table exhibits the results
of all the analyses.

Specific Gravity.

No. 1, 1.00915

2, 1.00714

3, 1.00611

4, 1.00346

5, 1.00984

6, 1.00984

No. 1.

Common salt, . .423.843 grains.

Muriate of lime, 4 1 1 .55 1

Sulphate of lime, 50.578

Muriate of magnesia,. . . . . . 6.075

- 892.047

No. 2.

Common salt, 359.616 grains.

Muriate of Hme, 329.560

Sulphate of lime, 18.341

Muriate of magnesia, 4.168

711.685

26

CHEMICAL history;

No. 3.

Common salt, 263.948 grams.

Muriate of lime, 185.655

Sulphate of lime, 29.776

Muriate of magnesia, 1-597

480.976

No. 4.

Common salt, 135.792 grains.

Muriate of lime, -^^^'^no

Sulphate of lime, 9-'798

Muriate of magnesia, 9.546

277 416

No. 5.

Common salt, 513.060 grains.

Mm-iate of lime, "o?'?q^

Sulphate of lime, it'l^t

Muriate of magnesia, 13./ 13

808.256

No. 6.

Common salt, S"Sn

Muriate of lime, n/'aol

Sulphate of lime, 26.084

Muriate of magnesia, --438

848.858

I have repeated Dr. Thomson's analyses of
Springs No. 1, and 2, and 3 ; and can, consequent-
ly, hear testimony to their accm-acy. The follow-

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

27

ing are the results of my investigation into the
physical and. chemical properties of these Springs.
I shall begin with No. 3, because it is the strong-
est and most important Spring.

I.

Strong JVaier. — Spring No. 3.

On the 18th of November last, the temperature
of the water of this Spring, as it issues from the
rock m the mine, was 51° 25. At the same time
the temperature of the air of the mine was 52°.
The temperature of the water about an hour after
the preceding observations in the mine, as it falls
from the pump in the pump-room, was 49° 25., the
air of the room being at the same time 49° 50.
On the 18th of November last, therefore, the
water of Spring No. 3 lo?t in its progress from its
source in the mine to the pump-room, 2° of heat.

The quantity of water delivered by this Spring

in twenty-four hours, was, on the 18th of Novem-
c

28

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

ber last, in roTmd numbers, 1260 imperial gallons ;
and the tacksman informs me that the -supply is
not much affected by the seasons.

The water of this Spring is transparent, and
colom-less, and destitute of smell. Its taste is bitter
and unpleasant. Its specific gravity, on the 28th
of November last, was 1.00932. Reagents give
the following results.

1. It does not redden litmus paper, nor is it
rendered milky by lime water. The residue left
after the evaporation of a portion of the water does
not effervesce with dUute mxmatic acid. These
tests indicate the absence of free carbonic acid,
alkaline carbonates, and earthy carbonates.

2. It is copiously precipitated by nitrate of sil-
ver, and the precipitate is soluble in ammonia ; in-
dicating muriatic acid.

3. It is precipitated white by muriate of barytes,
and the precipitate is not soluble in nitric acid ;
indicating sulphuric acid.

4. It is precipitated white by oxalate of ammo-
nia ; indicating lime.

5. A portion of the water concentrated by evap-

4

CHEMICAIi HISTORY.

29

oration, ailcl freed from its lime by oxalate- of am-
monia, is precipitated white by carbonate of ammo-
nia and phosphoric acid ; indicating magnesia.

6. It is not affected by infusion of galls, or the
prussiate of potash ; indicating the absence of iron.

7. A portion of the water evaporated to dryness-
in a glass capsule, left a residue in which numer-
ous crystals were visible. These crystals pos-
sessed the form and taste of those of common
salt, and they communicated a yellow colour to
the flame of the blow pipe : these indicate the pre-
sence of soda. That the alkali was soda, and not
potash, was also proved by- the following negative
teat. Some of the- crystals were picked out and
dissolved in distilled water, a fe,w drops of muriate
of platinum were then added to the solution, but
no precipitate took place.

8. The reagents of several other substances
sometimes found in water were then tried, but
failed, so far as I could observe, to detect the pre-
sence of any other substance.

The ingredients, then, of Airthrey Water No. 3,
are

30

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

1. Muriatic Acid.

2. Sulphuric Acid.

3. Lime.

4. Magnesia,

5. Soda.

- The quantity of all and of each of these sub-
stances in a given portion of the water was deter-
mined in the following manner.

1. A 64 of an imperial gallon of the water at
the temperature of 50" was evaporated to dryness
in a six ounce phial, which was afterwards placed
for some time in a temperature above 400°. The
salts thus obtained weighed 11.9 grains.

2. Lvme. A' 64 of an imperial gallon of the
water at the temperature of 50" was heated, and
then precipitated by oxalate of ammonia. The
precipitate was carefully collected, washed, and
dried, on a double filter. It weighed 5.5 grains.
The precipitate is oxalate of lime. 64 grains of
oxalate of lime contain 28 of lime. 5.5 grams,
therefore, of oxalate of hme are equivalent to
2.406 grains of lime.

3. Chlorine. A 64 of an imperial gallon of the
water at the temperature of 50", was precipitated
by nitrate of silver. The precipitate was collected

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

31

on a double filter, washed, dried, and fused. It
weighed 26.6 grains. The precipitate is chloride
of silver. 146 grains of chloride of silver contain
36 grains of chlorine. 26.6 grains, therefore, of
chloride of silver are equivalent to 6.558 grains of
chlorine.

4. Sulphuric Acid. A 64 of an imperial gallon
of the water at the temperature of 50 ° was preci-
pitated by muriate of barytes. The precipitate
was collected on a double filter, washed, and dried.
It weighed .9 gi'ain. The precipitate is sulphate
of barytes. 118 grains of sulphate of barytes
contain 40 grains of sulphuric acid. .9 grain of
sulphate of barytes, therefore, is equivalent to 0.30.5
grain of sulphuric acid.

5. Magnesia. A 32 of an imperial gallon of the

water at the temperature of 50° was concenti-ated

by evaporation, and then freed fi'om its lime by

oxalate of ammonia. A little phosphoric acid and

carbonate of ammonia were then added, and the

precipitate produced by them was collected on a

double filter, washed, and dried carefully in the

open air. It weighed .6 grain. The precipitate
c2

32

CHEMICAL HISTOKY,

is the phosphate of ammonia and magnesia. 129
grains of the phosphate of ammonia and magnesia
contain 20 grains of magnesia. .6 grain, there-
fore, of the phosphate of ammonia and magnesia is
equivalent to 0.046 grain of magnesia m a 64 of
an imperial gallon of the water.

6. Sodium. A 64 of an imperial gallon of the
water, at the temperature of 50° was freed from
its sulphuric acid, lime, and magnesia, by means
of muriate of barytes, oxalate of ammonia, and
carbonate of ammonia and phosphoric acid. The
liquid was then mixed with carbonate of ammo-
nia to throw down any excess of barytes that
might have been , added. The liquid, after bemg
filtered, was gradually evaporated to dryness in a
platinum crucible. The residue was then exposed
to a red heat, to drive off the ammoniacal salts.
It was afterwards weighed. Its weight was 6.1
grains. The residue was common salt. 60 grains
of common salt are composed of 24 grains of so-
dium and 36 grains of chlorine. 6.1 grains, there-
fore, of common salt, are equivalent to 2.440 grains
of sodium.

4

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

33

.■ From these experiments it follows that a 64
of an imperial gallon of Airtlirey Water No. 3.
contains

Fixed mgredients, 11.9 grains.

Lime 2.406 gi'ains.

Chlorine, 6.558

Sulphm-ic acid,. . . .0.305

Magnesia, 0.046

Sodium 2.440

11.755

Loss 145. . 11.900 grains.

Dr. Thomson states that these constituents are
probably united together in the following manner.
1 . A portion of the chlorine with the sodium, form-
ing common salt. 2. Another portion of the chlo-
rine with a portion of the lime, forming muriate
of lime. 3. The sulphuric acid with the remain-
ing portion of the hme, forming sulphate of lime.
4. Another portion of the chlorine with the mag-
nesia, forming miuiate of magnesia. If these are
the combinations, a 64 of an imperial gallon of
Airthrey Water No. 3, contains according to our
analysis the following salts in the following pro-
portions.

34 CHEMICAL HISTORY.

6.100 grains.
5.012
0.518
0.128

11.758

These multiplied by 64, give, in the imperial
gallon,

Common salt, 390.400 grains.

Muriate of lime, 320.768

Sulphate of lime, 33.112

Muriate of magnesia, 8.192

752.472

According to Dr. Murray's metliod of determin-
ing tlie manner in which the different ingredients
are combined, a 64 of an imperial gallon of Air-
tiirey Water No. 3., contains, instead of the salts
just mentioned, those which follow.

Common salt, 5.642 grains.

Muriate of Ume, 5.499

Sulphate of soda, 0.488

Muriate of magnesia, 0.128

Common salt,
Muriate of lime, . .
Sulphate of lime, . .
Muriate of Magnesia,

11.757

CHEMICAL HISTORY.'

35

These multiplied by 64 give in the imperial
gallon

Common salt, 361.088 grains.

Muriate of lime, 351.936

Sulphate of soda, 31.232

Mmiate of magnesia, 8.192

752.448

•■ From the activity of the Airthrey Water, I am
inclined to think, that the latter tables exhibit the
true combinations of its ingredients.

II.

Weak Water. — Sprimjs No, 1. and 2.

. On the 18th of November last, the average
temperature of the two Springs vt^hich supply this
water, was 50 °. The temperature of the air of
the mine at the same time was 52°. Some time
after the preceding observations were made, the

36

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

temperature of the water of these Springs, as it
fell from the pump in the pump-room, was 47°
50. On the 18th of November last, therefore, this
water in its progress to the pump-room lost 2' 50.
of heat.

The quantity of water delivered by these
Springs in twenty-foiu- hours, was, on the 18th of
November last/ 360 imperial gallons. The tacks-
naan, however, states that this supply is far below
the average ; and he attributes the deficiency to
leakage in the pipes. The tacksman even states
that in general the supply of the weak water
equals that of the strong.

The weak water, like the strong, is transparent
and colourless and destitute of smell. Its taste, al-
though rather bitter, is by no means impleasant.
Its specific gravity on the 28th of November last,
was 1.00441. Reagents indicate the same ingre-
dients as those found in the strong water. By a
similar analysis to that formerly detailed, the par-
ticulars of which I deem it unnecessary to state, a
64 of an imperial gallon contains tlie following
salts in the following proportions.

L

CHEMICAL HISTORY; 37

Common salt, 3.300 grains.

Muriate of Kme, 1.074

Sulphate of lime, 0.345

Muriate of magnesia, 0.086

4.805

Or, according to Dr. Murray's method of deter-
jnining the combinations.

Common salt, 2.997 grains.

Muriate of Ume, 1.398

Sulphate of soda,. . . » . . . . 0.324
Muriate of magnesia, 0.086

4.805

These, multiplied by 64, give in the imperial
gallon

Common salt, 211.200 grains.

Muriate of lime, 68.736

Sulphate of lime, 22.080

Muriate of magnesia,. , . .. 5.504

307.520

Or, following Dr. Murray,

Common salt, 191.808 grains.

Muriate of lime, 89.472

Sulphate of soda, 20.736

Muriate of magnesia, 5.504

307.520

38

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

The numbers employed by Dr. Tliomson to des-
ignate the springs are not those used at Airthrey ;
and instead of six springs, as stated by Dr. Thom-
son, there are only four. Of these, Nos. 1 and 2,
ihe weak water, are used together ; No. 3, the strong
water, is used alone; No. 4, which issues from the
rock on the western wall X)f the mine, is not used.
It is a scanty spring, termed the black spruag in con-
sequence of its deposituag in the natural basm into
which it is received, a black substance, which T
have not had an oppoi-tunity of examimng.

Accordhag to Dr. Thomson's table, pubUshed in
the Glasgow Medical Journal, Nos. 1 and 6 are the
strongest springs, and Nos. 3 and 4 the weakest, but
accordmg to the Akthrey table, Nos. 1 and 2 are
the weakest, whilst No. 3 is the strongest. TMs dis-
cordance in the numbers, I am the more at a loss
to reconcile, m consequence of both tables having
been constructed by Dr. Thomson, whose accu-
racy is so generally and so deservedly acknow-
ledged. My Opmion, however, is, that Nos. 1 and
2 of the Airthrey table are the same as No. 2 of
Dr. Thomson's table. This, I infer from the ap-

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

39

pi-oximation of the quantities of their ingredients,
and from theii- speciiic gravities being the same^
No. 3, again, of the Airthrey table, is without
doubt No. 1 of Dr. Thomson's table. The speci-,
fie gravities of these Springs are the same, and the
amount of their ingredients does not materially
differ. With regard to the other four Springs in
Dr. Thomson's table, I am inclined to think them
nothing else than the analyses of all the Springs,
according to the Airthrey numbers. If this is the
case, and there is no reason for doubting it, Nos.

1 and 5 are analyses of the same Spring, and No.

2 is an analysis of Nos. 3 and 4 combined, or, ac-
cording to the Airthrey numbers, of 1 and 2 com-
bined. Hence it would appear, that our analysis of
the strong water should correspond with I^'os. 1 and
5, and that of the weak water with No. 2, or with
the average of Nos. 3 and 4. In 1 826, then, which,
every person will recollect was a very dry summer
over all Europe, the strongest water contained
892.047 grains of salts in the imperial gallon. In
the year 1827, the quantity fell off to 808.256

D

♦

40

CHEMICAL HISTORY.

grains, whilst in 1830, which was remarkable
for its humidity, I found the quantity only 752.472
orains. In 1826, again, the weak water contain-
ed not less than 711.685 grains. In 1827, the
quantity, according to the average of 3 and 4,
diminished to 379.196 grains, whilst in 1830, I
found it 307.520 grains. These results, which £
think may be rehed on, proA^e, notwithstanding
the statement formerly made, that the strength
and volume of the Airthrey Springs are much
affected by the seasons.

