The First Class. Chalybeat Waters that contain a Nitrous Salt, and equal at least common Water in weight.

THE Salt of these Waters I conclude to be owing to the Soyle, because it is found to be of the same Nature, and has some Differences, but those being small, I omit, and forbear insisting upon them.

In the general Design of the use of Chalybeats, these Nitrous Waters are not so Effectual, and the more Nitrous the worse, by which I mean, the more Alkalisat; which is easily prov'd, by the early Precipitation of the Black, and the change towards a Green, which is the Effect of Alkalys with Ink, though at first they change the Blew Black into a Purple. The Characteristick Notes of these Waters, beside the weight, are, to drop the Inky colour they receive with Gall, to take a high colour with Lignum Nephriticum, and when the Water has stood to be effete, it will not precipitate Silver out of Spirit of Nitre. I have not found any of this kind so fully Nitrous or Alkalisat, as to trouble a Solution of Sublimate, much less to precipitate it Yellow, (both which indeed are inconsistent with Vitriols) nor any that bear a Salt of the Nature of Saltpetre.

A Water in a Field adjoyning to the Right Honourable the Earl of Manchester's Place, at Leez in Essex.

THis Spring is in a Gravel, and is so small as to be considerable, only in that it is in a breeding Pond. This Water disturbs not a Solution of Sublimate in fair Water, it render'd milky a Solution of Sal Saturni, by which it distinguish'd it self from Saltpetre, but yet not much more than Saltpetres second Salt does. With Lignum Nephriticum it gave a pale Yellow and not fine, exactly the colour of small Beer, which at four days end precipitated so as to leave just the top of the Liquor clear. The Water kept till it had lost its Spirit, and with that its power of striking black with Gall (which was 24 hours) essay'd with Gall, was thick and dirty white, which precipitated in the former Experiment, shewing an Affinity with common Salt, in this with Nitrous. It is much of the weight of common Water, and takes a blew black with Galls.

The Water at Witham in Essex, in Sir Edward Southcot's Ground.

WITH Gall a deep Purple turning to Ink, not very clear; and with Lignum Nephriticum a faint dull reddish. I judged this to have more of the nature of the Salt of common Water, and that the Spirit of this Water to be a little finer than the other sort, which give a direct Black with Gall, because distill'd Acids give this Red. The Red that Alkalys give turns greenish upon standing, these Waters are all inclin'd to the same.

The Chalybeat Water of Knarsborough in Yorkshire.

KNarsborough Water, as Dr. French relates, is of a Vitrioline Taste and Odour; The Water riseth in a moorish boggy Ground (within less than half a Mile from which, there is no considerable Ascent) and springeth directly up from the Sandy bottom. It is of the same weight with common Spring Water: The colour with Syrup of Violets is much the same as in the Chalybeat Waters at Islington and Hamstead; not so intense as in Tunbridge or the German Spa, as the Learned Dr. Tancred Robinson, my Informer, prov'd it at the Spring. And as this colour is not so deep as that made by Vitriols, so the residuous dark colour'd Earth, after Evaporation, was insipid. The pitch of the Volatility of the Spirituous part of this Water is observable, in that it tinctur'd with Powder of Galls at two days end, and suffer'd not by Warming, yet lost that Quality wholly in Distilling. Neither does this Water coagulate Milk: The Redness that this Water takes with Galls, is effected by spirituous or distill'd Acids, unmix'd with gross Salt, of the Soyle of a Forreign Nature, which would disturb the Colour; and the larger Proportion of the Acid to the Steel, or the very small quantity of the last may effect it. But the Quantity of the Acid Spirit must be judg'd here to be considerable. For the Nature of the Acidity, I have before distinguish'd it by the Effects, and so need here only observe it to be Vitrioline, or of the Nature of Spirit of Vitriol; which is Essential to the Precipitations.

Marks-Hall Water in Essex.

THIS Water joyning another in crusts, as do the rest, it is much the same with the preceding, containing little Steel, but a large share of an Acid not so Fugitive, as where it is in less quantity or ill coupled with a Salt: It gave a bright Red a very little purplish, not so deep as the preceding. The Colour it advanc'd with Gall, it lost again two days after, without Precipitation of any Ferrugineous parts, in which it differs from other Chalybeats. It rendred a Solution of Sal Saturni troubled, but not very milky, much as the rest; and it tinctur'd a high Yellow with Lignum Nephriticum as do Nitres, and a little clouded: It weigh'd likewise as the other, just the weight of common Water.

Ilmington Water in Warwickshire.

THIS Water of Ilmington being of the same heavy kind, and which (as I observe above) require less Accuracy, I shall give the Examination of it, out of Dr. Derham's Account of it: With Syrup of Violets it turned Green; with Galls Purple, like Martial Vitrioline Waters: It exceeded common Water in weight near half a Dram in a Pint, being weigh'd in a dry Season. Indeed it is much the heaviest of this kind in England, (for it purges not as he informs us p. 53. but by Urine.) However, That it cannot vie with the lighter Chalybeats in Virtue, I shall explain in treating of their Virtues.

The Water in an open Bottle drop'd its Ocre, and with that its power of Tinging with Galls in twelve hours time (that is) a great part of it, which it did not begin to do in a Bottle well stop'd under a Fortnight, p. 88.

It yielded a Salt of an irregular shape, upon the residue after distilling Acid Spirits, wrought with great Effervescence, and not Alkalysat, p. 82.

The Salt was pale, and would not flagrate, p. 60. nor coagulate Milk, p. 77. The Earth like Red Ocar, and is contain'd in great quantity, a Quart yielding near a Spoonsul.

It appears hence, that the Salt of this Water is of an Alkalisat Nature, and that it differs from the Salt of Fat, Mellow or Loamy Earths, which Purge, as we shall find in the latter part of this History.

Aylesham Water in the County of Norfolk.

THIS Water is in a Gravel, it has prevail'd in Fame and Resort over Oulton Water in the same County, which is a lighter and far more effectual Water, partly from the more convenient Situation of the place, and partly from the wrong Estimate that is made of Chalybeat Waters, by those that jndge of their Goodness by the depth of their Tinging with Galls. It is heavier a little than ordinary Gravel Water; with Galls or Oken leaves takes a blew black, and makes a direct Ink; as do those Waters whose Salt has somewhat of the Nature of common Salt.

That the Metalline parts of these Waters are purely Chalybeat, I inform'd my self not in all but in some, as that at Leez, and some other smaller ones, by exposing to the Air the subsident Okar, lightly calcin'd with Sea-salt, which would discover Copper if any were in it; and besides by the colour they give upon Tryals with Gall, the blew black colour being proper to Vitriol of Iron.

The lesser Springs of this kind are very numerous, in Gravelly Countries scarce a Village without one; upon the preceding Instances of them, I shall make Observation of their differences, and the Classes they must be reduc'd into, whereinto yet I did not adventure to digest them, lest in the Sense of others the difference should appear only gradual.

These weighty Waters are either, 1. the more pure and simple Acidulae, which bear less of the Steel; retain their Acidity longer, and have not their colour with Gall dark or disturb • d, as the other sort, nor contain any Salt collectible; of this sort seems Knaresborough, and (which is yet the higher of this kind) Marks hall Water, which gives a thin and bright Red with Gall, scarce beyond a Rasberry, and loseeh its quality of Tinging without Precipitation of Okar, is of a pleasing acid Taste, as it were winy, and yet gives not the proof with Lignum Nephriticum that Vitriols do, or Spirit of Salt, but thickish reddish and cloudy, as the Seminitrous Salt shot in Cellars.

