(From the Medico-Chirurgical Review.)
Geschichte von Karlsbad. Von Dr. Hlawaczek.—History of Carlsbad.
The learned author gives a most elaborate account of almost every work that has been published on these famous waters, since their discovery by the Emperor Charles IV. in the sixteenth century. His book is, in short, a catalogue raisonnée of the writings of his predecessors. The few practical observations contained in it may be thus stated:
The medicinal powers of the Carlsbad waters are the following:
1. They invigorate the primæ viæ, and dislodge from them all impurities and accumulations. Hence in various forms of dyspepsia, arising from a sedentary life, from torpor of the bowels, &c. they are especially useful; also in chronic jaundice, obstinate head-aches accompanied with constipation, &c.
With such patients the use of the Carlsbad waters often act as an emetic for the first day or two.—Corpulent indolent persons, who feed too much and take little exercise, are always benefitted.
In all obstructed and infarcted states of the abdominal viscera, the use of the Carlsbad waters may be recommended. Hence, in many cases of hypochondriasis and hæmorrhoids, they are beneficial: also in enlargements of the liver, spleen, and mesenteric glands.
In addition to these maladies, we may enumerate many cases of amenorrhœa and dysmenorrhœa—diseases which are so often dependent upon accumulations in the bowels and general torpor and plethora of the system.
2. The Carlsbad waters have the effect of freeing the blood of acrimonious particles, either by neutralising and discharging them out of the body, or by causing a metastasis and derivation of them to the joints or to the skin. Hence in various forms of internal gout and rheumatism, they are singularly useful; the disease being often drawn from the internal viscus which may happen to be affected to some outward part.
3. The Carlsbad waters cleanse the urinary passages of calculous deposits.