In the subsequent part of this paper, I shall re-
tain Dr. Thomson's analyses. In doing so, how-
ever, I beg the reader to bear in mind, that I con-
sider them merely as the analyses of 4 springs, the
number wliich is known at Airtln-ey. No. 4, I
should state, is the " black spring." It is the No. 6
of Dr. Thomson's table. An opinion prevails at
Airthrey, that this spring is the strongest of the
four. This, however, is not supported by the ana->
lysis, as may be seen by referring to Dr. Thorn-
sou's table.

MEDICAL HISTORYi

41

MEDICAL HISTORY.

Physicians entertain various opinions regarding
the efficacy of mineral water as a remedial
agent. Some of them, from the paucity of ingre-'
dients with which it is generally impregnatedy
contend, that.it must be nearly inert, and affirm,
that the benefits which so frequently accrue to in-
valids from .a visit to a watering place, arise chiefly
from a change, of air, and from the enjoyment of
scenery and society to which they had previously
been unaccustomed. Other physicians, equally,
entitled to our attention, mamtain, that mineral
water is m itself medicinal, and that its efficacy de-
ft

42

MEDICAL HISTORY.

pends on tlie nature and amount of the substances
with wliich it is impregnated. The former prefer
a spring, whatever may be its chemical character,
situated in a salubrious coimtry, distinguished for
the amenity of its cUmate, and those physical beau-
ties, which tend, it is said, to calm the mind, en-
gender peaceful feelings, and inspire the patient
with a hope of recovery. The latter, casting aside
this poetry of medicine, and estimating the efficacy
of a mineral water by the established rules of ther-
apeutics, prefer a spring impregnated wdth sub-
stances whose properties are known and gener-
ally acknowledged, whatever may be the charac-
ter of the country in which it is placed; It may
"be worth wMe, ere inquiring into the medicinal
properties of the Airthrey Sprmgs, to advert briefly
to these questions.

The air of a place or country is generally recog-
nised by physicians as a powerful cause of dis-
ease. I do not here allude to those combinations of
atmospheric heat, moisture, weight, and electri-
city, which produce what is generally termed a
climate, but to those additions of certain foreign

MEDiCAi. history;

substances to an atmosphere which render; it. ob4

noxious to the inhabitants who breathe it. Ammf

for example, breathing an atmosphere rendereii

impure by the presence of the naiasm or ccaitagioir

of typhus, will, in all probability, suffer an attack

of that fever, whatever may be the hygrometrical^

barometrical, thermometrical, or electrical states

of the atmosphere in which the miasm is conveyed

to him. Now, if it be admitted, that air occasion:^

ally acts as a cause of disease, in consequence.' oE

the addition of some foreign substance to it, it must

also be admitted, that air, pure and uncontamin-

ated, will occasionally prove sanative. Physicians

are aware of this fact ; and hence they reckon na

remedy in fever more valuable than pure air.

From what has just been stated, it may beiri->

ferred, that all diseases, produced by a peculiar .oe

specific miasm, will be benefited by a change of

air. This is undoubtedly true. Miasmic diseases,

however, are, in general, rapid in their progress,-

running their course in periods, varying from one

to three weeks ; and this circumstance, taken' in

connexion, with the usual severity, of their, symp*
d2

44

MEDICAL HISTORT.

toms, renders, for the most part, the removal of the
patient into- a pure air impracticable. But there:
is a class of diseases, originating also in atmos-
pheric impurity, whose progress is so slow, and!
whose, symptoms are so mUd as to admit of the re-
moval of the patient from the air charged with the
cause producing his disease. I mean here, tliose
low, chronic, and insidious affections, chiefly of
the digestive organs, usually attributed to the con-
fined and polluted atmosphere of a large and
densely populated city, such as London, Glasgow,
Manchester, &c. These diseases are invariably-
mitigated, and . sometimes even cured by the re-
moval of the patient into a pure air, and often, too,,
after every effort of the physician, however judi-.
eiously conducted, has proved unavailing. Hence,
it would appear, that the pure country air is not to-
be thrown out.of the calculation, when estimating .
the benefit likely to accrue to a town patient from,
a visit to a watering place. .

There is no . cause which contributes more
powerfully to the production of the clironic dis-
eases alluded to in the preceding section, than

■

MEDICAL HTSTORY:

45

bodily inactivity. A sedentary life, natm'al to
some men, and to which almost all literary men.
are from habit inveterately addicted, is the parent
of most of those ailments usually ascribed to im-
paired digestion. Exercise in the open ak is the
natural remedy for these ailments, and hence too,
in computing the efficacy of mineral watei*' in^
cases of this description, it will be necessary to.
make an. ample allowance for exercise, whenever,
it has been employed.

Even beautiful and picturesque scenery and
agreeable society, there is reason, to believe, con-f
tribute occasionally to the . restoration of health..
Here, however, every thing depends, as in the for-
mer cases, on the nature of the malady, and. also'
on the capacity of the patient for appreciating
physical and moral beauty.

A painter, or a poet, affected with gastric dis-:
ease, associated with mental despondency, a com-
pound malady usually termed hypochondrism, or ■
low spirits, will, m all. probability, derive much-
beneiit from examining in detail, the varying fea-'
tures of a beautiful or magnificent landscape.!

46

MEDICAL HISTORY.

But it wotild be folly surely, to anticipate a similar
result to a person insensible to the beautj' and
grandeur of scenery, by merely making Mm reside^
for any given length of time, in a country'- remarks
able for its mountains, and lakes, and rivers, and
vallies. In like manner, a change of society may
contribute, in certain cases and constitutions, to the
restoration of health. Whatever, in fact, arrests
the attention of the hypochondriac, and withdraws
it from his malady, may be considered remedial.

But there are cases of chronic disease, which
neither a change of air, nor exercise, nor novelty
of scenery and society, will subdue ; but which, not--
withstanding, yield readUy to a course of mineral
water judiciously selected. It is of importance,
then, to ascertain the composition of mmeral waters,
and the manner in which they act on the system
in curing disease.

• Mineral waters vary among themselves in then-
chemical and in their medicinal properties. They
are in general divided by chemists into four
classes, the acidulous, the saline, the sulphiu-eous,
and the chalybeate.

MEDICAL history;

Acidulous waters owe their acidity to carbodic
acid gas. Water strongly impregnated with, this,
substance, possesses a sparkling appearance, aiid a
taste agreeably pungent. Its effect on the system,
is stimulant, and some persons of high authority af-
firm, that it is. even capable of producing a certain,
deoree of transient intoxication. It is deemed,
serviceable in some chronic diseases of the stomach
and liver, and all fevers partaking of a typhoid
character.*

* The most celebrated acidulous, or carbonated'
springs are those of Seltzer, Spa, Pyrmont, and
Carlsbad. Dr. Thomson says that there are no
acidulous springs in Great Britam, although
those of Cheltenham and Scarborough are usually
reckoned as such. In Scotland there are certamly
no acidulous springs, unless it be, as Dr. Thomson
conjectm-es, those at Tnverleithen. From the quan-
tity of carbonate of magnesia found in these-
springs by Dr. Fyfe, Dr, Thomson is inclined to-
think that they contain free carbonic acid in con-
siderable quantity. The Doctor adds, " it would
be interesting to ascertain whether this conjecture
be well founded. Should it be so, Inverleitheu

48

MEDICAL HISTOEY.

: Saline waters possess aperient properties. These
depend on their impregnation with one or more of
the five following salts, sulphate of soda, sulphate
of magnesia, muriate of soda, muriate of lime, and
muriate of magnesia.* The waters . of this class
act chiefly on the bowels, increasing and improv-
ing their secretions. Hence they are generally
prescribed in those diseases which originate in,,
and depend on a vitiated and diminished state of
the ahmentary secretions. Used in such casesy
their operation, it is said, instead of debiUtating
the patient, increases his appetite, health, and
strength.f

Sulphureous waters contain sulphuretted hydro-
gen, an acidulous gas, easily recognised in watei^

would be an acidulous spring, and would belong,
to a class of waters not hitherto discovered in
Great Britain."

* Sulphate of lime, frequently found , in saline
waters, is inert.

' t Cheltenham is the strongest and most cele-
brated of the English saline springs.

MEDICAL HISTORY?

48-

by its peculiar and disagreeable odour. This sub •
stance possesses a heating and stimulating pro -
perty. It acts chiefly on the bowels and skin. It
is usually prescribed in cutaneous and glandular
diseases.*

Chalybeate springs owe their medicinal pro-
perties to iron, generally in combination with car-
bonic, muriatic, or sulphuric acid. Carbonate of
iron, however, is by far the most prevalent in
chalybeate waters. These waters are character-
ized by a strong styptic inky taste,, and by ochre-
ous deposits in the vicinity of their courses.
They are used by physicians as a tonic in diseases
of debility, either local or constitutional, especially
those of a nervous character.f

Here, then, are four distinct classes of mineral

* The best known sulphur springs are those of
Aix la Chapelle, Harrowgate, and Moffat.

t Chalybeate waters are by no means uncom-
mon. The most noted in Great Britain are Chel--
tenham, Tunbridge, and Brighton.

5b

MEDICAL HISTOKY;

waters, each possessing its own specific ingre-
dients, and its own specific modes of operating on
the constitution. One class contains carbonic
acid, and proves stimulating ; another class con-
tains aperient salts, and is laxative ; another, sul-
phuretted hydrogen, which acts specifically on the
skin, and as a general stimulant ; and afom-th class
contams iron, universally allowed to be a powerful
tonic. From these facts, physicians infer, that the
efficacy of mineral waters depends on the nature
and amount, absolute or relative, of their ingre-
dients, and on a skilful and judicious selection of
the diseases in which they are prescribed.
Upon the whole it may be mferred,

1 . That all diseases of a chronic nature generat--
ed in the atmosphere of a densely populated city
will be benefited, and sometimes even cured by
country air and exercise, and the enjoyment of
new scenery and society.

2. That many diseases benefited only by these
agents, will be cured by a course of mineral water
judiciously selected and administered.

I

MEDICAL HISTORY.

51

3. That the efficacy of mineral waters depends
on the nature and amount, absolute or relative, of
their ingredients.

I come now to consider the medicinal proper-
ties of the Airtlirey Springs.

These Springs, as we have seen from their ana-
lyses, belong to the class of mineral waters ternied
saline. Their ingredients are muriate of soda,
muriate of hme, muriate of magnesia, and sulphate
of Ume. Their medicinal properties, then, will de-
pend on the medicinal properties of these sub-
stances, and on the absolute or relative amount of
their impregnation with them. Let us examine
these in detail.

1. Muriate of Soda, or common salt, is too well
known to require any description. It is the most
common of all the neutral salts. It is found in
immense masses on the surface of the earth. Sea
water and salt springs contain it in great abun-
dance. It is also an almost constant ingredient
in spring water, and in the animal and vegetable
.substances used as food by man and the lower
animals. Common salt is prescribed by physi-

E

/

52, MKDICAL HISTORY.

cians in small doses as a tonic and a laxative, and
in large doses for the piu^ose of restraining hemor-
rhage from the stomach. But besides these medi-
cinal properties, common salt imdoubtedly per-
forms some important office m the animal econo:
my, durmg health. It is necessary to the well be-
ing, nay the existence of all animals. Tliis is.
proved by a thousand facts. Experience in all
ages and nations shows, that salt is a condiment
essential to man ; and all animals, wild and domes-,
ticated, search after it with the utmost avidity-.
The latter fact is not so apparent to the inhabit-
ants of insular and maritime situations. In these
situations the food of animals appears to be suffi-,
ciently impregnated with salt for the purposes, to
which it is appHed in the animal economy, and
hence no great desire for it is manifested by the
animals Uving in the vicinity of the sea. But in.
situations far distant from the sea, the animals, both
wild and domesticated, search eagerly after salt
aiid seem instinctively to reckon it a condiment
uecessary to their health. Travellers inform us,
that in the Western States of America, the domesti-.

MEDICAL HISTORY.

33

cated animals will not fatten, however nutrient
their food may be, unless they are regularly sup-
plied with sah ; and that their eagerness to obtain
it is such, that they will frequently spend whole
hours in licking a manger in wliich a httle of it
has been sprinkled. The wild animals, again, we
are also informed, frequent regularly " the Licks,"
as they are termed, in America, and seem even to
prefer at all times, their braclcish water to the water
of the adjoining streams. So general, in fact, is the
use of tliis water, that the immense herds of buffa-
loes, seen by Captains Lewis and Clarke in their
interesting journey from.the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean, had formed roads to. these Licks I'esem-
bling the roads leading to a great capital.

This instinctive desire for salt by animals, has
led some philosophers to suppose that it is really
essential to their existence. The following opinion
by Professor Thomson regarding its use, is, to say
the least of it, highly ingenious. He seems to con-
sider it the grand agent in digestion. Assuming
an identity of action of the nervous fluid of the

54

MEDICAL HISTOBY.

stomach, and of galvanism, as proved by the ex-
periments of WUson Piiilip, he says that the nerves
of the stomach act upon the liquids contained in
it, precisely as a galvanic current does. By the
nerves of the stomach the common salt held in so-
lution by the liquids in the stomach, is decompos-
ed, and its muriatic acid set at liberty. The acid
thus disengaged, acts upon the food and converts
it: into chyme. Thus the first step of digestion
appears to be the decomposition of common salt
by the nerves of the stomach, and the settiag mu-
riatic acid free in a dilute state. This dilute acid,
the Doctor repeats, acta as a solvent to the food,
and converts it into chyme.