Or 2ly Atramentous, which give a full Black with Gall, and with respect to the colour they give, they are either blewish or reddish; the reddish, as that at Wittham, kept a Week, will be thickish and turbid with Gall, but disturb not a Solution of fine Silver in Spirit of Nitre, which the Leez Water (which gives a blew black) being more related to common Salt, did in a great measure precipitate.

Another difference that is considerable in these Waters, is the bulk or quantity of Salt they contain, as the Illmington Water proves, which is not only much heavier than other Waters, but varies in its Effects, and equally to the grossness of the Salt, neither reaches the recesses of Nature so far, nor passes so well.

To obviate some Objections, I shall observe, that the Reason why these Waters, which are equally with the other sort capacitated to precipitate the earthly parts out of gravelly Water, are not likewise equally qualified with Lightness by the same Vitrioline Spirit, is, because the Salt of these Waters is so far Vitrioline, as to be apt to joyn a Chalybeat Acid and consist with it; but yet to be separated by Heat; and is in some small measure of Nature, the same with that which is an Ingredient in Vitriols; for the Liquor of Vitriols, if boyl'd with too great a Fire, will precipitate their Ferrugineous parts, which the Boylers cure by adding more Iron to it: And these Waters, after they have drop'd the Okar, and cease to tinge Galls, with Iron will become Atramentous again, the first Alteration being chiefly perform'd by the Mortification of the Esurine Salt by the Nitrous: For besides the Argument drawn from the not abiding of the Steel in these Waters, the Nitrous Nature of the Salt is conspicuous in its high colour it takes with Lignum Nephriticum which Vitriols give not; nor do the light Chalybeat Waters, that proceed from a Ground where the Soyl is Fat and Bituminous, as I observ'd that at Felstead to be, and which yields little or no Salt.

Of the Waters that are Light and purely Chalybeat.

I Have clear'd the Reason of the Lightness of these Waters, and with that have asserted the Nature of the Spirit to be Vitrioline; since all those Waters are found to be so, where these Incrustations are found. And as the weighty Waters take a full high yellow Tincture from Lignum Nephriticum, so this light sort take no slain with the same Wood, but retain their colour, only disturb'd with a light white Cloud flying in it. Lignum Nephriticum makes no alteration in a Solution of Vitriol, nor in Water sharpened with Oyl of Vitriol. These Waters do not well conserve their Virtue two hours, which yet will scarce be lost in ten days, if headed with Oyl. They all give a purplish Red with Galls, which, upon standing a while, turns to a purplish Black.

Tunbridge Water in Kent.

THIS Water gives a deep Green, with Syrup of Violets, as Vitriols do; and in the quantity of about seven Ounces and a quarter, weigh'd ten Grains lighter than a River-water near me, (which was lighter than Spring-water) and as much lighter than Rain-water, and about four Grains lighter than the German Spaw, to which it is preferable on that account. The Ground above and about this Spring, is a cemented Rock; and the Spring is large, of long use, and much celebrated and frequented.

Wellenborow VVater in Northampton-shire.

THIS Water weigh'd at the Spring eighteen Grains lighter than common Water, in a quantity of about twelve Ounces; with a few drops of Tincture of Logwood, gave a Black; with Syrup of Violets, a deep Green; with Syrup of Cloves, blackish; with Galls a Violet.

Islington VVater.

THIS Water, as the rest, makes no Alteration in a Solution of Sublimate, and with Sal Saturni dissolv'd in fair Water became milky a little, and a little curdled, and not clear as with a Saltpetre; with Lignum Nephriticum it remain'd pale, but clouded a little with a thickish dusky White, near a Rain-water, and weigh'd two Grains lighter than Tunbridge Water in the same quantity, which I thought might be owing to the difference of the Season.

Felstead VVater in Essex.

THIS Water lies in a Moor, the bottom whereof is a cemented Rock, the Earth where the Spring rises, is Fat and Bituminous, or Unctuous and very Ferrugineous, no Incrustation in the boggy Hole where the Water stands, but the Water that passes through the Meadow begins to incrust as it touches this Ground: It is of the same weight exactly with Tunbridge, it becomes milky with a Solution of Sal Saturni, and with Lignum Nephriticum suffer'd no stain, but only a milky cloud swimming in it. This is but a small Spring, scarce more than a Land-drain.

Of the Virtues of the Chalybeat VVaters.

THE Virtues of Steel are so very great and large, and in many cases so contrary, as not to be explain'd by what are grosly call'd the first, second or third Qualities; but to help us to a Notion of them, we must consider the Essence of this Mineral in its Affections, that are apparent. And thus we may conceive of it, as a hard body of the Mineral Kingdom, and so qualifi'd with Firmness, which is apt to enrich the Blood, being easily convertible into Fat or Sulphur, the nature of whose Sulphur, is to preserve Fluid Bodies, and the Temper of whose Acid Spirit, is such as raises, and yet restrains or rather adjusts the Fermentation of our Stomach, Soluble, Friendly to our Nature, and some-how Correspondent to the Mechanism of the Air we live in by its Magnetism; and then we may intelligibly add the more Simple, and other evident Qualities, as cooling, potential Heat, Drying, Balsamick or Healing Quality, &c. which I shall take notice of under these Heads, in these Waters.

1. They Invigorate the Blood and Juyces as a Chalybeat.

2. They Astringe.

3. They Incide and Attenuate by their Acidity.

4. The Acidity is Connatural, and agreeable to the Ferment of the Stomach, and other Offices, which these Waters promote.

5. On the same account, and partly in that it is Sulphurous, it is a Fraenum, or Curb, to Fermentations and Flatulencies, and performs more effectually what Oxycrate does in the Vapours in Women, and Spirit of Sulphur or Vitriol in Men, whence the Acid seems adjusted to the Temper of our Bodies, which can preserve the just Fermentations, as it destroys or reduces Exorbitant ones.

6. They depurate the Juyces of forreign or grosser parts, lodg'd with the Nourishment in the Body, as is evident in the Stone; which is but the same thing which they effect in gravelly Waters at their Springs.

7. The Acid being Spirituous, passes where other Medicines cannot, and so are Diuretick and Exterminate, and discharge the offensive Matter by Urine; and the rest it Volatilizes.

8. The Vehicle of this Mineral and Spirit, is not apt to Elasticity or Fermentation.

And on the account of these Qualifications, the Chalybeat Waters warm, strengthen, heal, open Obstructions, absterge, invigorate, and thus are capacitated to stop Fluxes of all sorts, and remove many Diseases, among which the Stone and Affectio Hypochondriaca stand at the Head.

But although all the sorts of Chalybeat Waters have some Qualifications in common, as to invigorate the Blood, and cleanse the Viscera; yet as they differ in their Salt, so likewise in their Virtues; which I shall particularly treat of.

The Virtues of the Acidulae. Which Name I would make proper to those Waters that are lightly Chalybeat.

