Note 65 — Chapter XXXII · MINERAL SPRINGS AND CHOICE OF SPA

Bickel in a series of experiments in which the acid contents as well as the total amount of gastric juice were considered obtained the following results: simple gaseous waters (Apollinaris, Giesshübl), muriated waters (Rakoczy spring of Kissingen, Wiesbaden, Kochbrunnen), and muriated alkaline waters (Ems, Selters), all of them, as compared to distilled water and ordinary tap water, rather increased than decreased the specific secretory activity of the gastric mucous membrane, whereas simple alkaline waters (Vichy) and sulphated alkaline waters (Karlsbad) had a slight tendency to diminish, and the sulphated “bitter” waters (Hunyadi Janos water) decidedly diminished, the gastric secretory activity, although “bitter” waters sometimes induced a watery flow from the gastric mucosa, which increased the fluid contents of the stomach.