Memoranda on Tours and Touraine Part 7

Its mineral waters were known to the Romans, and vestiges of ancient baths, coins etc. have frequently been found here. In the 14th century a monastery of the order of Celestins was founded at Vichy by Louis 2nd Duke of Bourbon, and in the following century, during the wars of the Praguerie this town was beseiged by Charles the 7th, and although fortified, taken by him in 1440.

Both Madame de Sevigne and the famous Flechier speak in the highest terms of the charms of this delightful place and vie with each other in its praise. It was visited in 1814 by the d.u.c.h.ess of Angouleme, since which it has rapidly risen into notice, and owing to the exertions of the inhabitants to accommodate the numbers who now flock to these justly celebrated waters, few towns offer more resources to the invalid than Vichy.

The names of the princ.i.p.al Baths are,

1st--The _Grande-Grille_, temperature 104 to 108 Fah:

2nd--The _Pet.i.t-Puits carre_, temp. 113 Fah:

3rd--The _Grande-Puits carre_, 113 Fah: which supplies the Baths.

These three springs are in the Bath house, under the gallery where persons taking the waters promenade.

4th--The _Pet.i.t-Boulet_, temp. 95 Fah:

5th--The _Gros-Boulet_ or the _Hopital_, temp. 99 Fah:

6th--The _source Lucas_, temp. 97

7th--The _Fontaine des Celestins_, temp. 74 Fah:

All situated in a neat building near the Allier, and at the foot of a mountain.

The following is an a.n.a.lysis of the _Grande-Grille_;--free carbonic acid, carbonate of Soda, carbonate of Lime, carbonate of Magnesia, muriate of Soda, sulphate of Soda, oxide of Iron and Silex.

The other Baths contain the same ingredients, but the proportions slightly differ; from all the water presents nearly the same appearance.

It is clear and colourless, and filled with a great quant.i.ty of bubbles rising continually to its surface: its taste is sharp and slightly acidulated.

The waters of Vichy are recommended in most chronic affections, particularly of the stomach, congestions of the liver and abdominal organs generally; haemorrhoids, leucorrhoea, engorgements and indurations of the uterus, ovaries, etc; colic, cramps and epigastric pains; disorders of the urinary organs, nervous and intermittent fevers of long standing. Having a tranquillizing effect upon the nervous system, they are peculiarly adapted to cases of hypochondriasis, neuralgia, ch.o.r.ea, etc.

The season at Vichy begins on the 13th of May, and finishes on the 20th of September, but precaution must be used in taking these waters during excessively hot or stormy weather. Their general effects upon the const.i.tution are said to be very a.n.a.logous to those of the celebrated waters of Carlsbad in Germany.

SAINT-ALBAN.

This small hamlet two leagues from Roanne on the left bank of the Loire, is much indebted to being situated in the vicinity of Lyon, for the celebrity the waters have attained, and still maintain. Those invalids who come for the purpose of drinking the waters will find good accommodation.

These mineral waters are pungent and acidulous to the taste, and very limpid, the presence of carbonic acid is perceptible every moment by the immense quant.i.ty of bubbles which break on the surface of the water.

Their temperature is 65 Fah:

Their a.n.a.lysis demonstrates the presence of nitrate of Lime, carbonate of Soda, sulphate of Lime, carbonate of Lime and oxide of Iron. Of the volatile principles carbonic acid gas predominates.

The waters are found very beneficial in almost all chronic diseases, they are taken chiefly in the spring, and are heated to be used as Baths.

COLD ACIDULOUS AND GASEOUS WATERS,

POUGUES.

Pougues is a small well built town, upon the high road leading from Paris to Lyons by Moulins; it is situated between Nevers and Charite-sur-Loire, in a fine rich valley a quarter of a league long. The air is very salubrious, and the neighbouring vineyards produce excellent wine.

The accommodations for visitors are on an extensive scale, and from its proximity to Nevers, every necessary of life can be readily obtained.

The waters of this place greatly resemble those of Spa and Seltzer; they are received into two fountains, called _Saint-Leger_ and _Saint-Marcel_ which are surrounded by a prettily laid out garden and a covered promenade.

The mineral waters of Pougues have been a.n.a.lyzed several times, but the preference is given to that of _Ha.s.senfratz_, who shows the presence of free carbonic acid, carbonate of Lime, carbonate of Soda, muriate of Soda, carbonate of Magnesia, Alum, Silex, and the oxide of Iron.

Monsieur le docteur Martin affirms that these waters are essentially tonic and purgative, that they are suitable in all cases of debility of the digestive organs, in affections of the liver and spleen, in inveterate jaundice, irregular menstruation, nephritic complaints, removing heat of the kidneys and bladder and in expelling gravel.

These waters may be beneficially taken in various forms of dyspepsia, proceeding from a sedentary life, from torpor of the bowels; etc; also by corpulent persons who indulge too much in the pleasures of the table, taking but little exercise; and in obstinate constipations as they invigorate the primae viae, and dislodge from them all acc.u.mulations and impurities.

From four to six gla.s.ses of the waters const.i.tute a dose, which should be taken fasting early in the morning; twenty or thirty days are considered necessary for a complete course.

SAINT-GALMIER.

A small village situated upon the side of a hill near de la Coyse, in the department of the Loire, and three leagues from Mont-Brison. Its mineral spring is called _Font-Forte_.

The water is limpid and has a very agreeable vinous flavour, there arise from the spring, large bubbles of air which sparkle at the surface of the water, the source of which is lost in the little Brook _Coua.s.se_.

The proportion of carbonic acid which the waters of Saint-Galmier contain is very considerable, one portion is found free, and the other combined with an alkaline base, which appears to be the carbonate of Soda a small trace of sulphate of Lime is also found.

The medical men who have observed the effects of these waters speak highly of their salutary action in chronic catarrhal diseases of old men, in calculous affections of the kidneys, and in Polysarcia, (Obesity).

They administer a pint in the morning for a dose, in lithontriptic complaints; it is commonly mixed with the wine drank at meals.

CHALYBEATE WATERS,

SAINT-HONORe.

Saint-Honore is a small town agreeably situated in the hills of Morvan, thirteen leagues from Nevers, eight from Autun, and four from Chateau-Chinon. The inhabitants of this district are remarkable for their stature and their robust and healthy const.i.tutions.

In ancient times the Baths of this place enjoyed great reputation. The Romans formed some magnificent establishments here, which have however long since disappeared.

Mr Vauquelin's a.n.a.lysis of these waters exhibits the presence of the carbonates of Lime, Iron, and Magnesia, and the subcarbonate of Lime, muriate of Soda, and some Silex. As also a quant.i.ty of imponderable sulphur, and vegeto-animal matter.

The ordinary temperature of the Baths is 70 Fah:

The waters are successfully employed in chronic diseases of the abdominal organs, spasmodic asthma, rheumatism and gout. Besides their internal use, they are advantageously applied, in common, vapour, and shower Baths.

Pa.s.sY.