THese have a fine Acidity, not collectible into a Salt, the residue upon Distilling, being an Insipid Ferrugineous Earth; and as I said before, give only a Claret red with Gall. That which is proper to this sort of the Chalybeat Waters, is, That they are free of any gross Salt, and have plenty of a Vitrioline Acid, with little of the body of the Steel, and that Acid more fix'd than in the light Chalybeats. In order to understand the Benefit of this, I shall observe that there are Cases that require a Water so qualifi'd, either on the Score of the Distemper, or Constitution of the Patient, such as we commonly call Complexion; in which a quantity of Steel may do more harm, than the Vitrioline Spirit can do good. And this must be allow'd me, to be in all Cases and Persons, where the Blood offends in quantity, Floridness and Fluxilness, by every one that observes the power Steel has to heat and invigorate the Blood in the Chlorosis. And when I consider the opposite Nature of Chalybeat Acids, and Nitrous Salts, as I observed before, I fansie I have a clear Reason for all this. One Case that the Body of Steel agrees not in, is that Indisposition of fresh-colour'd florid-complexion'd Persons, about the last grand Climacterick, as I call that of 49, who are liable to Fluxes of Blood, or great Tumultuations of it. It is very easie to discover the Alkalisat state of the Blood in aged Persons, by only tasting the Urine, which in those grows almost Caustick. The Diseases that this sort of Water is a peculiar in, are Apoplexies, Phrensies and Fluxes of Blood; and because the first of these is a Distemper that has strangely rag'd of late, and extraordinarily this last Winter, beyond what has been observ'd perhaps ever before, to explain the reason of it, so much as to give light to the Effect of these Waters, may be no unacceptable a Digression.

Of the Apoplexy.

THE Reason of an Apoplexy, and the Cause of so sudden a Deprivation of Life, that great Judge, the Prince of Physicians, Hippocrates, resolves into a Stagnation or Station of the Blood, whereby all Motion and Action of the Spirits is taken away; understanding the Blood to be Spirituous, and as not only supplying Matter to the Animal Spirits, but continually Cherishing and Preserving them in their Natural Disposition. And he supposes this Station of the Blood in an Apoplexy, to be in the Vessels of the Neck and Breast chiefly, and that its Motion is stop'd either by sharp Humours, or a Plethora, or an Afflux of cold Humours; the last of which he makes not so sudden.

The Sense of the Greeks and the Arabians, I shall give in the words of Avicenna, transcrib'd out of Joh. Jacob. Wepferus.

Apoplexia reddit membra sensa & motu carentia, propter angustiam afficientem ventriculos (seu medium & imum; utrumque enim vocabulum Arabicum significat) cerebri, & canales spiritus sensitivi & moventis. Et Paulo inferius: Angusta haec fit vel propter compressionem seu incubationem, vel repletionem, compressio autem, fit, si corripiatur eo quod ipsum, sc. cerebrum vel dolore afficit, vel laedit, seu molestia aliqua vexat, vel contrahit, seu constringit, sive sit qualitas ei adjuncta affixave celeriter spissans medicamentorum, sive frigus vehemens. Repletio autem est vel cum tumore, vel sine tumore. Repletio cum tumore est, si contineatur illic materia, occludatque partini extensione, partim repletione. Haecque est ex speciebus Apoplexiae gravissimae ac ejusdem notae, sive illa, sc. repletio à materia calida, sive frigida eveniat. Quae est sine Tumore, contingit vel à superfluitate in ipso cerebro, aut cavitatibus ejus, aut in propinquis canalibus spirituum ex cerebro; estque haec superfluitas humor sanguineus subito in ventriculos effusus, aut humor Phlegmaticus, atque haec, superfluitas nempe, est frequentior & Potior: vel accidit in canalibus Spirituum ad cerebrum, dum interdum Venae & Arteria ex vehementi repletione & abundantia sanguinis obstruuntur, nec Spiritus, sc. vitalis, transitum habet, noc cunctatur, seu cessat indignari, seu turgere & effervescere: acciditque hoc, quod in ligatura arteriarum duarum Carotidum, seu soporalium, cum amissione sensus & motus, contingit, & quando 〈◊〉 simile obtingit a causa Primitiva, seu interna, effectum eundem producit.

The Physicians for many Ages since then, in an Apoplexy, accus'd only the Straightness and Coarctation of the Ventricles of the Brain, distorting the Sense of the Ancients, and cherish'd their Opinion with the Fancy, that the Use of the Ventricles, was either to generate, or collect and distribute the Animal Spirits. But after that the Varolian Method in cutting the Brain began to be practis'd, the Ventricles were discharg'd from these Uses, by Platerus, Bauhi •• ▪ Spigelius, and others; but most happily by D. Caspar Hoffmannus, and had assign'd to them only the Office of Receptacles of the Excrements. Against him, the former Uses of them, the Famous Anatomist Joh. Riolanus fil. endeavour'd to maintain: The ground that his Argument proceeds upon is, That the Animal Spirit is made out of the Vital, and that this is deduced by the Carotid Arteries to the Basis of the Brain; and then that the Ventricles are aptly situate to this end, to receive and conveigh the Spirits into the fourth Ventricle as a Cistern, that thence they may be distributed into the Nerves. And so he carries it on, At Nervorum septem Conjugationes propagantur ab illis eminentiis quat •• r, quarum duae majores formant clauduntque latera Ventriculorum anteriorum; aliae duae constituunt latera quarti ventriculi, cujus tectum partesque anticas & posticas efformat duplex Scolicoidis Apophysis. And for the conveyance of the Blood thither, A reti mirabili numerosam sobolem ramorum arteriosorum, undequaque per durum matrem spargi, qui sanguinem suum depo • ant in sinum tertium: ab eo sinu depromi innumeros rivulos, qui sparsi per exteriores anfractus cerebri, roris instar, destillent sanguinem arteriosum superne deorsum: praeterea per torcular, venam magnam Galeni, seu sinum quartum sanguinem & Spiritus ad ventriculos deduci. But all this with a violent Strain to Reason and Anatomical Truth, much Indistinctness and Inconsistency with himself; What means the destilling of the Blood, the Sponginess of the Eminencies that conveigh the Spirits to the Nerves? The Spirits sometimes confin'd to the Ventricles; sometimes diffus'd to the whole Brain. What else is his allowing the Ventricles to receive the Excrementitious Moisture, which he had separated for a nobler use; his deriving the Blood into the Plexus Choroideus, from the Sinus quartus, with the pernicious Consequence that would attend it if it were so. With other slips of like nature, Et quie praeterea Spirituum Animalium opifex esset in corpore, ex minutissi • is venulis & arteriolis tenuissima membrana & exiguis glandulis composito? Vnde suppeteret mattria? Qua via distribuetur Spiritus in Nervos null • modo ipsi continuous, quibus sedibus includetur, ubi necessarium, huc illucve depromendus? But of the Office of the Ventricles, and Seat of Animal Spirits, we receive better Information from Ho •• mannus, who against him argues.

