The Cerelia springs well out of the grounds under the locality of Pradavena, a small, serene valley which sits 755 meters above sea level, near the village of Cereglio, province of Vergato (Bologna.) For more than half a century the local and neighbouring populations have used these springs for therapeutic purposes, as these waters have been repeatedly recommended by doctors in neighbouring areas. These doctors consistently affirm the benefts of the therapeutic effects of the waters of Pradavena for urinary diseases as well as for hepatic illnesses.

First and foremost, they have studied some elementary pharmalogical aspects of this water, paying particular attention to its power as a uric acid solvent. A series of related research projects has made it possible to carry out the following experiment: .02 grams of uric acid were dissolved in 100 cc. of Cerelia mineral water and in 100cc. of distilled water respectively. Each of the two samples was then divided into a series of 10 test tubes; the first test tube containing 1 cc. of solution, the second containing 2 cc. of solution, proceeding accordingly, so that the tenth test tube contained 10 cc. of solution. Each of the 10 test tubes was then filled to achieve an equal volume of 10 cc. using distilled water.

After letting these solutions sit for 5 hours at room temperature, it was noted that in the test tubes containing only distilled water and uric acid an opalescence was present beginning from the fourth test tube in the series and gradually increasing in notablity in accordance with the increasing uric acid content of each consecutive test tube. In contrasts to this, in all of the test tubes containing Cerelia the mixture remained perfectly transparent. Another like experiment was conducted as follows: Enough uric acid was dissolved into one liter of Cerelia mineral water to obtain a subtle torpor. The solution was then kept at room temperature for 24 hours. It was then noted that in order to obtain the same torpor in one liter of distilled water 240 mg. of uric acid was used-an amount approximately three times as great.

These results demonstrate the alkiline quality of Cerelia mineral water and the abundant presence of silica in its make up. Infact, it had been previously noted that silica is a powerful solvent of uric acid through the results of other in vitro experiments. Moving from these recent pharmalogical experiments to clinical observations, we have studied the therpeutic action of Cerelia water using a group of 14 subjects, all carriers of various chronic illnesses of the urinary apparatus. More precisely, present were 4 cases of nephrolithiasis, 1 case of lithiasis of the urethra, 6 cases of chronic cistis, 3 cases of secondary albuminuria and acute nephritis.

THERAPEUTIC
RESULTS

The 4 subjects suffering from nephrolithiasis responded favourably to treatment using this mineral water. Three of the subjects were middle-aged (from 40 to 50 years old) and had suffered up thorugh the recent past from colic of the kidneys accompanied by its typical symptoms. The fourth subject, 65 years old, had had a large colic removed from the kidney in 1949. At the start of the treatment conducted with this mineral water, in all four of the subjects lantent cases of nephrolithiasis were present accompanied by persistent lumbar pain, at times preceded by painful irradiation towards the pubis and testicle.

The subjects were Giordano test positive, their urine frequently cloudy, they had microscopic hematuria and numerous white globules in their urinary sediment, an average diuresis of 900-1000 per day. In the subject previously operated on excessive urination was also present (frequency of 10-12 times during the day and 2-3 times nightly.) In these four cases of lantent nephrolithiasis one noted as early as the first days of the hydroponic administration a considerable increase of water diuresis which increased the daily average to between 1500 and 1800 cc.; while the weight of the urine and uric excretion and chloride decreased. In the subject experiencing excessive urination the frequency of micturition returned to a rate almost standard (5-6 times per day and 1 time per night); further, the sediment demonstrated the disappearence of microscopic haematuria and a considerable diminution of white globules. The symptomology as well was favourably modified-the patients noticed a conspicuous decrease in lombardic unease.

Objectively speaking, the results of the Giordano test were found this time to be intensely positive. The case of the lithiasis of the urethra was that of a young woman (21 years old) from Monte Maggiore (Bologna) who had been complaining af pain on the right side of her body, especially after excessive physical work. On July 17, 1950 the subject experienced intense pain on the right side of the body, with irritations in front of the primary location and lower in the body, vomiting, a fever of 37.8 degrees Celsius, and her urine was reddish in color. The colic lasted for three days. From that time forth, she had complained of pain on her right side. The cystoscopy revealed expectoration of blood in the rear, on the right side there was a catheter and the medical probe easily penetrated and ascended until a length of 8 cm.

The urography taken on August 8, 1950 revealed the presence of a calcareous shadow with a strechted shape on the pelvis. The size was that of a bean, and it was situated a bit right of center-similar characteristically to a case of lithiasis of the urethra. The patient's average diurisis was 500-600 cc. per day. In her urine there were traces of albuminia and blood. The sediment contained an abbundant amount of leukocytes, some partialy degenerated, and numerous erythrocytes.