alternator problems...help!!!

I have a question i hope somebody knows about this and can give me some advice...I took my car to get the clutch repaired and I finally got it back last sat. well saturday night as i was driving it the battery light in the car went on, and then i kept on driving it (smart me) and it finally left me stranded on the highway. Next day i was gonna take the battery to get recharged and found out that the mechanic place had switched out my new battery for an old one. I have asked several people if its possible that driving a bad battery can make my alternator burn up and go bad, some say it possible and some say its not.....anybody got any advice????? please reply to this!!!!! thankz
Silvia

it can ,and does happen,especialy if the battery has been filled with water and is not of the correct specific gravity,what happens is the alt, will supply charge as long as it thinks the batt,needs it ,in this case the batt won,t charge because there is no reaction inside batt.will cause alterator to supply to much voltage~overheat ,and BAM,one new alt.

thanx you!!