1. Ibi fit Spiritus ubi Actio. At vero in corpore fit. Corpus enim agit non accidens.

2. Spiritus si agere debet, oportet sub imperit anim • maneat, sc. in vasis.

3. Ventriculi cinguntur interius pia matre.

4. Ab exitu Spirituum in palatum.

5. Ventriculos cum Nervis non esse continuos, sed cum corpore.

6. Ventriculos habere aliud officium & incongr • um.

The Arguments are fairly laid down at large in Wepferus; and are nevertheless valid; though I see no reason altogether to be satisfied in the Uses here and generally assign'd the Ventricles, since as it is observ'd by that Curious Anatomist Dr. Ridley, no Water can be express'd from the Glandula Pituitaria, nor has it any aperture discoverable into the Palate, which confirms this, that he never found Water in the Infundibulum, either in the Sound or Unsound. For besides that, there is a Parity in the Reasons of the Use of them by him assign'd, or that well can be assign'd, the Vesicae found in the Ventricles of vertiginous Cattle, and the great quantity of Water, In puero integrè mentis munia obeunte, mention'd by Tulpius, and cited by the foresaid Author, evacuate the Nobility of their Office. And Galen, whose Notion in this Matter is not consistent, yet relates, Adolescentem Smyrnensem ad alterutrum ventriculorum usque vulneratum, semet oculato teste, superstitem permansissie. And again observes, In soporibus & Epilepsia ventres magis, corpus cerebri minus affici solet; in Apoplexia vero corpus magis. And this easie to be clear'd in the Formation of Brains of Brutes. Wepferus, by the help of Dissections, detects the Seat of this Disease in the Brain it self, considering the whole Compage in Contradistinction only to the ventricles, and asserts a true Apoplexy to be generated, Ab effuxu Spirituum totali ad instrumenta sensus & motus praepedito, quod fiet ob principii omnium Nervorum vel Obstructionem vel compressionem subito factam, unde denegatis Spiritibus Animalibus, quamvis abundent ••• les, Apoplexia sequitur. And this Stoppage, according to him, may be either at the Pores of the Medulla that admit the Arteries, or are open to them; or those through which they are distributed into the Nerves. This Hypothesis labours under many Difficulties, suggested both from Reason and Experience; for as it is necessary that the Seat of the Animal Spirits should be exempt from any forreign Intrusion, so Nature seems to have secur'd it, like the Palace of Princes, by previous passes. Neither does the Brain appear lyable to the Inconveniencies that other Secretory Glands are from their own Acidity, or Admission of less prepar'd or grosser Juyces, which procure their Obstructions. And accordingly we do not find, that a Colluvies of Serum, or a Scrumous Brain to have induc'd this Distemper: And even in that plainer case, which is allow'd, where an Apoplexy proceeds from a Plethora, and a Weakness of the Brain, I have always found some farther Explication necessary; as to account why so sudden, why not in all Ages and Seasons, and the like. And on the other hand, that the Brain cannot want a sufficient Afflux of Blood, Nature, as in other parts, so here, hath made provision, as by Anatomy appears. Our great Dr. Willis hath in my Judgment clear'd this Point, by two Instances, one of an Obstructed Artery, without an Impediment to the Course, or at least a sufficient Afflux of the Blood; The other of an Apoplexy, without any appearance of Obstruction or disorder in the Brain: And more closely tr • cing the Seat of this Distemper to the Origin • of Sense and Motion, hath fix'd it in the Medit • llium cerebri. And besides that, there is the Spring of Life, there is good reason to excuse the Cortical part, since Instances are frequent, in Authors unquestionable, of Portions of it taken out at Wounds of the Head, without any pernicious Consequence. And therefore whereas Dr. Cole is pleas'd to suppose, that the Seat of the Distemper, as where the Cause that influentially occasions the Defection of Natures due Actings first fixes it self; I do not see it essential to this Distemper, to be an Affection of this part; but with deference to that very Learned and Excellent Physician, must observe that the Enemy sometimes escapes this Secretion, without leaving any marks of its footing; and therefore am inclin'd with Dr. Willis to place it In aut prope cerebri Meditullium, upon the entrance of which it exerts its power. But if he pleases to consider the Cortical part as it is Secretory, and as it is first affected in a gradual or habitual Apoplexy, I think that must be allow'd. Dr. Willis then proceeds to induce a Profligation of the Spirits, to solve the sudden and light assault of this Distemper. An Apoplexy he distinguisheth into Accidental and Habitual, which he considers sine Procatarxi, or with an Antecedent Cause. The Causa conjuncta & proxima aut est magna Solutio continui alicubi intra aut prope cerebri meditullium contingens, propter quam, poris obstructis aut compressis, emanatio omnis supprimitur, vel est ingens as subita spirituum in Cerebro degentium profligatio aut extinctio. [Another Species that may be temporary, he supposes an Affection of the Cerebellum.] The Solutio continui is either from Blood, an Aposthem, or 3ly, a Serous Colluvies. The reason of an Extemporaneous Apoplexy, he assigns in the Conjunct Causae, In Paroxysmo materiam congestam in ambitu cerebri prius aggestam & dispersam demum in Meditullium ejus d • scendre, ibidemque spiritus omnes adoriri & in ipso emanationis suae fonte supprimere & prosternere, et si non plane constat, utrum illud efficiat aut medullae poros tantum infarciendo, aut Spiritus istos profligando iisque narcosin infligendo, verisimile utroque modo. His Procatarctic. Sanguis in vitio vel cerebrum in crasi imbecillum & secundum poros & meatus ejus laxum & solutum nimis, materiam morbificam absque repudio admittit. That happy Author, the above-mentioned Dr. Cole, in his Treatise occasion'd by the late Frequency of Apoplexies, by his Inquiry into the Materiae Morbificae indoles, hath not a little illustrated the Cause of this Distemper. His Sense, as I understand it, is this, From Observation made of the Weekly Bills of Mortality, he dates the Aera of their Increase from 1683. Upon which Substratum he naturally deduces the Cause of this Distemper from Cold, and observes that to account for it very well. In order to the understanding the Nature of Cold, he reduces the Notion of it to these Considerations.

1. That Sensible Qualities, though they are not among the general Affections of Matter, as Motion, Rest, Bulk, Figure, &c. yet are consequent to it, but determin'd by these, and associated to somewhat that has Perception.

2. As Cold makes an Impression on our Sensories, so it requires Motion; and it is not Motion simply, but consider'd with some adjunct, viz. Motion in such or such a Degree, and with relation to Sensitive Beings that constitutes Heat.

3. The Transmission of these Impressions to the Soul, requires a Motion in our Organs, but such a one as may keep up a due Crasis in both the Fluid and Consistent Substances, that make up the Organ for the performing the Functions appointed.

4. That these Congenial Motions seem not properly Objects of our Perception, but rather Instruments of Transmission of those others from without, which recede from these Degrees, or are otherwise Circumstantiated: Though these deflecting from their due Proportion, may, by affecting the Soul differently from what they use to do, excite her to take notice of them too.

5. That these mean Motions are to us a Standard of all others.

From all which, our Author deduces Cold to be a Check of that degree, which belongs to the Parts of, and Fluid Substances in our Sensories of Touching; and Heat to be an Acceleration; and the Bulk and Figure of the Bodies that cause either to be considerable. The Retardation which makes the Nature of Cold, may be occasion'd by increase of bulk and change of Figure, by Adhesion. 2 By altering the due Contexture of the Vessels. 3. If the affecting Bodies be of such a Figure and Texture as to be flexible. 4. By Interposing they may fill the Spaces, and may be the present Case. Now as Conical or Pyramidal Figures solve this Phaenomenon best, so he gives the Nitrous parts of the Air those Figures, from des Carte's Notion, and Lewenhook's Microscopical Autopsy. To enquire how our Bodies and Brain are affected by these, he observes the Air to affect as Liquors.

1. The Blood, into which it is admitted by the Stomach, by the Lungs and Pores of the Skin; and on which it operates partly by the Insinuation of its Elastical and other Irregular Particles, partly by the Interposition as well as Lancination of the Nitrous Ra • ous Parts, which promotes the Comminution of it, whereby the Crasis of it may be alter'd, if such Air be admitted as shall over-check this Agitation.

2. The Nervous Juyce, which he supposes lyable to Impressions, in some degree analogous to what are made on the Blood from Substances mix'd with it. He supposeth some of the admitted Substances of the Air may be deposited into the Nerves at their Original; or that it must communicate with the Blood, in receiving some of the Viscous parts produced in it by the Air; and that some more subtile Particles must be admitted through the Pores. To which the same worthy Author adds, That he conceives them in some due Proportion necessary to the due Spiritualization of this Juyce. Again, The solid parts are lyable to the same Inconvenience, and to retain them longer.