This view of digestion is corroborated by thei
fact, that the stomach of aU animals contains free
muriatic acid. Tiedeman and L. Gmehn examin-
ed no fewer than forty-tlu-ee diflferent animals,
and found muriatic acid in the gastiic liquid of
them all. Muriate of soda, therefore, may prove
beneficial in some forms of dyspepsy, by supplymg
a substance necessary to digestion . Independently

MEDICAL HISTORY.

55

of this, it is unquestionably tonic and aperient ;
and if it be so, water holding it in solution, must
necessarily possess the same medicinal properties.

2. Muriate of Lime, another saline ingredient
of the Airthrey Springs, is never found naturally
but in solution in water. Its crystals, however,
may be obtained by mixing common chalk with
dilute muriatic acid, and evaporating the solution.
These crystals are six sided prisms, very deli-
quescent, even in a comparatively dry atmosphere,'
and consequently, very difficult to preserve. The
taste of muriate of Ume is pungent and bitter. It
has long been extoUed as a remedy in scrofulous
and glandular diseases, but since the introduc-
tion of iodine as an antiscrofulous remedy, it is
not so generally employed. It is still, however,
used with much advantage in scrofulous diseases,
especially when conjoined with a light nourishing
diet, and country air and exercise. Muriate of
lime is also aperient. Water impregnated with
tliirf .substance, possesses of course its medicinal
properties. It is, at the same time aperient and
antiscrofulous.

•3. Muriate of Magnesia. — This salt is found
e2

56 MEDICAL HISTORY.

abundantly, in sea.water,, and in' many saline min-
eral springs. The liquid called littern, left after
the removal of common salt from sea water by
crystallization, is chiefly impregnated with muriate
of magnesia. Like those of muriate of lime, the
crystals of this salt are highly deliquescent, and
of difficult preservation ; like them, too, they are
very bitter. Muriate of magnesia, artificially pre-
pared, is not used as a medicine by physicians ; but,
as it occurs in mineral waters and in sea water,
it is frequently prescribed. It possesses an aperi-
ent quality.

4. Sulphate of Lime, occurs abundantly as a na-
tural production. It is found compact and crys-
tallized. Almost aU waters, too, from its existing
so abundantly in the earth, contain it. It hardly
possesses any taste, and, according to the imani-
mous opinion of physicians, it is quite inert as a
medicine. In estimating, therefore, tlie efficacy
of any mineral water containing it, tlais salt may
be thrown out of the calculation.

The medicmal properties, then, of the Airthrey
Sprmgs, estimated according to the medicinal pro-
perties of their ingredients, are aperient and anti-

MEDICAL HISTOET.

57.

scrofulous. The aperient property, as we have
seen, is derived from the aperient salts, muriate of
soda, muriate of magnesia, and muriate of hme,
and the antiscrofulous property, from the antiscro-
fulous property of the mm'iate of Ume. In esti-
mating their value, compared with one another,
and with other saline springs, it will be of import-
ance to preserve these distinctions, as in the one
case it wiU appear that their efficacy depends on
the absolute amount of their impregnation with
aperient salts, whilst in the other it depends on
the relation which the quantity of muriate of lime
bears to that of the other ingredients.

1. Considered as Aperient Springs. — The smallest
quantity of an aperient salt which will operate under
the most favourable circumstances, viz. taken on an
empty stomach and in a state of great dilution,,
may be mentioned at 200 gi-ains. According to
some experiments which I have made on the sub-
ject, the strength of sulphate of magnesia [Epsom
Salt) as an aperient, is increased by dilution until
this reaches a certain amount,, beyond which its
strength does not appear to be much affected. I

58

MEDICAL HISTORY.

found that 200 grains of this salt dissolved in 5000
grains of water, operate as well as the same quan-
tity dissolved in 10,000 grains. From this it ap-
pears, that although dilution is useful to a certain
extent in aiding the operation of saline medicines,
there is nothing gained by continuing it inde-
finitely. Now, as 5000 grains of the strongest
saline water do not contain aperient salts equal in
amount to the quantity contained in the artificial
solution alluded to above, the smallest quantity be
it remembered that will operate, it follows, coeteris
paribus, that the value of a saline spring will be
in the direct ratio of its impregnation with ape-
rient salts. At Cheltenham they seem to be aware
of this fact ; and hence it is a common practice
there, to strengthen the water by adding an arti-
ficial solution of salts to it. — (Scudamore, p. 198.)

If what has just been stated be true, the quan-
tity of aperient salts contained in a given quanti-
ty of saline water, will indicate the value of that
water as an aperient. In this way we may con-
trast the Airthrey Springs with one another, and
with the other celebrated saline springs in Great

MEDICAL HISTORY. 59 •

Britain. It ought to be remarked, perhaps, that
some allowance should be made for a diflference
of ingredients wherever this exists. Tliis allow-
ance, however, must be very trifling, as all aperi-
ent salts possess nearly an equality of power.
There is little difference, for example, betwixt the
strength of sulphate of magnesia and sulphate of
soda, the Epsom and Glauber salts of the shops.

The following saline springs are enumerated hi
the order of their strength and value. The quan-
tity expressed is that contained in an imperial
gallon.

grains.

1. Cheltenham, Original Spa, No. 4. 1138.76

2. Leamington, Royal Pump-room, . . 1059.93

3. , Marble Baths Pump- } iqh gj

room, right urn 5^

4. ,Mr. Bobbin's Spring, 930.90

5. Cheltenham, Montpeher Spa, No. 6. 901.29

6. Leamington, Mr. Wise's Spring .. 868.83

7. Airthrey, No. 1. 841.46

8. , No. 6. 822.77

9. Cheltenham, Sherborne Spa, No. 2. 810.84

10. , Original Spa, No. 2. 804.30

11. ,MontpeUerSpa, No. 1. 794.22

12. ,Origmal Spa, No. 1. 782.70

13. Airthrey, No. 5. 780.12

14. Cheltenham, Montpelier Spa, No. 4. 709.45

60 MEDICAL HISTORY.

grains.

15. LeamingtoD, Lord Ay lesford's Spring 755.43

16. , Mrs. Smith's Spring . . 733.82

17. Airthrey, No. 2. 693.34

18. Cheltenham, Montpelier Spa, No. 5. 680.14

19. ., Origmal Spa, No. 3. 645.10

20. , Montpelier Spa, No. 3. 553.97

21. , No. 2. 502.11

22. Dunblane, 497.73

23. Airthrey, No. 3. 451.20

24. Pitcaithly, 315.82

25. Leamington, Marble Baths Pump- > 296 8 1

room, left urn §

26. Aulhrey, 267.61

27. Leamington, Marble Baths Pump- > 263 20

room, middle urn 3 "

28. Cheltenham, Sherborne Spa, No. 1 . 85.55

29. , . . . . . . No. 3. ■ 57.13

. It will be seen frOm this table, that tlie Airtlirey
Springs, especially Nos. 1. and 6., are entitled to
high consideration as a saline aperient. In this
respect they surpass far those of Pitcaithly and
Dunblane ; and are only mferior in the amount of
their impregnation to some of the sprmgs at Chel-
tenham and Leammgton. It may be even doubt-
ed, if they are not, in reality, entitled to take the
precedence of these springs on the list. ^Yith re-
gard to the Cheltenham Springs marked original

MEDICAL HISTORY,

61

Spa, No. 4., there can be no doubt whatever of
this, for Dr. Scudamore informs us, that the water
sent to him for analysis had been strengthened or
adulterated, by the addition of a concentrated so-
lution of the evaporated salts. " No. 4," says
the Doctor, " appears from the analysis to be the
most active of the sahne waters. Making a
course of experiments with two specimens of
this water sent to me within a short interval, I was
surprised by the difference of result, and after a
strict inquiry into the cause, I found that the pro-
prietor was in the habit of adding a concentrated
solution of the evaporated salts to this water." —
Scudamore, p. 178.

2. Considered as Antiscrofulous Springs. —yiu.-
riate of lime, the antiscrofulous remedy found in
saline springs, operates, in curing scrofula, as a-
specific. To enable it, therefore, to produce its
action to its full extent, the salt should remain as ■
long as possible in the system. Instead of being
hurried off by the bowels, in other words, it should -
be detained in them, that it may be carried into .
the system by absorption. Hence it follows that.

(32 MEDICAL HISTORY.

the addition of aperient salts to a water containing
muriate of lime deteriorates it as an antiscrofu-
lous remedy. Physicians, consequently, are in-
clined to estimate the value of antiscrofulous sa-
line waters, rather according to their relative, than
their absolute impregnation with muriate of lime.
Dr. Thomson, for example, after having stated
the contents of the Pitcaithly water, adds, " the
proportion of the muriate of hme contained in this
water, compared with that of the common salt,
is .rreater than either in Dunblane or Airthrey
Water. It is possible from tliis that it may be
better adapted for certain diseases than either of
these. The comparative weakness of the water
is of little importance when the drinkers are on
the spot, because that is easily compensated by
drinking a greater quantity of it."

Estimated, then, according to theii- relative rich-
ness in muriate of Ume, the following table, stat-
•ing the quantity of this salt found in 100 grains
of the medicinal salts contained in the springs for-
merly enumerated, will express the value of these
springs as a remedy for scrofula.

MEDICAL HISTORY. ' 63

Per
Cent.

1. Pitcaithly, 59.25

-2. Airthrey, No. 1. 48.90

3.. , No. 2. 47.53

4. , No. 4. 45.69

5. , N&. 3. 41.14

6. Leamington, Lord Aylesford's Spring 35.89

7. Dunblane, 35.30

8. Airthrey, No. 6. 34.36

9. , No. 5. 32.47

10. Cheltenham, Sherborne Spa, No. 3. 31.08

11. Leamington, Marble Baths Pump- ^

room, left urn ^

12. ■ , Mrs. Smith's Spring . . 26.48

13. , Royal Pump-room . . 25.00

14. , Marble Baths Pump- } ^ ,

room, right urn ^ ^ '

15. , Mr. Wise's Spring . , 22.78

16. , Mr. Bobbin's Spring . 17.74

17. Cheltenham, Sherborne Spa, No. 1. 13.80

18. Leamington, Marble Baths Pump- > n 19

room, middle urn ^

19. Cheltenham, Original Spa, No. 1. 7.61

20. , Montpelier Spa, No. 5. 6.94

21 . . , ■ Spa, No. 2. 6.32

22. , Sherborne Spa, No. 2. 5.07

23. , Original Spa, No. 3. 4.58

24. , Original Spa, No. 2. 4.39

25. , Montpelier Spa, No. 1. 4.00

26. , Spa, No. 4. 3.83

27. , Original Spa, No. 4. 3.01

28. , Montpelier Spa, No. 6. 3.26

29. , Spa, No. 3. 3.18

F

64

MEDICAL HISTORY.

This table, according to our premises, proves,
that the Scottish springs are much superior to the
English springs as a remedy in scrofula. It also
proves, that the Pitcaithly Springs, although a
weak saUne water, is much better adapted than
the Sprmgs of Airtlirey and Dunblane for the cure
of this disease. Of the Airtlirey Springs, I am per-
suaded that No. 4, taking into consideration at the
same time its relative strength in muriate of lime
(45.69 per cent) and its weak absolute strength in
aperient salts (267.61 grains only in the imperial
gallon) is the best adapted for the treatment of
scrofula. The loss of 3 per cent of the mm-iate of
lime by preferring this spring to No. 1, will surely
be more than compensated by the abstraction of
so much aperient salt (573.85 grams in the impe-
rial gallon) from the water. This, however, is
matter of opinion merely ; and, perhaps, the medi-
cal reader will be inclined to think that as the re-
lative amoimt of the muriate of hme varies so little
in them all, it will scarcely be necessary to sug-
gest any alteration in the arrangement of these
springs.

MEDICAL HIST0R1.

65

The value of a mineral water is inferred by
physicians, not only from the facts fm:nished by
its chemical analysis, but also from those acquired
by careful observation during its use as a remedy.
" Chemical analysis," says Dr. Scudamore, " con-
stitutes an important source of information, and is
a material requisite in first conducting us to a
scientific acquaintance with the water, but subse-
quent experience and unprejudiced observation are
necessary to give us practical knowledge, and a
proper confidence in our remedy." — (Scudamore,
p. 19.)

It win, therefore, be of some importance to in-
quire into the success which has attended the use
of Airtlirey Water in various diseases. Before do-
ing this, however, I beg leave to call the attention
of the reader, to the extravagant and absurd no-
tions entertained by some persons, professional as
well as extraprofessional, regarding the power of
mineral water in curing diseases, however dissimi-
lar, however hopeless.

Dr. Armstrong, an intelligent and distinguished
physician, who could have been biassed by no im^

66 MEDICAL HISTORY.

proper motive, in speaking of the efficacy of the
Harrowgate Water, says, "During a series. of
years, I have traced the sulphuretted hydrogen
gas from one organ of the body to another, from
the sldn, joints, and eyes, to the viscera of the
head, chest, and belly ; and the sum of my obser-
vation authorises me. to declare, that it is one of
the most powerful antiphlogestic agents which can
be foimd ; for, wherever the chronic inflammation be
seated, it will more frequently remove it than any
other single expedient which has hitherto been used
and recommended by the medical faculty." — Har-
rowgate water does unquestionably possess great
power in certain forms of disease, but it is folly
surely to expect from its healing properties so
much as is ascribed to them in this extract. Such
indiscriminate praise, I conceive, is more calcu-
lated to lower, than raise the character of any min-
eral spring.

