judicious kneading and rubbing of affected parts, form a powerful assistance here. The great advantage of proximity enjoyed by Aachen is in some measure counterbalanced by the less sociable habits of the valetudinarians, who are dispersed in the several hotels and private houses of the town. The association of the Cursaal and bath-houses, with adjoining extensive walks into the open fields of rural spas, is missing here. This must not be taken as depreciating the value of the spa. But it is important to direct your patient's attention to this circumstance, and to request him not to indulge in a secluded mode of living. You must remind him of the necessity of muscular exercise in the free air, connected with social intercourse, not only for a proper elabora- . tion of the water and for inhalation of a purer air, but for greater exhilaration of his spirits.

The very great influence of the mind on the body has been lately demonstrated in a highly interesting clinical lecture by Mr. Solly, of St. Thomas' Hospital, On Purulent Absorption.'(Lancet, March 15, 1851.) After premising that there has been a great tendency lately to a low form of gangrenous erysipelas, to carbuncles, and to unhealthy inflammations generally, to which several patients succumbed after trifling operations, he alludes to the observation, that when the vital forces retain their normal power, pus, mixed with blood, coagulates that fluid, and the wound in the vessel is sealed by a firm coagulum of blood while the healing process is going on; but if the vital power of the blood is diminished by disease, then this conservative coagulating action does not take place in time to plug the vessel and stop the poison at the threshold. The barrier which Nature in a state of health erects to prevent the flow of pus into the veins, is not set up, and the poisonous fluid is carried onward in the current of the circulation. After explaining how this barrier is not only interfered with by disease, but how it is sometimes broken down mechanically, if the limb is not kept at rest, so that the plug is not formed, and phlebitis induced by the generation of pus, he proceeds: There is another depressing agent, which I think has not been sufficiently insisted upon I mean anxiety of mind. I am quite sure that mental anxiety has carried more poor fellows to the grave than any single cause that the surgeon has to contend with. I have repeatedly and for a long series of years observed a connection between anxiety of mind and the formation of abscesses. I have also observed purulent absorption more frequent in patients who, to use their own phrase, have had "something on their minds."

This was certainly the case in the instance of two of the patients to whom I have adverted.'

However remarkable such an observation may be, it ought not to surprise us; for do we not see the best appetite or hunger suddenly checked or destroyed by the occurrence of sorrow or fear? Cheerfulness must be considered as a complete equilibrium of the mental state. The brain possesses then the greatest power, and imparts it by the nerves to the abdominal organs. Reparation of wasted substance proceeds vigorously, the necessary biliary and pancreatic liquids are added in proper time; healthy blood results, and provides the brain with a wholesome stimulus and nutriment. When care or sorrow, however, finds entrance into the mind, and the central power is suddenly depressed, the dependent abdominal nerves are unable to stimulate their subordinate muscles to the required motion. The contractions are therefore more feeble, the gastric juice less solvent, the admixture of digestive liquids less abundant or less timely, the separation of chyle from saburra less complete; hence absorption of bile into the blood, which becomes vitiated and feeble, and reacts again as an unfavourable stimulus on the brain, increasing the former evil. From this the popular but judicious rule not to eat in anger or grief, and to enjoy cheerful conversation during meals.

The cold chalybeate springs found at Aix-la-Chapelle are occasionally used as an after-cure, but they are of too little importance to require a detailed description. The one contains half, the other three-quarters of a grain of iron in sixteen ounces, no sulphuretted hydrogen, but some carbonic acid, besides other ingredients contained in the sulphur-springs.*

Amongst the physicians must be mentioned also Dr. Brandis and Dr. Kilian.

A very short distance to the south of Aix-la-Chapelle, on the declivity of a steep hill, Burtscheid (Borcette) is situated. The upper (warmer) springs contain no sulphuretted hydrogen, the lower (cooler) do. In other respects their contents are analogous to those of Aachen. One of the upper sources is the hottest in Germany, viz. the Mühlenbadquelle, which has a temperature of 62° Reaumur 171° Fahrenheit; the others have, respectively, 140°, 138°, and 111° Fahr. The promenade from Aachen to the drinking-well of Burtscheid is very pleasant. The Burtscheid waters are often used, alternately or conjointly, with those of Aix-la-Chapelle.

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* Excellent accommodation in Hotel Dremel and Hotel Nuellens.

LECTURE XVI.

PYRMONT-DRIBURG-SCHWALBACH-SPAA.

AFTER our deviation from Westphalia, we return to seek the celebrated chalybeate spring of Pyrmont. We alight at the Herford station, on the Deutz-Minden Railroad, and then proceed by the diligence through Uffeln, Lemgo, &c. to Pyrmont. The distance of seven German miles (about thirty-five English) is performed in seven hours. Herford station precedes the new saline spring of Oeynhausen, near the Rehme station, of which I shall treat on another occasion. Before, however, we enter into a description of the Westphalian steel spring let us consider the properties of chalybeate springs in general.