Lastly, The Brain may be affected not only by the Mediation of the Blood, but also by the Airs affecting the Mammillary Processes, or the Ears, or the Extremities of the Nerves in all parts of the Skin. And this pressure of the Air may be unequal, some part of it being mov'd with greater Violence, where is greater Dilatation, or a part kept warmer: And this Injury of Air, Tenderness and ill Digestion, through want of Exercise, makes the Body obnoxious too. And thus the Brain may suffer in that Continuity, due Confirmation and Repletion of its parts, wherein this Author supposes the tone of the parts to consist. So that in the Author's own words, as well as Sense, The part affected may either be the whole Brain, or any considerable part of it, and either the Cortical or Medullar, but especially (or at least first) the Cortical, from whence the disaffected Matter is transmitted to the parts of it which lye deeper, where the Animal Spirits principally exert themselves; the Nature of the Distemper to consist in the sudden Abolition of the due Excrasie and Distribution of th •• thence; the immediate Cause, most usually (when unavoidably fatal) an Effusion of Blood out of its Vessels upon the Substance of the Brain. Though I conceive (says he) a bare 〈◊〉 of the Arteries there may occasion it, as also may perhaps a Congestion of Viscous or Serous Matter, when it comes to a considerable degree, and becomes freshly excited; or else Polypous Concretions, or (if we can suppose it) any other obstructing Matter deposited in it, may at last produce it; and the Pre disposition of the Brain to it, to consist usually in the more than ordinary Laxity or Openness of it. And whatsoever either first causes a Congestion of Blood, or 2ly, otherwise so Indisposes it, that it cannot readily and duly circulate through its usual Vessels in the Brain; or 3ly, disaffects the Brain, whether by weakning its Tone, or altering the Figures of its passages, or straitning them too much, may occasion Apoplexies: And the greater Urgency or Violence of such antecedent Causes, may introduce a greater Frequency of them than ordinary.

Thus I have given the Notions of this Distemper distinctly, for these Reasons;

1. It sets the Distemper, as we do a Picture, in all Lights, to try which way we may see it best. And,

2. As it prepares to the understanding of Apoplexies, so in my further Inquiry, in many particulars, Repetition will be sav'd, and less intelligible Parentheses avoided.

3. We may, by this means, observe the Specifick Symptoms of this Distemper, and what hints they gave these Authors.

Information being not to be gain'd by Controversie, I shall not inspect the Particulars of these Accounts, in which they are not Satisfactory, as why, after that Frost, and not preceding ones, why the Aera should be then fix'd, and yet the Increase began long before. Why the Head should be affected, and not other parts rather; it being necessary to account for the Reason, why Air afflicts one part particularly, as we see the Fauces and Throat at the Alps, the Lungs at Rome. So likewise of the Changes of the Distempers which are temporary, and many other things; but shall offer some Observations, which I submit to the Judgment of the last cited Author and others, which, if approv'd, give a more natural account, and may carry on the Inquiries; and they are such as answer two Questions or Inquiries.

1. Of the Reason of the sudden and accidental Death.

2. That may inform us of the Indoles of the Morbifick Matter, and how much is observable in the Air that can answer for this.

My Notion, as to the first of these, is deduced from these Considerations.

1. That the Motion of the Blood is necessary to Life.

2. That this is owing to Respiration.

3. That Respiration is necessary to Life.

4. Both Motion of the Blood, and Necessity of Respiration, consist in the Elasticity of the Air.

5. I observe, that besides the Atmospherical Air, that is exhausted by a Pneumatick Engine, there is a finer Elastick Air or Matter contain'd in this Atmospheric Air, which in an exhausted Receiver hindred the parting of the Marbles, which is Elastick too, the pressure being ad modum, or in Proportion to the force that is capable to separate the cohering Bodies, and may be surmounted by a force superi ••• to it.

6. There seems to be a Nitre in the Air, necessary to maintain and share in produci • the Elasticity of the grosser Atmosphere, which being consum'd, an Animal dies.

7. There are certain Termini & fines of the Tenuity and Grossness of the Air, on this side of which, or beyond, the Air becomes 〈◊〉 for the Respitation of Animals. Thus Fish that die in an open Air, yet are choak'd for want of it, if a Pond Freeze; and accordingly are provided with Pipes, that strain the 〈◊〉 Matter, and are stronger, and not lyable to the Inconvenience from the force and weight of the Water. And lastly, as the Matter drawn is finer, so there is no need of the Contraction and Opening, or Conquassation of the Air, to get the Matter out they want, which is strain'd by the Water.

8. I observe, that Animals which have a Crasis of Blood, to which less Nitre is requisite, as they can be long without Food, so can live a considerable time without Air, as Tortoises, Adders, &c. and therefore have membranous Lungs, in which no more Blood circulates, than is required for their Nourishment, and so not the whole Blood, as in those that have fleshy Lungs.

9. This Elasticity is requisite to Life, as it keeps in a Springy Motion, and so Life ceases, either upon a Stoppage of the Air Externally, as in a Glass, or Internally, as we see is the Effect of Damps, which by some, and those great Men, have, by mistake, been conceiv'd to contain Poysonous Matter, and to perform it on that account, but the contrary is evident, since in Pump-wells the Water is wholsome, and a new built House, from the Lime and Mortar, shall have the same.

10. On the same Reason, Animals dye in the exhausted Receiver, upon the unbending the Spring, by Exhaustion. And it is worthy remark, that Animals taken out before expiring, are not recover'd by admission of the Air, which affects not soon enough the lesser or remoter Springyness. Acad. del cimento.

11. That the Parts and Juyces of Animals are Elastick, appears to me asserted in the Experiments of the Honourable Mr. Boyle.

12. That Air is admitted to the Blood, I need no other Argument, but that the Blood continues to follow upon Bleeding.

13. That the Air is not admitted to the Brain and Nerves, or to any of the Specifick Juyce of the Animal, I argue again from the like reason.

From all which I deduce, that an Apoplexy is produced by the admission of Air, or Elastick Parts, to the Medulla or Corpus Callosum of the Brain And that this Air and Lethiserous parts are admitted by the Mouth, and so by the way of the Stomach, appears plainly, in that the Fits usually seize immediately upon plentiful Feeding. For the Glutinous parts of the Chyle are a fit Vehicle, as being, if ill concocted, Flatulent and Elastick, as I shall farther demonstrate, when I come to the Affectio Hypochondriaca.

And I must take notice of the Consistency of this Notion, which is confirm'd by that Affection so often passing into this Distemper.

That this sudden Death comes not from the other Causes I named, is evident from many Reasons, which I have not room here for: The most difficult Phoenomenon to be solv'd, that appears to me, is the Apoplexy seizing Faemellae upon the difficulty of Eruption of the Catamenia, at the second Septenary. To which we can only say, that the Plethora is apparent, and the Weakness of the Brain, though we see not how the Brain, and Genus Nervosum, is concern'd in this, nor know its Motion; for I allow the antecedent Causes of a Turgid Blood, and a weak Brain, to have place in this Distemper. This my Hypothesis, I think, naturally consequent to the just Notions of the Air and Brain, and well accounts for the Spuma at the Nostrils and Mouth, and for the Difficulty of Breathing, or Cessation of Respiration attended with an entire Pulse, which thus may be carried on, and the main Design of Respiration cease. This gives the reason of the Distention of the Lungs in the Apoplectick that is mention'd by Wepferus, if the Elasticity of the Internal parts of the Lungs, can but be supposed to do the same that the removing of the Incumbent Atmosphere in an exhausted Receiver did on some Animals, in which the Academy del Cimento observ'd the Lungs to swell, and to Forth at the Mouth: And thus we may solve the Difficulty observ'd by the Ancients, why this Distemper affects only the Chest or Breast. The only thing that we want to be satisfied of is, secondly, what that is in the Air that induces this Distemper now to be so rise, whence we may come at the Indoles materiae morbisicae. And that I may not enter into that vast Field, of the Cause of Seasons, and the like Effects, which are taken into the Hand of God's particular Providence to manage, I shall confine my self to be guided by these few Remarks:

1. That no Affections of the Air, or Qualities in it, depend on any Mixture of Mineral Vapours, because they precipitate immediately; neither do we find the places where are large Eruptions of them, any whit Sicklier, or affected, otherwise than other places: And then, all Distempers are otherwise Solvable.