. Persons, again, labouring -under hopeless organic
disease, frequently arrive at a watering place,
fondly anticipating that relief, nay cure, wliich
medicinp, artificially prepared, cannot impart.

MEDICAL HISTORY. 67

They conceive that mineral water, Mke every
other natm-al remedy, possesses a virtue which
cannot be given by the chemist to any preparation
of art ; and they argue from this, that although
their physician has failed to relieve their malady,
nature, employing one of her simplest remedies,
may yet succeed. A coui'se of mineral water is
then determined on ; and the unhappy sufferer
forsakes his home and his friends, the only sources
perhaps of what little comfort yet remains to him,
to close his eyes among strangers. In such hope-
less cases, it is the duty of every physician to op-
pugn these popular and erroneous ideas, and to
assure his patient that no benefit whatever can be
reasonably expected from a visit to a watermg
place. By doing this, the character of a remedy,
really possessing, when judiciously prescribed,
much efficacy, may often be preserved from un-
merited obloquy.

The extraordinary popular notions of the effi-
cacy of mmeral waters, mentioned in the preceding
section, there is much reason to fear, have been

chiefly derived from the enthusiastic and extras
f2

68

MEDICAL HISTORT.

vagant manner, in which physicians practising in
the vicinity of mineral springs, have spoken of
their properties. " Those who have written," says
Dr. Falconer, in his preface to his Practical Dis-
sertation on the Medicinal Effects of the Batli
Waters, " specific treatises on the virtues of parti-
cular remedies, have contributed much to mislead
the opinions of mankind concerning their ef&cacy.
Medicinal substances seem to be selected rather
as subjects of panegyric, than of impartial exami-
nation. Sometimes unworthy motives, and at
others the caprice of prejudice, joined with a san-
guine disposition, have contributed to cherish
this empirical presumption, and to corrupt the
fountains of information derived from matters of
fact, nearly as much as those that spring from the
most fanciful theory. When we peruse the cases
which have been the subjects of such ti-ials, we
are apt to think the character of the favourite re-
medy fully estabhshed, mitil melancholy experi-
ence replaces it in its true station, by teaching us
that it is possible, by florid description, amplifica-
tion of success, and suppression of unfavourable

MEDICAL HISTORY.

69

events and circumstances, to mislead almost as ef-
fectually as by advancing a positive falsehood."
Acquiescing in this statement, as every man must
of necessity do, I have liitherto cautiously avoided,
so far as I am capable of judging, even a sem-
blance of partiality. I have, always stating the
facts on which my opinions are founded, extolled
the Airthrey Water ; but I have not, when facts
demanded it, refused a similar distinction to a rival
spring. In what remains yet to be done, I must
necessarily preserve the same impartiality, and en-
deavour, as Dr. Falconer would express it, to keep
the Airthrey Springs in their true station.

The diseases in which Airthrey Water has been
chiefly used, by the practitioners in tliis neigh-
bourhood, are some chronic affections of the stom-
ach, liver, head, and skin. I have also seen
cases of sUght pulmonary disease, of a catarrhal
nature, much benefited by a course of this water.
Scrofulous affections, too, have yielded in a cer-
tain extent to its use ; and there is reason to be-
lieve, although I am not in possession of many
facts corroborative of the statement, that certain

70

MEDICAL HISTORY;

forms of gout and gravel would be mucli amelior-
ated by it. I shall offer a few general remarks,
deduced from actual observation, on the efficacy
of Airthrey Water in these diseases.

1. Diseases of {lie Stomach. — The diseases of this
organ are either functional or organic. The prin-
cipal functional disease is dyspepsy, and the prin-
cipal organic disease, is chronic inflammation,
ending frequently in ulceration. These two dis-
eases comprehend almost all those affections
usually designated in common discourse, stomach
complaints. It is m the first of these cases, dys-
pepsy, that Airthrey Water has been used with
advantage. In the latter, according to my obser-
vation, which, however, extends only to one case,
this water proved not only inefficient but decided-
ly hurtful. It is of importance, then, ere prescrib-
ing the Airthrey Water in stomach complaints,
to distinguish accurately betwixt these affections.
When the case origmates, as it very fi-equendy
does, in repletion, and is accompanied only by
furred tongue, slow pulse, and a sense of coldness
and creeping on the surface, with gi-eat. suscepti-

MEDICAL HISTORY.

71

bility of the nervous system, dyspepsy in its sim.'
plest form is indicated, and the water may be
freely employed. But when the case has not ori-
ginated m repletion, or if it has, when its symp-
toms are, instead of those just mentioned, a red
and clean tongue, contracted and quick pulse,
flushing of the face, and burning of the hands and
feet ; and more especially when these symptoms
are associated with progressive emaciations, pain
in the. stomach, referable to a particular spot, and
aggravated by pressure, and by takmg food, therq
is reason to suspect the presence of chronic inflam-
mation, if not ulceration of the stomach, a disease
in which, I apprehend, the use of salhie aperients,
whether natural or artificial, is contraindicated.
In tliis affection the mucous membrane is too ir-
ritable to bear the operation of any aperient, un-
less of the most bland and soothing description.
In a well marked case of chronic inflammation of
the stomach with ulceration, the patient was com-
pelled after a trial or two, to abandon enthely the
use of Airthrey Water. It aggravated to a seri-
ous extent all the symptoms, and induced long

72

MEDICAL HISTORY.

continued and very distressing retching, which
could only be appeased by solid opium and blisters.
In fact, it appears, that when a disposition to in-
flammation of the mucous coat, whether of the
stomach, or intestinal canal, exists, saline water
will not unfrequently act as its exciting cause,
and call it into being. Dr. Scudamore informs
us, that he has known a degree of dysentry,
which is nothing else than the disease I am speak-
ing of, situated in the lower intestines, produced
by the use of the Cheltenham Waters.

But there is even a form of dyspepsy, termed
by Dr. Clarke, in his excellent work on climate,
gastritic dyspepsy, in which, from what observa-
tion I have been enabled to make, I am disposed to
think saline water a doubtful remedy. This af-
fection appears to be a mixture of chronic inflam-
mation of the stomach and dyspepsy. Dr. Aber-
cromby considers it the highest form of dyspepsy,
in which he says the disease amounts to inflamma-
tion of the mucous membrane. Its symptoms are,
a combination of those of clrronic inflammation of
the stomach and of dyspepsy. The patient com-

MEDICAL HISTORY. 73

plains of pain in the stomach, especially during di-
gestion, but it is not severe. His tongue is partly
clean and partly coated. He is occasionally very
cold and occasionally very hot ; and his mind, for the
most part, is desponding and irritable and impa-
tient. Yet there is no emaciation, or if there is
any, it is not progressive, nor to the extent that
would lead to the supposition of the presence of
organic disease. Such persons frequently use
the Airthrey Water without deriving any bene-
fit, or sustaining any injury from it. In these
cases, I either advise the patient to abstain from
the water altogether, or to use it sparingly and
diluted.

2. Diseases of the Liver. — The diseases of the
stomach mentioned in the precedmg section, as
well as those now to be considered, and many
more besides, are comprehended, by that fashion-
able, yet, used in the sense which we find it, absurd
phrase, bilious. Every disease having any connec ■
tion, however slender or remote, with the stomach,
is, with many people, a bilious aflFection ; and in
this way a person with a fertile imagination, has
little difficulty in attaching almost every human

74

MEDICAL HISTORT/

ailment to the liver. The only fact necessary' to -
enable him to do this is, slight disturbance of the
functions of the stomach. A more precise phrase- •
olog-y is necessarily employed by physicians. By.
the term bilious, they understand, those states of
the Uver in which its secretion is either increased
or vitiated, or diminished and ^dtiated. In the
one case, a large quantity of bile is thrown into
the intestines and stomach. This bile, there is
reason to beheve, deranges the functions of these
organs in several ways. In some instances it seems
to arrest, and sometimes even to invert their ver- ■
micular action, producing constipation and vomit-
ing, whilst in others, it mcreases this action, pro-
ducing diarrhoea or even dysentry. Agam, in the
other case, the bile appears to be retamed m the
circulation, in consequence of its secretion being
suppressed, givmg rise to jaimdice, or other mor- •
bid states of the system, accompanied by various
shades of yellow in the skin, eye, and urine.
These two cases, I apprehend, will embrace all
those affections of the liver in which saline water
has been beneficially employed.

A very common case of mcreased biliary de-

MEDICAL HISTORY.

75

rangement, for which Airthrey Water is much
used, occiu-s during spring or autumn. The pa-
tient at first complains of load at the stomach,
nausea, headach, paia in the eyes, and imusual
drowsiness. After a while he loses his appetite,
becomes fretful and depressed, and spends his
nights in anxiety and without sleep. On ex-
amining him, we find his skin hot and parched,
his bowels constipated, or irritated with scanty
bihous stools, and his urine diminished and high-
coloured, yet his pulse is not much afiected, per-
haps a Uttle fuller than natm-al, and he is able, by
a Uttle exertion, not only to attend to his business,
but even to get up early and pay a visit on foot to
the Wells. In this affection, usually termed bile
by the vulgar, Airthrey Water is a valuable rem-
edy; but, in general, it will not of itself accomplish
the cure. I am often consulted by persons who
have failed in removing this affection by this water
used largely and daily for a week. Tn such cases
I usually prescribe a dose or two of calomel and
jalap, or calomel and extract of colocynth, and
follow up these by an alterative pill, generally a
merciuial or Plummer's pill, taken every night at

G

76 MEDICAL HISTORY.

bed time, and a competent dose of Airthrey Water
taken early in the morning. Under tliis ti-eatment
these cases always yield' readily.

^ere is another affection analogous to the pre-
ceding, but dififering in some respects from it, in
which Airthrey Water is also a valuable remedy.
It occurs chiefly among persons addicted ha^
bitually to intemperance in eating and drinldng,
especially the former, but whose constitutions are
not much impaired by their excesses. Tliis affec-
tion is usually manifested by pain, more or less
severe, in the region of the Uver, and by loss of
appetite, nausea, loaded tongue, abdominal disten-
sion, dark coloured bilious stools, and not unfre-
quently by pain high up in the left side, which I
beheve to be situated in the transverse arch of
tiie colon. The pulse, as in the former case, is
not much affected; and the patient is able to
move about, loathing his food, and inattentive to
Ms pursuits. In this affection, Airthrey Water,
in conjunction with blue pill, proves veiy service-
■able. It is necessary, however, in many cases to
precede the use of these by free piu-ging.
Persons of sound constitution who have lived

MEDICAL HISTORY.

in a warm climate are in general very liable, for
some time after their retrnn to their native couni-
try, to periodical attacks of increased biliary secfig>-
tion. In tliese attacks, I have known the Airthrey
Water and the blue piU used with much benefit.

In the bilious diseases just mentioned, the bile
is secreted in excess. But tl ere is an important
form of disease affectmg the liver in which this
secretion is either very much diminished, or alto-
gether suspended, and yet we have no reason
whatever to suppose the presence of structural dis-
ease. The case here alluded to is an obscure af-
fection, usually termed toi-por of the liver. It is
known by the presence of dyspeptic symptoms,
clay colom-ed stools, and what has received the
vulvar appellation of goose skin. In this affection,
Airthrey Water, conjoined with blue pill, has been
employed with marked success. I could mention
several cases of this kind, especially one occurring
in a clergyman, but I deem it inexpedient to load
thi» brief memoir with a detail of cases.

The next aflfection of the hver which demands
our attention is jaundice, a disease, the pathology.

78

MEDICAL HISTORY.

or nature of which is not well understood. It may
in general, I think, be divided into two species,
one of which depends on torpor of the liver, the
other on a mechanical obstruction to the flow of
the bile. In the' one case, the action of the liver
is suspended, and the bile is of consequence re-
tained in the circulation. In the other case, the
action of the Uver is entire, and the bile is secret-
ed as in health, but it cannot, in consequence of
obstruction in the gall ducts, arising, either from
spasm or the lodgement of a gall stone, escape
into the intestines. In this case, the bUe, accu-
mulated in the gall bladder and ducts, appears to
be absorbed into the system after its secretion.

It is of some importance to the physician ere re-
commending a course of mineral water in this af-
fection, to distinguish accm-ately betwixt these
species. Jaundice depending on simple torpor of
the liver, or, as Dr. Abercrombie supposes, on an
inflammatory condition of it, existmg in an ob-
scure form and often to a small extent, seems to
demand an early use of saline water. In this case
little preliminary treatment, or preparation, as the

MEDICAL HISTORY. 79

phrase goes, is required. All' that appears re-
quisite is, perhaps, a short course of mercurial
purging. But in jaundice depending on me'-
chanical obstruction, much preliminary treatment
will, in general, be required. The obstruction,
whatever it may be, must be removed, ere any
benefit can be reasonably anticipated from the
water.

For the mode of distinguishing these species of
jaundice, I refer the reader to the elementary
works on medicine, especially the Study of Medi-
cine, by Dr. Good. I may remark, however, that
the first species (Icterus choloeus — Icterus hepa-
ticus, Study of Medicine, vol. i, pp. 411 and 428,);
will, in general, be found as a slow and obscure
affection, attended only by general langour, nau-v
sea, and slight pain or feehng of fulness in the
region of the Uver ; whilst the second species-
(Icterus chololithicus — Icterus spasmodicus, Study
of Medicine, vol. i, pp. 414 and 415,) will be re-
maricable for the suddenness of its attack and the
severity of its symptoms, especially severe vomit-
ing and pain at the pit of the stomach extending
g2

80

MEDICAL HISTORY. .

to the back. Used according to the method
herein recommended, Airthrey Water is fomid to
be a powerful adjuvant to the other remedies
usually employed in jaundice. It seems to im-
part a tone and vigom* to the system, and to con-
firm in a remarkable manner, the patient's health.