The steel-springs, chalybokrenæ (from xáλvy, steel, and Kрývη, cold spring), contain an excess of carbonic acid, which keeps the carbonate of protoxide of iron in solution. Whilst a small amount of iron is contained in most springs, those belonging to our present class possess the carbonate of iron as a predominating ingredient, either in a larger proportion, or in the absence of other powerful constituents. The iron generally prevents too lowering an effect being produced by other weakening ingredients -as, for instance, alkaline, saline, bitter-waters, &c. would produce too great atony of the intestinal mucous membrane; by constant provocation and stimulation of peristaltic action the necessary secretive and assimilative processes would be carried on with deficient tone and vigour, if the corrective presence of iron did not counteract this antiplastic tendency. The advantage of such a combination is frequently experienced by the ordinary administration of aperient extracts with lactate or sulphate of iron in the instance of chlorotic females, or of anæmic patients of our sex, especially if this sanguineous deficiency results from a lengthened sojourn in a tropical climate, as is shown by the admirable writings of Sir J. Ranald Martin. When iron forms the prevailing

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ingredient, it increases the plastic and stimulating tendency of the blood, and enables it to perform its multifarious functions with vigour. It appears that the less firm the attachment of the iron to its acid or halogen, the more readily it is assimilated. Thus, whilst sulphate of iron, for instance, might be supposed to permeate more easily into the circulating channels from its greater solubility, in reality the less soluble carbonate of iron more readily allows decomposition for chemico-vital combinations, when brought into contact with the blood in such a highly-dissolved state (through the excess of carbonic acid). And if we sometimes prefer sulphate of iron in pharmaceutic preparations, it is because we cannot introduce the carbonate with the diluting volatile gas. The noncarbonates seem to require more elaboration before they are allowed to mingle with the blood-globules. For their administration, stronger and less irritable digestive organs are required, as the vital heat seems first necessary to deoxidise the compounds before the iron can attach itself to the organic liquid.

If any tendency to congestion or inflammation exists, iron is of course contra-indicated, as it would increase this morbid disposition. The great importance of iron has been demonstrated by the above authority, who, when treating of tropical influence on Europeans, traced the petulance and peevishness of temper, the forgetfulness, inaptitude both for business and recreation, the headache, restlessness, anorexia, alvine obstruction-and even pain and stitches in the right hypochondriac region, with an accelerated but feeble pulse, and symptoms simulating hepatic affection-to an absence of the necessary proportion of iron in the blood, which had lost too much of its serum through the lengthened influence of the tropical sun, so that the overstimulated liver, kidneys, and skin lay in a comparative state of prostration. Apparently inflammatory phenomena (his acute anæmia') were cured in such invalids, not by depletion or weakening measures, but by steel, of course with proper regard to the function of the skin and abdominal organs. The additional light thrown on the nature of these diseases, and the almost certain relief procured by iron and other tonics, ought to induce us to regard with a particularly favourable eye the chalybeate springs which I am about to submit to your notice.

The town of Pyrmont is situated at an altitude of 404 feet above the level of the sea (latitude N. 52°, longitude E. 9°), in the Principality of Waldeck, on the left bank of the Weser. It is fourteen leagues distant from Hanover, three from Hameln, and six-and-a

quarter from Bückeburg. The valley in which the springs arise, within and near the town, is very fertile and abundantly provided with cornfields, whilst shady walks intersect the arable land. The environs witnessed the exploits of Arminius, Prince of the Cheruskians, and subsequently the battles fought between Charlemagne and the Saxons. The chief spring was formerly denominated the 'hylige Born' (fons sacer), and its immediate circuit the heilige Anger.' Though known from great antiquity, their reputation dates from the sixteenth century, especially after the termination of the Thirty Years' War. Upwards of 10,000 visitors are said to have resorted to the spa within four weeks, overcrowding all the adjoining villages and woods. The water was put into tubs, and sent to the expectant valetudinarians around the neighbourhood. In 1681 more than forty royal and princely personages were enumerated amongst the visitors.

Great luxury and convenience distinguish the baths and habitations. Numerous spots in the picturesque environs invite the visitors, as the Mühlenburg, Hünenburg, Gravingsberg, Wilde Schellenberg, with the ruins of Schell-Pyrmont, &c. The earthfalls near Holzhausen, a short distance from Pyrmont, are very remarkable. But the most curious phenomenon remains to be named-viz., the vapour-cave to the north-east of Pyrmont, where a constant evolution of carbonic-acid gas takes place, forming a permanent layer of from two to eight feet above the ground, mixed with some atmospheric air and a very small amount of sulphuretted hydrogen gas. According to Humboldt, 100 parts consist of 86.66 of air and of 13:33 of carbonic acid. The cave resembles the Grotto del Cane, near Naples, but the deviation of the magnetic-needle, observed there, was not noticed here. The layer of gas is smallest in winter and highest in summer, just before the appearance of a tempest. The mountains consist of stratified layers and alluvial land. Red sandstone forms the foundation, superposed and surrounded by marl, shell-lime, with the addition of alluvial layers of sand, clay, &c., whilst graniteblocks are sparingly met with here and there. Basalt is found about thirty miles from Pyrmont. The ferruginous drinkingspring (eisenhaltige Trinkquelle) arises in variegated sandstone at the beginning of the grand promenade of ancient lime-trees. The water is clear and sparkling-in taste agreeably acidulous, leaving an astringent sensation on the palate. The smell offers nothing peculiar, with the exception of an occasional odour of sulphuretted hydrogen over the surface of the water. Exposed to the air, a