2. That the Qualities of the Air, that affect our Bodies, consist not in, nor always with; those that may be supposed to belong to the grosser Air of our Atmosphere. I have known Animals frequent some Years in a hard Frost, which would be suppos'd to be pernicious to them; and not only my self, but that most extraordinary Naturalist, and universally great Man, and my honoured Friend, Mr. Ray, hath observed, that some Years the hardest Frost hath not hindred the Papilio's from coming out of their Chrysitis, which in some mild Springs, shall not be found abroad so soon. This is the more fit Instance to prove what I say, must be acknowledged by any that have observed the necessity of Heat, and how much it contributes to the Production of this Change.

3. That there are some Qualities in the Air always, which are owing to the parts more intimately mix'd with it, than is the Nitre, that affects us with Cold, and which passeth where the grosser is not admitted. This is observable in the Effects it has on Liquors, which the Managers of them are forced to have recourse to, for the reason of the Disposition to ferment, or fret, or Incapacity of either, Acidity and the like. All which some Years, Liquors, especially Cyder, is propense to, be the Weather what it will.

4. That Heat and Cold, Wetness or Dryness of Seasons, assist in inflicting a Disease, as they may help admit these Particles.

5. That I have observ'd these Qualities of the Air to be Temporary, and the Diseases effected by the Air to be so too, and that in their Continuation and Variation they usually observe the Direction of both Causes, the Nature of the Humour in succeeding Distempers being usually traceable, as the Variation of it is likewise accountable.

Now although I can by no means maintain, that the Hypothesis of that Learned and Ingenious Man, agrees with the Rise and Continuance of this Distemper, or is sufficient to explicate it, nor can answer for the Non-appearance of the Distemper before upon the same occasion. Yet that it was a fair offer at the Truth, and affords a good hint, is remarkably to be taken notice of, in that this Winter, in which more have died Apoplectick, and that in the Country, than ever was taken notice in Man's Memory, or deliver'd to have been in any Age; I say that this Winter should be, though not the hardest, yet remarkably long, does seem to make the Nitrous Air a sharer in the Cause. But as I except against the Explication of this Distemper, by bare Obstruction or Stagnation from Cold, as not sufficient, so I come now to inquire, what farther knowledge of this the Air will afford us, assisted by the preceding Considerations, and to see how they answer here, and how far the Footsteps and Changes are discoverable. And as Truth is not surely to be laid hold on, but when pursued by a natural Method, so I wave all Hypothesis, and only propose this Maxim or Rule to direct me, which I take to be too necessary a Deduction, to be deem'd a begging of the Principle. The Air that is productive of a Distemper, must produce some other Effects in differing or less prepar'd Constitutions, and not hit only where it can fully execute; and the Disposition, Particles, or Qualities of the Air may reasonably be inquir'd of these Effects, as Prints of its footing.

The Diseases then that have been inflicted by the Air this Winter, have been Feavers [which I shall say nothing more of, than that the Heat was gentle, that they were Putrid, and had putrid Pains in the Sides and Limbs, and that they affected the Head] or ulcerating Colds, so I name them, being of two sorts, the first violent Fluxes of the Alvus, and Catamenia, the other Ophthalmys, which wore off in three weeks time by Suppuration. And lastly, The Small Pox, which appears here a mixture of the preceding Distempers, or Qualities in the Air; for the Air here gives these remarkable Dispositions, 1. to Corrode, 2. to attenuating, whereby the parts seem to pierce to the Eyes and Bowels. 3. To Flatulency, all which include a tendency to flow. Which Qualities, as with many reasons I concluded to be Nitrous, so Vitriols mortified or resisted; and even those Fluxes of the Catamenia, which in another reason Steel is observ'd to raise and increase, submitted only to the force of the same Mineral; which I was directed to by some further Observation of the Air, which is too long for this Discourse: Though the increase of some Fluxes of this kind, upon the taking Sal Prunellae, which usually gives a present check, is enough to advance such a Hint. The last Year, viz. 1697. entred attended with a particular sort of Colds, that induc'd an irregular Feaverishness; with milinary Pimples spreading upon some particular places of the Body, so close and so small, as to resemble a stain of Claret or other Scarlet Liquor; which superceded by Tumour of other parts, and Sickness, in some prov'd Mortal. At the same time another Distemper was found invading, though Sparsim only, which began about the Michaelmas preceding, and continued to the middle of the last Year, which first invaded the Patient with want of Rest only, and unaptness of the Brain for it, wherein the Patient that was entirely well up, and had no complaint, but upon lying down and disposure to slumber, was sensible of such Distraction and Uneasiness of the Head, as oblig'd him to fly up immediately. This Distemper continuing, brought a Cough without raising, and a sort of an Icteritia, with Shortness of Breath, and frequent and sudden Apprehensions of a Deliquium. The Year 1696 enter'd with the same sort of Colds, and with the Spring brought Epileptick Distempers, which wore off with Scabbiness; and many People, Young and Old, were surpriz'd with Vertigo's; and others with Tumours in the Throats, and corroding Ulcers, curable by Astringents only that were Vitrioline. In 1695 Deliriums were frequent. In 1694 Feavers that seem'd to have their Seat in the Glands, and were attended with great Acidity of the Saliva or Liquor of the Tonsillae. And from three Years before reign'd Nervous Rheumatisms, a Distemper very unusual, from the acuteness of the Pain; the mortal Consequence of them, and the puffiness of the Tumours, very remarkable: This Disease hath continued hitherto, but abating.

I engage not my self to solve or account for all these Changes of Diseases, or the reason of them; it is sufficient that none of these Cases were attended with any apparent Feaver, the Matter was in all seated in the Membranes, the part affected in all was puffy, the Distempers frequently chang'd one into another, affected the Head and Nerves, cur'd by the same means, which were Vitriolick, and were admitted by a wet Constitution of the Air. So without making inquiry into the Origine and Commencement of this Disposition, and Reason of it, it is sufficient that I illustrate the Seat and Nature of this Distemper, and I think I must be allow'd that these Diseases proceeded from the same common Cause and Humour, and were transferrible into each other, and have liberty to conclude first, That this Peccant Humour was seated in the Membranes. 2. That it was flatulent, and had a flatulent Acidity. 3. That the Matter was Nitrous. Neither think I my self oblig • d, to account for the Determination of the Seat of this Humour, or the reason of taking Cold, but shall from the evident Causes, Matter and Seat of it, inferr,

That an Apoplexy is a sudden Deprivation of Life, by admission of Airy Elastick Parts into the Caudex Cerebri, together with Thick and Turgid Chyle, and is owing to a Corrosive Nitrosity and Fluor of the Blood, and Weakness of the Vessels, or containing Parts of the Caudex effected by Cold, the way being firs forced in the anterior part of the Cortex.