The only other aflfection of the liver which claims
notice is chronic hepatitis, or chronic inflamma-
tion of the liver. This is a remarkably insidious
and obscure affection. It frequently exists for a
very great length of time without the patient or
his physician being aware of its presence. It may
"be suspected, when a patient complains of paiu,
however slight, in the region of the hver and right
shoulder, aggravated by pressure over the liver,
and by lying on the left side; and when his stools
are clay coloured, and the skin, and eyes, and
urine, tinged yellow, there cannot, I conceive, be
any doubt regarding the nature of the affection.
Although by no means peculiar to such persons,
this disease is usually found among those who
have resided in a tropical climate, and whose con-
stitutions have been injured, or, to use the common

MEDICAL HISTORY.

81

phrase, undermined by it. Chronic hepatitis, how-
ever, is frequently met with in persons whose con-
stitutions have been undermined by severe and
protracted study,, thoughtless dissipation, and the
like, although they may have never breathed any
other than their native air.

In this affection, the impaired state of the consti-
tution renders, for the most part, active treatment
quite inadmissable. The patient may sometimes
lose with advantage, a few omices of blood by
leeches. He may take, too, with advantage, a few
grains of blue pUl conjoined with sahne medicine,
as an alterative, and he may even have a succes-
sion of blisters applied to his side. But further
interference on the part of the physician than this,
is quite out of the question. The patient wUl not
bear general bleeding, or a course of mercury,
however slight, and if these are had recourse to, it
is generally at the expense of the remaining powers
of the constitution. In these circumstances, Airth-
rey Water conjoined with blue pUl, as formerly re-
commended, offers itself as a valuable remedy,
which will, from day to day, act on the bowels,

82 MEDICAL HISTORY.

without inducing the debiUtating effects of ordin-
ary medicine.

Tlie various forms of hepatic disease which we
have considered, are occasionally accompanied by
inflammation of the mucous coat of the intestines.
This combination is readily recognised by pain in
the bowels, increased on pressure, and by the pre-
sence of chronic diarrhoea, or dysentery. I mention
this affection, merely to state, that it is the only
modification of hepatic disease in which I have
found the Airthrey Water hurtful. In these
cases, the intestinal disease must be subdued ere
the water can be safely used. It may then be
sometimes taken with advantage. Its administra^
tion, however, is always hazardous.

3. Diseases of the Head.— Under this designa-
tion I include all those affections usually ascribed
to a morbid condition of the encephalon, or brain,
and spinal marrow. Although not a nmnerous,
they form a severe, and not an uncommon order
of diseases, the principal genera of wliich benefit-
ed by saline water, are palsy, vertigo, epilepsy,
chorea, hysteria, and an affection of Hie spine,

MEDICAL HISTORY.

83

akin to paralysis and rheumatism, to which T
shall afterwards advert. I shall offer a few re-
marks on the use of Airthrey Water in each of
these affections. '

This water has been employed in palsy, to some
extent. The rehef, however, afforded has been
only partial. A clergyman from the west coun-
try, for example, labouring under this affection,
used it for a fortnight with much benefit. It im-
proved, he said, his digestion, and removed certain
uneasy sensations which he experienced in the
head. Sometime after his return home, however, .
he died suddenly in a fit of apoplexy. In other cases
of palsy, Airthrey Water has been used in the
form of a warm bath, with relief to the patient.
The water, at the same time, was generally taken
internally. In this affection, which, for the most
part, is a hopeless disease, my observation enables
me only to state, that Airthrey Water will occa-
sionally prove serviceable when the functions of
the stomach are disordered, or when any shght
determination to the head, threatening a second
attack of the disease, is present.

84

MEDICAL HISTORY.

Much benefit has accraed to patients labouring
under vertigo, or dizziness, from a course of this
water. I have at this moment a patient labouring
under this afiection, who is deriving great rehef
from it and compound calomel pill.

I have seen a case of epilepsy, in a gentleman
from Glasgow, in which the benefit irom a course
of this water was very strikiag. This gentleman
had been long afOicted with this grievous malady.
He was attended, for a considerable length of
time, by an eminent practitioner in Glasgow, but
did not derive much benefit fi-om his prescriptions,
which were those usually employed. A course of
Airthrey Water was at length recommended. Du-
ring its use, and for long after it, he enjoyed an
entire immunity fi'om the disease. It returned,
however, in a mitigated form, in the ensuing win-
ter, and he was induced, at the instigation of his
friends, to return to Airthrey. A similar result
attended this second course ; and the patient and
his fiiends left the springs quite delighted witli
their efficacy. From this case, I infer only, that
a course of saline water, other remedies having

MEDICAL HlSTORYi

85

been premised, will occasionally prove serviceable
in epilepsy.

Hysteria and chorea, have, in lOce manner, been
benefited by a course of Airtln*ey Water. I by no
means affirm, that this water, imaided, will re-
move either of these affections ; but I have seen
several cases of the former, and one of the latter,
in which, after a protracted, and rather inefficient
treatment, the best, however, which medicine fur-
nishes, the disease was entirely removed, and the
system invigorated, by the employment of this
water.

Tlie only other malady under this head, to
which I mean to advert, is an obscure affection of
the spine, attended by impaired sensation and mo-
tion in various parts of the body, especially the
lower extremities. Every practitioner must have
frequently met with cases of this kind. In some
instances, it is difficult to distinguish them from
chronic rheumatism : in others we are apt to sus-
pect serious disease in the spinal maiTow. I have
seen several cases of this nature of late, and at
present I am attending a man who has been la-

g0 MEDICAL HISTORY.

bouring under it for more than six months, but
who is now rapidly getting weU. THs affection
will, in general, yield, to a certain extent, to bleed-
ing, local or general, free purging, warm bathing,
and counter-irritation along the spine. But its
progress is tedious and very harrassing, alike to
the patient and his physician. After the severity
of the symptoms is overcome, and a few mieasy
feehngs only are remaining, the patient, tired of or-
dinary treatment, wiU readily, accede to a course of
saline water, from which, in connection with the
warm bath, he wiU for the most part, derive de-
cided and lasting benefit.

The use of Airthrey Water in diseases of the
head and spinal marrow may be objected to by
some practitioners, on the ground that it will
prove too stimulating, in consequence of the mu-
riates which it contains. Thus, Dr. Scudamore
attributes those paroxysms of gout, wMch some-
times occur a short time after commencing the
use of Cheltenham Water, to what he calls the
stimulating qualities of the muriates. But I have
only to remark, that I have never, in tlie course

MEDICAL HISTORY.

87.

of my experience with Airthrey Water, and I have
known it used in a great number of cases, seen
any stimulating effects produced by it ; and on in-
quiry among my brethren here, I find that this
statement coincides exactly with their experience.
The fact. is, that in all affections of the head and
spine, whatever may be their nature, where it is
desirable to keep up a fi-ee discharge from the
bowels for a considerable length of time, without
weakening the patient, Airthrey Water is not only
a safe, but the most valuable remedy we possess-
in this coimtry for that purpose.

4. Diseases of the Skin. — Saline water has never
been much extolled, even by its most devoted ad-
mirers, as a remedy in cutaneous disease. Sulphur
springs, such as those of Harrowgate and Moffat,
are much more efiicacious,and consequently much
more esteemed in these affections. Yet there are
cases of cutaneous disease associated with morbid
conditions of the stomach and liver, in which
saUne water is unquestionably a remedy of great
value. The chief of these are, erysipelas, ery-

thema, roseola, urticaria, and acne,
u

88

MKDICAIi HISTORY*

Persons liable to periodical attacks of the first
four of these afifections, will, in general, derive great
benefit fi-om a com-se of Aii'tln-ey Water , taken
either after an attack, or some time before one is ex-
pected . In the one case it will correct the ahment^
ary secretions, and invigorate the system. In the
other, I have reason to knowj that it will not
imfi:equently act as a powerful prophylactic and
prevent the anticipated attack. Airthrey Water
i« much employed by young persons in this
neighbourhood, for the removal of acne punctata
( maggot pimple,) but I beUeve it is generally al-
lowed to be an inert remedy in tliis form of tlie
disease. I have, however, seen it used in acne
indurata, simplex, and rosacea, which are respect-,
iyely known by the vulgar terms, stone pock,
simple pimple, and rosy drop or grog blossoms, with
decided advantage.

5. Diseases of the CJiest. — I introduce this sec-
tion merely for the purpose of alluding to an ob-
scure case of pulmonary disease, in wliich I have
repeatedly found Airtlurey Water, after the em^
ployment of other and more efficient means, de^

MEDICAL HISTORY.

89

cidedly serviceable. From this I would not have
the reader infer that I am an advocate for the indisr
criminate use of this water in chest affections. In
most of these, x\irthrey Water, I believe, will be
found not only an inert, but often a hurtful expe-
dient. In such hopeless diseases, for example, as
simple phthisis or cln-onic pleurisy, it would be
folly, nay madness, on the part of any practitioner,
whatever may be his pretensions, to advise a
course of this water. Yet there are cases of puU
monary disease, connected with a disordered state
of the stomach, in which we have reason to think,
that the affection of the chest depends in a great
measure, if not altogether, on that of the stomach.
Mr. Abernethy, in fact, in a very sti'iking case de-
tailed in his work on the Constitutional Orifjin
and Treatment of Local Diseases, not only proves
this dependence, but also shows that the chest
disease may be cured by merely curing that of
the stomach. This case is so very interesting
that I am induced to transcribe it. " A servant of
mine told me that his wife was dying of a con-
sumption, which had been rapidly increasing fop

90

MEDICAL HISTORY.

six months, and had baffled all attempts to reheve
it. Thinking I could procure her some medical
assistance from the hospital, I went to see her.
The case, however, seemed past hope. She was
•extremely emaciated, her pulse beat 140 in a
minute, her face was flushed ; she had a most dis-
tressing cough, and spit up more than a pint of
mucus, mixed with pus and streaked with blood,
in twenty-four hours. The circumstance, how-
ever, which most disturbed her, was a continued
pm-ging of black and offensive matter. She told
me that her bowels were first disordered ; that an
unhealthy state of those organs had preceded the
pulmonary affection, and was indeed habitual. I
thought it unnecessary to trouble my medical
friends in so hopeless a case, and ordered some
pills containing one grain of opium, to be taken
in such quantity as was necessary to stop the
purging. As she informed me that the disorder
began in the bowels, I added to each pill half a
grain of calomel. By these means the purging
was so much checked that she did not find it ne-
cessary to take more than two pills in twenty -foiu^

MEDICAL HISTORY. 91

hours ; and when she had taken twelve, the mer-
cury^, very unexpectedly, affected her mouth.
From that period the stools became of a natural
colour and consistence ; the cough and expectora-
tion ceased; and she was soon sufficiently re-
covered to go into the country, from whence she
returned apparently in good health." This com-
bination of stomach and pulmonary disease has also
been considered, under the appellation of dyspep-
tic phtMsis, by Dr. Wilson Philip, in the seventh
volume of the Transactions of the Medico- Chirur-
gical Society. " Drimkards, he says, " at that time
of life which disposes to phthisis, frequently fall a
sacrifice to this form of the disease, and those
who have been long subject to severe attacks of
dyspepsia, and what are called bihous complaints,
are liable to it." He adds, " In by far the ma-
jority of cases, in which both the lungs and diges-
tive organs are affected, the affection of the diges-
tive organs precedes that of the lungs." These
extracts, I apprehend, are sufficient to show that
in many cases of chest affection, the disease is to

be considered rather as a sequence of gastric dis-
h2

92

MEDICAL HISTORY.

ease, than as a primary affection ; and that the
malady is to be chiefly, although not exclusively,
combated through the medium of the stomach.

'In phthisis, thus modified, it may be fairly
questioned how far saline water will prove ser-
viceable. If it is beneficial in some forms of idiopa-
thic dyspepsy, may it not also prove beneficial in
that form of it producing phthisis, and, in this way,
in phthisis itself ? I confess I am not, at present,
able to answer these questions, as I have never
prescribed Airthrey Water in any case of dyspep-
tic phthisis when the disease was fully develop-
ed. I lately attended a very interesting yoimg
man who died of this afiection, but from the hope-
less character which the case assumed, I deemed
it inexpedient to employ the water. But I have
seen several cases, one of which I shall relate,
where I dreaded the occurrence of tliis disease,
and in wliich Airtlirey Water, after the employ-
ment of the other usual remedies, was used vnth
decided advantage. A gentleman, twenty-five
years of age, fond of company and late hours, al-
though by no means an intemperate man, com-

MEDICAL HISTORY.

93

plained in the winter 1827-8, of pain in the chest,
cough, difficult breathing, nausea, and loss of ap-
petite. His pulse varied from 80 to 100 : his skin
was hot ; his tongue foul ; and liis bowels consti-
pated. He had also a good deal of mucous ex-
pectoration, more or less streaked with pus. I purg-
ed him freely with calomel and extract of colo-
cynth ; and put him afterwards on a course of
Plummer's pill and weak saUne aperients. Under
this treatment his tongue cleaned to a certain ex-
tent ; and his stomach complaints, in a great meas-
ure, disappeared. His chest symptoms, however,
continued unimpaired. He was then cupped on
the chest to the extent of twelve ounces ; and af-
terwards a succession of blisters was had recoiu-se
to. He took, also, a variety of mixtures, usually-
prescribed in chest affections. The amendment,
however, was not decided. During the whole
winter, he complained alternately of his chest,
and stomach, sometimes using remedies for the
one, sometimes for the other. In spring, after
being somewhat harassed by the treatment, and
reduced by the disease, I advised a course of

94

MEDICAL HISTORY.

