Note 404 — ON AIRS, WATERS, AND PLACES.

It appears singular that Athenæus, who is undoubtedly a most learned and judicious authority on all matters relating to Dietetics, speaks as favorably of water from ice as he does of rain water. Both he praises for their lightness, (l. c.) Celsus gives the character of the different kinds of water with his characteristic terseness and accuracy: “Aqua levissima pluvialis est; deinde fontana; tum ex flumine; tum ex puteo: post hæc ex nive, aut glacie; gravior his ex lacu; gravissima ex palude,” (ii., 19.) Galen treats of the medicinal and dietetical properties of water in several of his works, and uniformly agrees with Hippocrates in the judgment he pronounces on them. See in particular, De Ptisana; De Sanit. tuend. ii.; Comment. ii. in Libr. de Ratione victus in Morb. acut.