I think this a sufficient Notion of it as a Disease, but contradict not the difference that must be made of Apoplexies inflicted by Force, as Drinking, &c. or gradual ones.

Having thus fix'd the Nature of the Distemper, the Intentions of Cure are drawn from the Morbid Dispositions, which are,

1. Nitrosity of the Blood, which indeed is the Reason it is so very Florid in Apoplexies; and to this is owing its Fluidity.

2. The Weakness of the Vessels from Cold received by them, and by this I understand a Clog of a disabled Serum, considering the Nature of Cold in gross, as separating the Juyces, and so mortifying them, as to put them past Reduction.

3. The Exorbitancy of Chyle, that maintains and conveighs Elastick Flatulent Parts.

All which indicate the Astriction, and other Qualities I observ'd before to be in Vitrioline Waters, and the Requisites that capacitate them for all this, are in full Virtue only found in this • pecies; where the Astriction is strongest, and the quantity of Steel not so considerable, as to increase the Heat or Turgency of the Blood, in both which this kind exceed the other two; though I cannot but judge, that a Premission of the thin light sort, may in some cases assist in more effectual preparatory Cleansing the Brain, and be very properly directed to precede. Indeed the Hypochondriaca Affectio does so often dispose to this Distemper, that as it will confirm much this Account, so will much recommend this Method. It does not belong to this History, to deliver an entire Process or Method of Cure, nor am I so opinionated of my own Ability, as to prescribe it to others of my Faculty; yet because this Discourse may come into other Mens hands, that may judge this Digression Fruitless, without some Improvement of it, I shall, for the sake of the Fury and Suddenness of this Distemper, give some Observations of mine, that may help to occurr or prevent it, or assist, at least, in shortning the Process, and fit it for an Extemporany Occasion. And though as Cases may much differ, so a Plethora Sanguinis, Colluvies Serosa, or Viscous Phlegm, Obstruction of the Catamenia, and the like, is to be consulted when they are in the Cause; yet the checking the Fury of the Blood, as well as clearing the passages to the Brain, is best performsd by Chalybeats, and to more good Effect, than by Bleeding, &c. and differ not so much in the Cure, as they seem to do in the Cause; and my Observations I shall deliver briefly thus.

1. That for Prevention (besides the removing any known Cause or Occasion) the best Deobstruents are such as joyn and mix with the Matter they are to exterminate; of this sort is Sapo venet, and Vrines humane, or perhaps of other Animals; and these to be promoted to the use of Chalybeat Astringents, where these Waters claim their place. Only I must mind the Reader, that if such a Relaxation of the Vessels of the Brain attend it, as appears by preceding vertiginous Warnings, I must after the use of the Waters, dismiss the Patient to Mr. Boyle's Ens, which in the preceding Distempers of the Membranes of the Brain, I have experienc'd to be most Effectual.

2. As the other Method is to prevent and restore, so for the present Relief in the Assault, Emeticks and Catharticks usually distinguish themselves: The other general and particular Evacuations fall not under my Cognizance, writing a System being not my design, yet Sternutatories must not escape my Reflection, which I have ever observed to hasten the approaching Death, to which the Nature, as well as the Violence of the Motion made by Sneezing, dispose them; and are fit only to put the Patient past Remedy with speed. And as this Monition is necessary here, so a due Caution about Diet, which forbids eating Pork, or Eggs, 〈◊〉 Meat of thick, high and flatulent Nourishment, is necessary to be observ'd with respect to Prevention. Other Particulars that regard the Constitution of the Patient, or Predisposition to this Distemper that the Physician is to judge of, lye not here before me. Thus much as to the Apoplexy.

There are many other Distempers, wherein a Water of this kind is peculiarly proper to master and remove flatulent and viscous Matter, and to curb the Turgescence of a florid Blood, as in the Cephalick Disorders of Elder Women, &c. and that I may not proceed upon Suggestions of Reason only, I shall recite the Virtues of Knaresborow Water from the Observation of Dr. French, in his words.

This Water Cools and Moistens actually, Heats and Dries potentially, and according to other Qualities, second and third, it cuts, dissolves, attenuates, abstergeth, viscous tartarous Humours in the Stomach, Mesentery, Hypochondries, Reins, Bladder, &c. Penetrates, Corroborates, Astringeth, &c. It allays all acid, gnawing and hot Humours, and Cures all such Symptoms as proceed from thence, as Agues, Consumptions, Quinsies, Tumours, Imposthumes, Ulcers, Wounds; it stops Bleeding, the Over-flowing of Choller, the Dissentery, and such like Fluxes.

It Corroborates the Brain, Nerves, &c. and prevents or cures the Apoplexy, Epilepsie, Palsie, Vertigo, Inveterate Headach, and Madness; and all such Symptoms as proceed from the Weakness, Coldness, Heat, Dryness or Moisture of the same.

It Corroborates the Stomach, and causeth good Digestion, consumes Crudities, which are the Causes of Obstructions, and breed ill Blood and infirm Flesh, or an ill habit of Body; it maketh the Fat Lean, and the Lean Fleshy; cureth and preventeth the Cholick and Worms.

It strengthneth and openeth the Lungs, Liver, Spleen, Mesentery, and cureth difficulty of Breathing, the Asthma, the Dropsie, Melancholly and fearful Passions, Hypochondriacal Wind and Vapours (offending the Head and Heart) which most Women and many Men are afflicted withall. It doth also upon this account chear the Heart, cure and prevent the Palpitations and Passions thereof, as also all Faintings.

It purifieth the Blood, cures the Scurvy, even in those whose Teeth are ready to drop out of their Heads, by reason of the Extremity thereof; also the Foul Venereal Disease, Leprosie, Jaundies Yellow and Black, and for the more perfect effecting of these Cures, it doth in many open the Haemorrhoids.

It provoketh Urine, and cureth the Suppression, and allays the Sharpness thereof; 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 it diminisheth the Stone in the Bladder, by dissolving the soft Superficial parts thereof, and evacuating that mucous slimy Water in which it is involved, and by this means also it prepares it for Cutting, for sometimes this Stone cannot be felt, by reason of that slimy Mucous, which Mucous it self doth also sometimes, by its Torments, counterfeit the Stone, where it is collected in a great quantity, being of an acid tartarous Nature. It forceth out from the Kidneys and Bladder abundance of Sand and small Stones to a great number, and sometimes such as are as big and as long as long Pepper. And as it cures all Ulcers and Wounds in the Body, so especially, and much sooner, in the Reins and Bladder; suppressing also the Pissing of Blood, and the Gonorrhaea.

It cures the Gout, Aches, Cramp, Convulsion in what part of the Body soever, and giveth ease therein suddenly.

It openeth all Obstructions, and suppresseth all manner of Over-flowings in Women, strengthneth, cureth the Mother, maketh the Barren Fruitful, and is a great Preventative against Miscarryings, and rectifies most Infirmities of the Vterus.

Note, That this Water doth not help all parts, cure all these Infirmities, after one and the same manner, some being reliev'd by consent, or by removing Obstructions of other parts. It is also used by way of Insession in Griefs of the Womb, and by way of Injection into that, as also into the Bowels and Bladder, where all the Qualities act immediately upon those parts; allay the sharp and hot Distempers, mitigate the Pains thereof, Healing and Corroborating the same.

It may moreover be used by way of Fomentation and Losson in external Wounds, Ulcers, Itch or Scabs, and being drop'd into Sore Eyes wonderfully cooleth, dryeth and cleareth the same.