Airthrey Water with Plummer's pill. Under it he
soon recovered ; and he has ever since enjoyed
perfect health.

Every practitioner must have frequently met
with cases of this description. They are probably
nothing else than chronic catarrh depending on, or
modified by, a disordered state of the stomach.

6. Scrofulous 4^ec<zo7is.— Scrofula, in all its dif-
ferent forms, is an intractable disease. In many
cases it appears to be an inherent or natural part
of the constitution, not to be overcome by any
means of art ; and in this way we frequently ob-
serve it transmitted from father to son, through
many generations. But scrofula, unconnected
with any hereditary tamt, is sometimes met with.
I have a young woman at present under my care,
who has had, for several years, enlarged and sup-
purating cervical glands, evidently scrofulous,
and in whom all the character of a scrofulous conr
stitution, as detailed by CuUen, are remarkably
well defined. Yet tlie parents and brotliers and
sisters of this young woman do not possess any
of the characters of a . scrofulous cgnstitution j

MEDICAL HISTORY.

95

nor have they, at any time, been assailed by scrof-
ula. In a similar, yet much more severe case,
by Dr. Good, occmxing in a gentleman, he ob-
serves, that of eight brothers and sisters who have
reached the middle of life, he is the only one who
has discovered any tendency to such complaint ;
nor, is it, he says, to be traced through any part of
the family lineage as far as it can be ascended.
I make these remarks merely for the purpose of
expressing my conviction that the occurrence ot
scrofula in any mdividual of a family does not ne-
cessarily imply family tamt, and that in many such
cases, where this taint is erroneously suspected,
the use of salme water as a prophylactic, is quite
imcalled for. In those cases, however, m which the
hereditary scrofulous taint is clearly indicated by
flaccid flesh, fair hair, blue eyes, smooth skin, rosy
cheeks, and tumid and chapped upper lip, I have
known salme water used periodically, as a preven-
tive, with apparent good effect. Where scrofula, in
whatever form, has fully developed itself, saline
water may in general, be had recourse to with

96

MEDICAL HISTORY.

much advantage.* I have prescribed Aixthrey
Water to a considerable extent in these affections,

* Almost all writers on medicine are agreed that
sahne water is useful in scrofula, but they do not
altogether agree regarding the manner in whicli
it proves beneficial in this aifection. In a former
part of this essay, I have, in common with many
other practitioners, ascribed the antiscrofulous
property of saUne waters, to the muriate of lime
which they contain ; and notwithstanding what
om' distinguished systematic authors, Cullen and
Good, say to the conti'ary, I am stUl disposed to
think that this is the opinion of a great majority of
the profession. Dr. Cullen, however, it is propei:
to state, in speaking of the efiicacy of mineral
water in this affection, says, " With regard to the
choice of mineral waters most fit for the purpose,
I cannot with any confidence give an opinion ; al-
most all kinds of mineral waters, whether chaly-
beate, sulphureous, or saline, have been employed
for the cure of scrofula, and seemmgly with equal
success and reputation; a circumstance which
leads me to think, that if they are ever suc-
cessful, it is the elementaiy water that is the
cluef part of the remedy." On this passage

Medical history.

97

and my impfession is, that it is decidedly efficacious.
In some cEises I conjoin it with compoimd calomel

we have a commentary by Dr. Good. " The
mineral waters," he says, "of every description
have been had recom-se to, chalybeate, sulphm-e-
ous, and saline ; and perhaps, as Dr. Cullen ob-*
serves, with nearly a hke reputation and success ;
though it is by no means improbable that some
waters may prove a more remedial stimulant, or
alterant to some constitutions, and others to
others." Be this as it may, it wUl, I believe, be
generally found that the antiscrofulous properties
of a mineral water depend on its muriate of Ume.
Tlie late Dr. Murray, the distinguished chemist,
ascribes these properties entirely to this sub-
.stance. After extolling its properties in high
terms, he says, he " foimd a mineral water of con-
siderable celebrity in Yorkshire, that of Ilkley,
and which in particular was held in liigh estima-
tion as a remedy in scrofulous affections, by sever-
al eminent medical practitioners, to be water un-
commonly free from all foreign matter, with the
exception of very minute quantities of mmiate of
.soda, and muriate of lime." Good's opinion of salt,
as an antiscrofulous remedy, may be also stated

gg MEDICAL HISTORY.

pill: in others I add a few drops of tincture of
iodine, or tincture of iron, to the dose. I have a
man just now, for example, who has long suffered
from a scrofulous .6ore in the axilla, and he says
that he has derived more benefit from a com-se
of this water and iodine, than all the other rem-
edies he has used during a period of several years.

here with propriety. « Muriate of soda, he says,
« or common sea-salt, possesses a hke character,
and has ^mdouhtedly been found of far more use
in many cases. It has, hence, been employed
vervfreely both internally and externally. In the
latter case very generally, through the medrum
of the bibulous marine plants, which contam it m
large proportions, and have been apphed to the
strumous tumours in the form of epithems, a^_ sea
MT-ack (fucus vesicuJoms,) sea tang (alga manna,)
and sea oak {gueraas mo^inaV If common salt
possesses the properties ascribed to it by Dr.Good,
Airthrey Water, whether used internally or exter-
nally, must, independently of any effects arismg
from its muriate of lime, be a valuable remedy m
scrofula. . .

MEDICAL HISTORY.

99

wliile passing tlirougli the hands of at least half
a dozen of practitioners.

7. Gravel and Gout. — SaUne water, physicians
are agreed, is a valuable remedy in those states of
tlie constitution usually designated, the Calcul-
ous and Arthritic Diatheses. In several cases of
gravel, (litliia renalis, a arenosa — Good, vol. 5.
p. 521,) I have seen a course of Airthrey Water
and Plummer's pUl used with complete success,
other appropriate remedies having been premised.
I have had, however, no experience with this
remedy in gout. I am disposed, notwithstanding,
to think, that in many cases of this affection,
Airthrey Water would prove serviceable by break-
ing up to a very considerable extent the Arthritic
diathesis. Dr. Scudamore, an eateemed writer on
gout, says, that " the gouty patient may drink the
pure aahne waters of Cheltenham, with almost
certain prospect of advantage." Now, these^
waters resemble very much, both in their com-
position and operation, the Waters of Airthrey,'
and hence I infer that if the one is serviceable in

gout, the other must be so also. Should Airthrey
I

JDO MBDTCAL HISTORY/

Water ever be resorted to in this affection, it must
be only during the intervals of the attack ; and
should a paroxysm of the disease occur durmg its
use, experience at Cheltenham shows, that the
water ought to be discontinued, until the active
symptoms are subdued by appropriate treatment.
The pactitioner and patient must always bear ui
mind, that saline water is recommended rather as
a remedy for the gouty diathesis, than for the dis-
ease itself.

There are many other diseases besides those I
have mentioned, in which Au-threy Water is taken
with advantage. I deem it unnecessary, however,
to dwell any longer on this part of the subject. I
may remark generally, that in all chronic diseases
attended by a disordered state of the stomach and
bowels, unless tliis depends on chronic inflamma-
tion of the mucous coat of these organs, and in all
diseases where it is desirable to keep up, for a
considerable length of time, a free intestmal dis-
charge, without materially weakening the patient,
a . course of Au-threy Water may, in general, be
recommended with every prospect of relief or cure.

MEDICAL HISTORY. 101

- The close of Airthrey Water varies from half a
tumbler to six tumblers. Persons in health, who
iise it merely for fashion's sake, sometimes swal-
low the immense dose of six tumblers ; but two
pint tumblers may be stated as the maximum dose
taken by persons labouring mider disease. Even
this quantity is only taken by those persons as-
sailed by diseases requiring free purgmg. In gen-
eral, the dose does not exceed one tumbler, and
in some cases, where the water is used as an anti-
scrofulous remedy, half a tumbler wUl be found
abundantly sufficient. The time of taking the
water, also, varies. The most common time is an
hour or two before breakfast, but it is frequently
used during the day, at any time when the stom-
ach is empty. When the water is used as an aperi-
.ent, the proper time for taking it is in the morning,
about an hour or two before breakfast. In this
case, it should be taken largely, and only once in
the twenty -foiu- hours. When it is used, again,
as an antiscrofulous remedy, it should be taken
three times a day in small doses, about an hour
before each meal. Some persons, before drinking

102

MEDICAL HISTORY.

the water, render it lukewarm by placing it near
the fire, or by adding a little warm wat6r to iti
This practice obtains at some of the Enghsh water-
ing places, and I recollect that it was strongly re-
commended to persons using the Dunblane Water,
by the late Drs; Forrest & Dinsmore, of this town.
In some cases^ I deem the practice useful, but in
others, I think, I have seen much benefit result to
the patient by using it; at its natural temperaturei
Without entering into its mode of Operating, I beg
leaAre to state, that in many eases of disordered
stomach, T know no remedy more beneficial than
a tumbler of common spring water drank cold
every morning before breakfast.

It would be folly in the patient visiting these
Wells, to entrust his cure solely to the operation of
(the water. In some trivial cases, it is true, the
water, unaided, would succeed, but in a great ma-
jority of the cases which occur, or which are sent,
here, it is generally found requisite to combine,
with the use of the water, appropriate adjuvants'.
I have shown, for example, that in some cases, it
is necessary or advisable to precede the use of the

MEDICAL HISTORY.

103

water by free purging, and in others to combine it
with Plummer's pill, iodine, &c. In addition to
these, I may remark, that in almost all cases, atten-
tion to diet and exercise will be of the very first
importance, in assisting the operation of the water,
and that, without this, it mil frequently fail to pro-
duce the desired eflfect.

Instead of offering any observations of my
own, on the dietetics of a watering-place, I
shall transcribe those recommended by an emi-
nent physician to the water drinkers of England.
They are equally applicable to those of Scotland.
" The diet of the invalid at a watering place
•should be studiously moderate and correct. This
is a point of peculiar moment when the patient is
under a course of these waters. The quantity of
fluid at all the meals should be much restricted,
for, otherwise, the muscular power of the stomach
and intestinal canal may become weakened from
distention. Half a pint of aqueous fluid, with the
dinner meal, is amply sufficient. Soda water, or
plain water, made palatable with toast, or any

other simple addition, should be the exclusive bev-
i2

104

MEDICAL HISTORY.

erage, with the exception of such moderate
quantity of good wine as may be allowed. Soups,
unless plain gravy soup, and that sparingly, should
be avoided. As a general rule, I should class in
the prohibited list, salt meat, pork, fat and skin of
meat, rich made dishes, the fat part of sahnon,
stewed eels, lobsters, pickles, and salads; spinage,
as being a vegetable which readily ferments ; any
vegetable which is not quite in season, sweet,
tender, and well boiled ; pie crust, and all rich
confectionary; strong cheese, and such as is
either very new or very old. These are my brief
directions as to the quality of the food, but the
quantity is also a most cardinal pomt of atten-
tion. What reasonable expectation of benefit
can be entertained from a course of alterative
aperient waters, if a system of repletion, with
-various kinds of stimulating food, be every day
pursued ? The liberal regimen of a boarding-
house is, in this respect, unfavovuable to the ne-
cessary discipline of the patient ; but it is in-
cumbent on him to exercise a virtuous forbear-
ance. Meat should be eaten only once a day ;

MEDICAL HISTORY.

105

unless in the instance of a delicacy of constitution.
A new laid egg, lightly boiled, at breakfast, and
biscuits in the middle of the day, will sufficiently
support the stomach till the dinner hour, which
should not be later than five. White fish, and
boiled rather than fried, is the most wholesome.
I must observe, that where strict regimen is ne-
cessary, salmon must be forbidden. One kind of
meat only should be eaten, and if poultry or game
be added, the quantity should be small. Game
should not be eaten when high; it is then too
stimulating. Game is too often rendered im-
proper for the stomach of the invalid, by the rich
sauces with which it is dressed. Tn young game,
every part is tender; when old; the very muscular
parts should be avoided. With regard to meats,
when the animal is not too aged, it is the muscular
fibre which afibrds the best stimulus to the stom-
ach, and is the most easy "of digestion. Mutton
and beef seem to be most digestible when roasted ;
veal, when boiled. I consider it a good rule to
eat one kmd of vegetable at the same meal. In
regard to dessert, the least quantity is best, and

106 MEDICAL HISTORY.

T would forbid raw apples and pears, plums of
every kind, gooseberries and currants, and melon.
I repeat that these restrictions apply to the mdivid-
ual who visits Cheltenham really on account of
his health. Those who drink the waters from ac-
cident, rather than by prescription, may abide by
these good rules or not, at choice."

In connexion with a regulated diet, exercise,
where the case will admit of it, will be found
highly advantageous. Nothing tends more to
the restoration of health, than spending many
hours daUy in an open and pure air, and mider-
going all the physical exertion which the con-
stitution will bear and readily overcome. In
the vicmity of Airthrey, every inducement to
exercise is liberally offered to the mvaUd.
•Chambers tells us that the air of this district
was early distmguished for its purity ; and that
Wilham the Lion, in his last days, desired to be
conveyed to Stirling, m the hope of resuscitating
his health, by breathmg its pm-e and wholesome
atmosphere. This character, the air of the Forth
still maintains. It is even in our day reputed the

MEDICAL HISTORY,

107

mildest in Scotland, and it has, in consequence,
become the favourite resort of the consumptive.
Blair Logie, a picturesque, sunny village, situated
at the southern base of the Ochils, is greatly
crowded dm-ing certain seasons of the year, with
patients of this description.

I have already, m the introductory part of tills
essay, spoken of the general natural features of this
beautiful coimtry, but there are many individual
natural features in it equally beautiful, and in
every way calculated to rouse the attention of
the invalid, and excite him to activity. In the
eastern view. Castle Campbell, and the cascades
of the Devon, among many other romantic spots,
present themselves to his notice. A day, says a
popular writer, spent in Glendevon, will be suffi-
cient to satisfy the most inordinate appetite for
romantic natural scenery. In the western view^
again, the invalid may visit, by little exertion^
the magnificent old ruin of Doune Castle, and
the sublime scenery of the Trosachs and Loch
Katrine, endeared, as has been well obsei^ved, to
every Scotchman, from its being the scenery of

108

MEDICAL history;

the " Lady of the Lake." Nor will the town of
Stu-ling, distinguished alike for its antiquities and
scenery, escape his attention. " Who can look,"
says a fellow-townsman in an eloquent letter,
"upon oiu' Castle, and its Palace, and noble
Park, upon the Royal Gardens and their cele-
brated Table, upon the Ladies' Hill and the Val-
ley below it, and upon our fine old Franciscan
Tower, so remarkable for its simple majesty,
without bemg carried back in his imagination to
the splendid scenes of other times ;— to the reigns
of the gallant and accomphshed Jameses, to the
days of tilt and tournament and courtly pomp, to
the feats of a brave and knightly nobihty, to the
chivalry and romance, m short, of Scottish history.
No man of taste or lover of his country ever U-a-
versed our walks without pleasure, or left tliem
without regret." Although it is not exactly the
provmce of this memoir to dwell on tlie mere an.
tiquities and history of Stirling, yet T cannot con-
clude without du-ectmg the attention of the stran-
ger to its battle-fields— and more especially to
Bannockburn, where Bruce achieved the jnde-

MEDICAL HISTORY.

109

pendence of his covmtry. There is not, says a
I'avoxirite writer, whom I have often quoted, a foot
of ground in Stirhngshire which has not felt the
tread of marching armies, and the eye can be
turned in no direction around its territory with-
out lighting on the field of some memorable con-
test. For an accoimt of these conflicts, however,
I must refer the reader to the history of liis coun-
try. The antiquities of the town itself will be
best studied in an elegant Uttle volume — the Pic-
ture of Stirling, lately published by our enterpris-
ing townsman, Mr. Hewit.

APPENDIX.

Dr. Thomson supposes that the Airthrey Springs
proceed from the same red sandstone fi'om which
those of Dmiblane and Pitcaithly take their rise.
There can be no doubt, I think, of this fact. The
following observations on the old red sandstone of
this district, by Alexander Blackadder, Esq., civil
engineer, possess much interest, and are not alto-
gether foreign to our subject. I transcribe them
from the Memoirs of the f'Vernerian Natural His-
tory Society. " This," the old red sandstone of the
upper district of the Forth, " appears, on its lower
boundary, at Airthrey Mines, Bridge of Allan,
Cruives of Craigforth, Drip Farm, and Redhall.
It also forms Naad Knowe, a conical knoll, elevated,
above the Carse. The common dip and direction
of the sandstone, at all these points, corresponds

K

112

APPENDIX.

with that exliibited in the channel of the Teath
and the Allan. This rock appears also witliin a
few yards of Craigforth, a mass of gi-eenstone,
which, rising through the Carse, presents, on one
side, a perpendicular precipice. Here the sand-
stone is traversed by veins of greenstone, wliich
may be seen in the bed of the Forth ; and, on the
north side, they were several yards in thickness,
in the quarries for the roads.

« The wTiter of the article Perihshire, in the
Edinburgh Encyclopaedia, states his opinion, that
the Transition red sandstone is bounded on the
south by the Ochil and Campsie Hills. From Red-
hall, in the direction of Kippen, the red sandstone
stretches along the north front of the Campsie
Hills, commonly called Gargunnock Hills. At
^Boquhan, it is traversed by a torrent of that name,
at a natural ravine, cutting it obliquely to a con-
siderable depth. (Similar sections at Leckie and
Oargunnock.) This red' sandstone, hke that on
the north side of the valley, is covered by red till,
or tiUy earth, with dip and direction also conform-
able. It presents a precipitous front, and the rivu-
let exhibits the succession of strata betwixt it and
the perpendicular front of the Campsie Hills, over
which it is precipitated at Balloch Leam. The
rocks of the intervening hollow are conformable to

APPENDIX.

113

the sandstone, of varied characters, and alternat--
ing until they reach the foot of the mural precipice
of greenstone, which is rudely columnar. They
are traversed by veins of greenstone, connected
with this stratum of greenstone." * * *:
" From Borrowstounness," continues Mr.Black-
adder, " to Gartmore, at the upper extremity of
the valley traversed by the Forth, the common
soil is CARSE clay, a substance well known as
forming a rich level surface of considerable extent
on the banks of the Forth and the Tay. Through
this the river wmds a sluggish com-se, until it
meets the tide above Stirling, from which pomt to
Gartmore, the rise probably does not exceed thirty
feet. The only considerable streams: which fall
into the Forth, above StirUng, are the Allan and
Teath ; both of which, after traversing witli rapid
currents the old red sandstone, enter the margin
of the clay about one mile before they join tlie
Forth. The former transmits about as much
water as the Forth, the latter considerably more
than that river.

" The district of the Forth may be divided into
upper and lower, separated by the gorge at Stir-,
ling, formed by approximation of the hills, narrow-
ing the carse ground or valley to one mile. The
rocky substratum of the upper district, consists,

114

APPENDIX.

probably throughout, of the old red sandstone,
which, dipping southwards, is lost luider the clay
and subordinate gravel, which occupy the valley.
This arrangement is presented by the sections
formed by the Teath, Allan, and Forth, and tri-
butary streams ; also, at excavating the ornament-
al rivers, and in forming the elevated aqueduct
at Blaii- Drummond, passing from the higher mar-
ginal gravel, and proceeding into the clay of the
A^alley.

" This extensive upper district presents to the
eye one vmiform plain, the central parts occupied
with mosses, whereof large portions have been
floated off to the river by means of water introdu-
ced for that pLu^Dose, into which the peat-earth is
thrown, so as to leave the clay, fit for the pm-poses
of agricultiu-e. Dm-ing these and other opera-
tions, the natiu-e of these mosses and subsoils has
been unfolded. The clay of this distiict, present-
ing a uniformity of sm-faee, is of varied quality.
In so far as exhibited, by a very few deeper oper-
ations, its depth does not exceed twenty feet.
Stones and pebbles of any description are un-
known through its whole extent, but it reposes on
small gravel, sand, red till, or red tilly earth, as
the case may be, which rest on the old red sand^
stone."

APPENDIX.

115

Mr. Blackadder's observations appear to me to
prove, in a very satisfactory manner, that the
Airthrey Springs originate, in common with those
of Pitcaithly and Dunblane, in the old red sand-
stone.

K 2

LIST OF RARE OR INTERESTING
PHiENOGAMOUS PLANTS

COLLECTED IN THE VICINITY OF STIRLING.

[The following is an imperfect list of the rare or
interesting Phanogamous Plants growing in.this
neighbourhood. The list, I am aware, does not
exhaust the rich field which it embraces ; and I
publish it in its imperfect state, in the hope, tliat
some of our young Botanists, possessed of the
necessary leisure, wiU complete it.]

ANTHOXANTHUM.
1. A. odoratum. Hab. Hill, Stirling.

AGROSTIS.
1. A. canina. Hab. Moors above Airthrey.

HORDEUM.
H. murinum. Hab. Hill, Stirling.

i

118 LIST OF PLANTS.

POA.

1. P. aquaiica. Hab. In ditches by the road side
betwixt Alloa and Stirling,

2. P. fluitans. Hab. Blair Drummond Moss.
The seeds, under the name of manna seeds, are

sold in Holland as food. They are sold also in
our shops, and employed occasionally as a nour-
ishing and mild diet.

BRIZA.

1. B. media. Hab. Menstry Glen, near Lipna.
FESTUCA.

1. F. bromoides. Hab. On walls near St. Ninians.

BROMUS.
1. B. sylvaticus. Hab. Keir Glen.

ERIOPHORUM.
1. E. vaginatum. Hab. Blair Drummond Moss.

SCIRPUS.

1. S. pauciflorus. Hab. Dumyat.

2. S pahistris. Hab. Blair Drummond Moss.

JUNCUS.

1. J. glaucus. Hab. Pastures near Airthrey.

2. J. bufonius. Hab. Ardoch.

LUZULA. .
1. L. maxima. Hab. Hill, StirUng, &c.

LIST OP PLANTS.

119

COLCHICUM.
1. C. autumnale. Hab. Near Alloa. Lighlfooi. A
medicine of great value in rheumatism. I have
not seen the plant in the situation indicated.

CONVALLARIA.
1. C. majalis. Hab. Dumyat, near a pond.

PARIS.

1. P. quadrifolia, Hab. Woods near Dunblane.

ORNITHOGALUM.
1. 0. umbellatum. Hab. Hill, Stirhng.

HYACINTHUS.
1. H. non scripius. Hab. Craigforth. The va-
riety with white flowers, common. ,

ALLIUM.

1. A. ursinum. Hab. Craigforth, Touch, Keir,
&c.

2. A. Schoenoprasum, Hab. Field, near Denny.

NARCISSUS.
1. N. pseudo- Narcissus, Hab. Keir Wood.

GALANTHUS.
1. G. nivalis. Hab, In a park adjoining the
King's Park.

I

120 LIST OF PLANTS.

HABENARIA.

1. H. albida. Hab. Campsie Hills.

2. H. bifolia. Hab. Near Callander.

LISTERA.

1. L. ovata. Hab. Keir.

2. L. Nidics Avis. Hab. Glen near Dunblane.

ARUM.

1. A: maculatum. Hab. Loch of Menteith.

SPARGANIUM.

1. S. ramosum. Hab. Ardoch.

2. S. simplex. Hab. Ditch, Corntown.

TYPHA.

1 . T. angustifolia. Hab. In a piece of water near
Blair Drummond House. .

POTAMOGETON.

1. P. natans. Hab. Pond, Stiiiing.

2. P.fluitans. Hab. Pond, Keir.

PINUS.

1 . P. sylvestris. Hab. Blair Drummond, &c.

" There are three seemingly distinct varieties of
Scotch Fir on Blair Drummond estate. One
particular fine variety, in the park east of the
house, my worthy employer, Henry Home

LIST OF PLANTS.

121

Drummond, Esq., has just tliis evening re-
quested me to collect some seeds of, for a gen-
tleman in England." — Mr. James Drummond.

JUNIPERUS.
I. J. communis. Hab. Touch Hills, Menstry
Glen, &c.

SALIX.

1. S. vitellina. Hab. Near the old church-yard,
Kincardine.

MYRICA.

1. M. gale. Hab. Blair Drummond Moss. The
leaves of this tree have a bitter taste ; and, ac-
cording to Lightfoot, they are used in the
Hebrides for destroying worms. In Tsla and
Jm-a, the inhabitants scent their clothes and
linen with them.

PARIETARIA.
1. P. officinalis. Hab. Hill, StirUng.

RESEDA.

1. R. Luteola. Hab. Hill, Stirling. This plant is
found in great abundance at the foot of Dumyat.
It is used in dyeing woollen stuffs of a yellow
colour.

2. R. luiea. Hab. Hill, Stirling, near the Crandy
Hill, lately inclosed.

122

ttST OP Ft ANTS.

POLYGONUM.
1. P.viviparum. Hab. Bridge of Bracklin; abun-
dant.

CHENOPODIUM.

1. C. Bonus Henricus. Hab. Hill, Stirling. Good
King Henry, used, when boiled, instead of
spinach.

PLANTAGO.
1. P. maritima. Hab. Banks of the Forth, above
Alloa.

LITTORELLA.
]. L.lacustris. Hab. Mill-dam, TuUyallan.

ANAGALLIS.

] . A. arvensis. Hab. Fields, Coney Park, and
foot of Dumyat. Not common in this neigh-
bom-hood.

LYSIMACHIA.
1. L. Nummularia. Hab. Dumyat.

PRIMULA.
1. P. Feris. Hab. Fields, Sauchie.

TRIENTALIS.
1. T. europcea. Hab. Woods, Dimblane, Ardoch,
&c.

GLAUX.

1 . G. maritma. Hab. Banks of the Forth, Cam-
bus.

LIST OF PLANTS.

123

MELAMPYRUM.

1. M. pratense. Hab. Torwood.

2. M. sylvaiicum. Hab. Bridge of Bracklin,

NEPETA.

1. N. caim-ia. Hab. Hill, Stirling, immediately
behind the Castle.

MENTHA.

1, M rubra. Hab. Banks of the AUan, near the
Bridge.

LEONURUS.
1. L. Cardiaca. Hab. Hill, Stirling,

ANTIRRHINUM.
1. A. repens. Hab: Leny Glen.

SCROPHULARIA.

1. S. nodosa. Hab. Banks of the Forth.

2. S. aquaiica. Hab. Banks of the Teatli.

3. S. vernalis. Hab. Hill, Stirling.

DIGITALIS.

1. D. purpurea. Hab. Hill, Stirling. The variety

with white flowers is found on the Ochils, near
Lipna.

VERONICA.

1. V. scuiellata. Hab. Ardoch.

2. V. Jinagallis. PIab. Ardoch.

L

124

irST OF PLANTS.

VERBASCUM.

1. V. Thapsus. Hab. Sliiphaugh, not cainmoji.. ;

2. V. Lychnitis. Hab. Hill, Stirling, King's Parky
Stirling.

HYOSCYAMUS.
1. H. niger. Hab. Hill, Stirling. Highly nar-
cotic.

ATROPA.

I. A. Belladonna. Hab. Abbey Craig, abundant.
The berries of tlais plant are higlily poisonous-
Their effects are best counteracted by drinking
freely of vinegar,

SOLANUM.
\. S. Dulcamara. Hab. Hedge, near Stirluig.,

MYOSOTIS.
1. M.palustris. Hab. Banks of the Forth, op-
posite the Abbey. Rare in this neighbourhood.
A beautiful little plant considered as the em-
blem of friendship in almost every country in
Eiu-ope.

ANCHUSA.

1. A. sempervirens. Hab. Hill, Stii'lingv

CYNOGLOSSUM.
1 . C. officinale. Hab. -Sauchie.

LIST OF PLANTS

125

SYMPHYTUM
1. S. officinale. Hab. Hill, Stirling, Diteh near
Airthrey, Banks of the Allan, &c.

BORAGO.
1. B. officinalis. Hab. Hill, Sturling.

ECHIUM.

1. E. vulgare. Hab^ abundant in this neighbour-
hood.

CONVOLVULUS.

1. a arvensis. Hab. Hill, Stirling, behind the
Castle ; abundant.

2. C. Sepium. Hab. Hedge, Stirling.

• GENTIANA.
1. G' campestris. Hab. King's Park, Stirling.

MENYANTHES.
L M. irifoliata. Hab. Touch Hills, abundant-
The leaves of this plant are used as tea- They
are thought, by the Highlanders, to strengthen
weak stomachs.

VINCA.

L V. minor' Hab. Blair Drummond. The va-
riety with variegated leaves, is found at Blair
Drummond.

LIGUSTRUM.
1. L. vulgare. Hab. Ochils, near Alva,

126

LIST OF PLANTS.

ANDROMEDA.
1. A. polifolia. Hab. Blair Drummond Moss.

VACCINIUM.

1. V- uliginosum. Hab. Hill, above Airthrey.

2. V. Vitis Idcea. Hab. Touch Hills.

3. V- Oxycoccos. Hab. Hill, above Airthrey.

PYROLA.
!• P. rotundifoUa. Hab. Bracklin Bridge.

CAMPANULA.

1. C. latifolia. Hab. Woods above Dunblane.

LACTUCA.

2. L. virosa- Hab. Hill, Stii-ling.

HIERACIUM.
1. H. denticulatum. Hab. Blair Drummond
Woods.

CICHORIUM.
1. C. hityhus. Hab. Fields, Cornton, Coney
Park, &c. ; rare.

SERRATULA.
>S. Undoria. Hab. Woods of Monzie.

CARDUUS.
1. C. marianus. Hab. Hill, Stirling, immediately
behind the Castle.

r.IST OP PLANTS.

127

BIDENS.

1. B.. tripartita. Hab. Near Port-of Menteith.

EUPATORIUM.
1. E. cannabinum. Hab. Tullyallan.

TANACETUM.
1. T. vulgare. Hab. Hill, Stirling, and banks of
the Allan, near its mouth.

GNAPHALIUM.

1. G. dioicum. Hab. Touch HUls-

2. G. sylvaticum. Hab. Ardoch-

3. G. germanicum. Hab. Abbey Craig ; abundant.

ASTER.

1. Tripolium. Hab. Banks of the Forth, above
the Cambus.

SOLIDAGO.
1. 5'. Virgaurea. Hab. Hill above Airthrey.

CHRYSANTHEMUM.
1. C' segeium. Hab. Com fields; but rare.

PYRETHRUM.
1. P. Parthenium. Hab. Hill, Stirling.

SCABIOSA.

1. S. arvensis. Hab. Pastures ; common^

2. S. columbaria. Hab, Blackford.

l2

128

jiiST OF plants;

VALERIANA.
1. V' officinalis' Hab. Banks of the Forth ; very
abundant.

SHERARDIA.
1' S. arvensis' Hab, Hill, Slii-ling.

ASPERULA.
1. odoraia- Woods, very abundant.

GALIUM.

1. G. cruciaiuni' Hab. Hill, Sthiing, in the
Hainiug; abundant.

2. G.paludre. Hab. Ditch, Tullibod3-.

3. G. uli(jinosum. Hab. Ditch, Craigtbrth.

4. G. saxatile. Hab. King's Park, Touch HiUs,
(fee, abundant.

5. G. boreale. Hab. Bridge of Bracklin.

VIBURNUM.
1. V' Opulus. Hab. Wood below St- Ninians.

SAMBUCUS.
1. S. Ebulus. Hab. Blair Drummond.

CONIUM.
1' C' maculaium' Hab. Hill, Sthiing-

LIST OF PLANTS.'

129

ANGELICA.
\> A. sylvestriS' Hab. Blair Drummdnd Moss.

SIUM.

]. S. latifoliiim, Hab. Menstry Glen ; Ditch,
Corn town.

ANTHRISCUS.
1. A' vulgaris. Hab. Hill, Stii'liug.

CH^ROPHYLLUM.
1. ۥ odoratum. Hab. Hill, Stirling; abundant.

SMYRNIUM.
1. -S*. Olusatrum. Hab. Hill, Stuiing.

CARUM.

I. C Carui. Hab. Blair Drummond, near the
west end of Bankhead House.

SAXIFRAGA.

1. stellaris. Hab. Campsie Hills.

2. aizoickf,- Hab Hill abuve Callander.

3. graiiulata. Hab. Abbey Craig, and King's
Park ; abundant.

4. S. ccBspitosa. Hab. Touch Hills, immediately
above Gilmore's Linn-

130

LTST OF PLANTS.

ADOXA.

1, A. moschatellina. Hab. On a small island, in
the river Teath, near Blair Drummond.

RIBES.

1. R. Grossularia. Hab. Hill, Stirling,

2. jR. nigrum. Hab. Banks of the Allan,

HIPPURIS.
1. H. vulgaris. Hab. Ditch near Stnling.

CIRCiEA.

1. C. Lutetiana. Hab. Near old Sauchie House.

EPILOBIUM.

1 . E. angustifoUum. Hab. Ochils, Craig-rosy.

2. E. hirsutum. Hab. Ditch, Stirling.

ROSA.

1. R. spij^sissima. Hab. King's Park, Stirling.

2. R. rvkiginpsa. Hab. Hill, Stu-Ung, immedi-
ately behiri'd the Castle.

3. R. arvensis. Hab. Borders of fields ; common.

GEUM.

G. urbanum. Hab. Hedges^ ; common.
^2ir:'6r:'rivale, Hab. Marsh.es and rivers ; common.

.LIST OF PLANTS.

131

AGRIMONIA.
1. A. Eitpatoria. Hab. King's Park, Airthrey,
&c.

RUBUS.

I. R. saxatiUs. Hab. Earl's-burn, not far from
Wallace's dam.

TORMENTILLA.
1. T. officinalis. Hab. Hill, Stirling ; very abun-
dant. Used medicinally, and by the Lapland-
ers for staining leather of a red colour.

ALCHEMILLA.
1. A. aJpina Hab. Bridge of Bracklin. One of
the most elegant of our native plants.

PRUNUS.

1. P. Fadus. Hab. King's Park; abundant.

2. P. Cerasus. Hab. Woods ; abundant.

3. P. domestica. Hab. Banks of the Teath.

SPIR^A.

1. >S'. salicifolia. Hab. Blair Drummond Woods.

GENISTA.
1. G. anglica. Hab. Comrie Moors.

ULEX.

1. U. nanus. Hab. Ochils, near Menstry.

132

tlST* OF PLANTS.

ONONIS.

1. 0. arvensis. Hab. Rare in this neighbourhood.
Banks of the Allan, a little above "Laird
Airly's."

ANTHYLLIS.
1. yl. vulneraria. Hab. Abbey Craig.

VICIA.

1. F. syhatica. Hab. Cakh-on Linn, Woods of
Kippenross, and Bridge of Bracklin. There is
a large and veiy beautiful specimen of this plant
near the Bridge of Bracklin. The late Dr.
Hamilton of Leny informed me, in 1827, that
he remembered it growing there forty years be-
fore.

LOTUS.

1 , Jj. corniculatus. Hab. Hill, Stu-hng ; abmulant.
The larger variety is common in the carse.

ILEX.

I. I.aquifolia. Hab. Blah- Drummond Woods;
abundant.

HYPERICUM.

1. H. AndroscEmum. Hab. Leny Glen.

2. H. dubium. Hab. Woods, Kippenross.

3. H. humifusiim. Hab. Road side opposite Plean
House.

4. H. pulchrum. Hab. Hills, near Callander.

LIST OF PLANTS.

133

MALVA.

1. M.' moschata. Hab. Abbey Craig ; abundant.

ALTH^A.
1. A. officinalis. Hab. Near Doune.

GERANIUM.

1. G. sanguineum- Hab. King's Park,

2. G.phceum. Hab, Touch Hills.

3. G. sylvaticum, Hab. Woods, abimdant.

4. G. pratense. Hab. Field near Airthrey, banks
of the Allan, near its mouth ; abundant.

5. G. lucidum. Hab. Hill, Stirling, in the Haining.

6. G. molle. Hab. Hill, Stirling. A variety with
white flowers is common.

7. G. dissectum. Hab. Fields, abundant. In 1827,
the hay crop in this neighboui-hood was very
much injured by this plant. It had evidently
been sown with th-e hay seed.

OXALTS.

1. 0. Acetossella. Hab. Woods; abundant. There
is a patch of this plant immediately below
« Hurly Hawkie." I have not met with the
0. corniculaia, said to be found " near Stirling."

RADIOLA.
1. R- millegrana' Hab. Touch Hills ; abundant.

134 I-IST OF PLAIsTS..

SAPONARIA.
1. /S. officinalis. Hab. On a wall near Dunblane.

LYCHNIS.
1. L. Viscaria, Hab. Abbey Craig; abundant.

SPERGULA.
1. 5*. nodosa. Hab. Marsh, near Stirling.

ARENARIA.

1. J. verna. Hab. Ochils.

2. JJ. trinervis. Hab. Hill, Stirling.

STELLARIA.

1. F. Nemorum. Hab. Plantation, Cow Park,

Stirling ; rare.

2. gkmca, Hab. Marshy Ground, Connal's

Park.

SEMPERVIVUM.
1. Teciorum- Hab. House tops ; common.

SEDUM,

1. S. Tekphium. Hab. Hill, Stirling, in the
Haining, near the Butt ^Yel!.

2. F.anglicimu Hab. Hill, SlirUng.

3. F. acre, Hab. Hill, Stirling.

4. F. relJexum. Hab. Roof of a house in Cause-
wayhead, growing beside Semjjervivum Tec-
torum.

IIST OP PLANTS.

135

5. S. villosim. Hab. Dumyat.

DROSERx\.

1. D. Totundifolia. Hab. Polmaise Moss, Blaip
Drummond Moss.

2. D. longifolia. Hab. Blair Drummond Moss.

CISTUS.

1. C. Helianthemum. Hab. Abbey Craig; abun-
dant.

VIOLA.

1. V. hirta. Hab. Blackford Hills.

2. l^. odorata, Hab. HiU, Stirling; abimdant. It
is not found in any other situation in this neigh-
bourhood.

3. V. palustris. Hab. King's Pai'k.

4. y. tricolor. Hab. Pastures ; common. Large
and beautiful varieties are found in great abund-r
ance in the King's Park.

COCHLEARIA.
]. C. officinalis. Hab. Banks of the Forth, Alloa.

Cx\RDAMINE.

1 . C. amara. Hab. Rivulet near Gartur.

2. C. praiensis. Hab. King's Knot, &c.; abundant.

3. C. hirsuta. Hab. Hill, Stirling ; abundant.

M

136

LIST OF PLANTS.

BARBAREA.
1. B. vulgaris. Hab, Woods, Blair DrmnmoDd.

NASTURTIUM.
1. N. officinale. Hab. Ditches, King's Park ; an
excellent salad.

BRASSICA.
1. B. Napus. Hab. HiU, Stirling.

FUMARIA.

1. F. capreolata. Hab. Near Doune.

2. F. claviculata. Hab. Ochils, near Lipna.

PAPAVER.

1. P. Argemone. Hab. Corn fields, Blair Drum-
mond.

2. P. cambricum. Hab. Blair Drummond.

CHELIDONIUM.
1. C.majus. Hab. Hill, Stirling ; rare.

NYMPH^A.
1. N. alba. Hab. Locli Watison.

NUPHAR.
1. N. lutea. Hab. Loch Watison.

BERBERIS.
1. B, vulgaris. Hab. Touch Hills; rai-e.

LIST OF PLANTS.

137

RANUNCULUS.

1. R. Lingua. Hab. Ditch near Tullyallan.

2. R. hederaceus. Hab. Ditch, Blair Drummond.

3. R. auricomus. Hab. King's Park.

4. R. hirsutus. Hab. Field, StirUng.

TROLLIUS.

1. T. europosus. Hab. Touch HUls.

CALTHA.

1. C.palustris. Hab. Banks of the Forth, &c.j
very common, in all its varieties.

PARNASSIA.
1. P.palustris. Hab. Sauchie Moors; abundant.

AQUILEGIA.
1. A. vulcjaris. Hab. Gowlan HUls, Stirling;
abundant.

MIMULUS.

1. M. luteus. Flora Americce Septentrionalis,
p. 426. Hab. Banks of the Forth betwixt the
Lime Ivilns, near Causeway Head. At a great
distance from gardens and perfectly naturalized.

PRINTED AT THE JOURNAL OFFICE,
STIRLING.

V