In a word, If any Intentions in a Medicinal way, be to be perform'd by allaying Distempers, opening Obstructions, evacuating superfluous Morbifick Humours, and Corroborating all the parts of the Body, those are effected in a very good measure, if not fully and perfectly, by this Water.

And I my self have seen many of the aforenam'd Diseases cured by the help thereof; and for other Cures effected thereby, I have been assur'd by them themselves who receiv'd the Benefit, or by others who have been Eyewitnesses of the same. Thus far Dr. French.

To the right understanding and due use of all which, I shall observe, That the Cure of the Foul Disease can be suppos'd to be put partial; unless that Distemper be taken in a less strict Sense; and passing the Notion of Diminishing the Stone, which I had rather express by the preventing the increase of its growth, I shall for the fixing Experience right, make this Remark, which may be usefully apply'd to all the Waters,☞ which is, That in some Distempers (as Dropsie, Convulsions, Jaundies and Gout) constant Success and entire Cure is not to be expected, without regard to the State of the Disease, the Age and Firmness of it, the Cause of it, and the Distempers complicated with it. Thus a Dropsie may not submit to this Remedy, not only from the Firmness of the Obstruction, but also from the Constitution and Laxity of the Patient, from the nature of the Disease, (which I have observ'd sometimes to be from a Weakness of the Membranes, by Flatulent Matter contain'd in them) or from the Disease inducing it. Convulsions here have remedy only adequated to the Cause, be it a flatulent putrid Matter (which usually gives the Distemper the Denomination of Worms, from the effect of it,) or be it from Melancholy Hypoch. and Vapours Hysterical: But if seated in the Brain, or supervening an Ague, or in a cold Constitution, I think here can scarce have a proper Remedy. So the Jaundies I acknowledge have been often cur'd by these Waters, and some of the Purging ones, when it ow'd its Rise to an Obstruction of the Catamenia, a Clog of Phlegm, or uncocted Chyle, or Melancholy, but I must not allow these, or any Waters, to cure this Disease de Essentia. I think this Caution necessary to the understanding the proper Use of these and all Waters, which by the help of this may be distinctly known, and is of the greater Importance, since upon many accounts Empirical Use of these, and all other Remedies, is found to be of Fatal Consequence.

The Virtues of the Atramentous Waters.

THese Waters, though they have the same Virtues with other Chalybeat Waters in some degree, and create an Appetite, and wash the Viscera, yet penetrate not so far, open not Obstructions so well, but are apt to raise a Heat in the Blood, disagreeing to the design'd Effect, have not that Acidity, nor calm Astringence. These inrich the Blood, and where that is necessary, and Obstructions remote do not contraindicate, may happily be us'd; and in the Stone are Competitors with others. Agricola concludes these Effects, as in common with other Vitrioline Waters. To cure Corroding Ulcers, Ulcers of the Bladder and Kidneys, in the Mouth, Weakness of the Nerves, a weak Stomach they help: And they may be used Internally and Externally. But in Gout, Stone, or in Obstruction of the Glands, and smaller Vessels, are not to be used without Danger or Inconvenience, so not in Hypochondriacal Cases. These are valuable in proportion, as they are rich of Steel, keep it long, and have little bulk of Salt.

The Virtues of the Light Chalybeat Waters.

THE Extraordinary Virtue of this sort consists in, that as the Chalybeat Principles are in these most clean, so the Spirit most thin, and the Water both light and thin. And so we have their Virtues not only most full here, but somewhat differing: They invigorate the Blood without Heating, penetrate farther without Inconvenience, Volatilize, Attenuate more, and their Acidity goes off without leaving impression behind it preternatural. Thus as the heavy Waters that contain less of the Steel, and whose Acidity is of a more fix'd Nature, have a peculiarity of Astringing without Heating; so this sort are extraordinarily qualify'd for opening Obstructions, but seem not to have the same power of Astringing in an equal degree: And on this account they do not mortifie a Scorbutick, Leprous Humour or Itch so well, nor are so powerful to stop Fluxes of Blood. I think fit to observe these different Effects, which being remark'd, I refer the Reader for the reputed Virtues of these Chalybeats, to the Virtues of the Knaresborow Water. I shall therefore pass on to examine what Obstructions they remove, which I shall do, by exhibiting only Histories of my own Observation; and from thence further to enlighten the use of them.

Among the Cures of this kind, none is more familiar than that of the Stone, by removing the Disposition to the Generation of it, and restoring a good habit, as well to the whole Body, as to the parts immediately concern'd. And although this Cure is perform'd by a timely Precipitation of the earthy parts out of the Latex and Juyces of the parts, and restoring their natures; and so is owing to the Qualities that these Chalybeat Waters seem to enjoy in common; yet the fineness and penetration of this sort of them, must be allow'd an extraordinary Qualification.

But the Obstructions that I principally intend here, are such as yield to no other Remedy, so constantly at least; and whose fatal Consequence gives these Waters an inestimable value. Of this sort, I reckon first an Obstruction of the Glands of the Mesentery; wherein, beside the sign of Chylous Excrements, and rejection of Food an hour or two after eating, the Patient complains not of want of Appetite, discernable Feaver, or pain, or other disorder, till Feaver, Cough, and want of Rest (which last often precedes) proceed with the Emaciation upon the continuance of this Disease. Of this I have found Tunbridge Water an effectual Remedy, and most canstant, never failing those that I have known to have try'd it, who have been not a few. And the small Spring at Felstead, I find avail with equal success.

An Obstruction of the Thymus, which discovers it self by pain at the Breast, chiefly upon the Foods arrival at the place of its seat; which upon the increase of the Tumour of this Gland, resists the passing of the Food into the Stomach, and makes the Patient reject it, at least as soon as the Oesophagus is a little fill'd, is a Disease of equal consequence with the other, and which I have known these Waters speedily cure.

Another Disease from Glandular Obstructions cured by these Waters, is the Dropsie, a Cure of which is taken notice of by Mr. Boyle; but the Design of these Observations, being to form an Experience, that may be distinct, clear, and not fallacious, I must add, That the Effects of the Waters in this Distemper, fall not under so single a consideration as in the other, but that there are so many requisites in the Cases where these are proper, as make a good Judgment necessary in the use of them, and • orbid the drinking of them without good Advice. For although I have reason to believe them to be constantly effectual, timely taken, by those whose Constitution was broken by trouble, and perhaps to be the only Remedy; and likewise in a Phlegmatick Constitution; yet not only the seasonable and timely taking of them is to be consulted, but a Crasis of Blood, that needs not invigorating, does sometimes receive damage by them. And this I speak not by rote, but have known some Quin Faeminae quinquagenariae, florid and lively, that the drinking of these Waters have affected with a beginning Dropsie, the nature of these Waters (being to invigorate the Blood, and produce the Catamenia) was so differing in effect. And in a Dropsie that proceeds upon an Asthma, in a person of a florid sanguine Complexion, either a Chalybeat Water of greater astringency, as the Knaresborow, and that has least Steel; or else a Chalybeat that Purges, as Scarborow Water, is much more proper.

I proceed to remark next, the like extraordinary effect of these light Waters in Distempers of the Stomach, the pain by which they discover themselves is most exquisite. A painful Tumour of many Months at the pit of the Stomach, and reputed Scirrhous, I knew reliev'd and quite remov'd by Tunbridge Waters. I might instance in other Flatulent Distentions of the Stomach, and question not but they might be used with success in Ulcers of the Stomach, though in them I have not known these Waters made tryal of. But the most common Distemper, or rather Symptom of the Stomach diseased, is known only by the name of Pain. It is necessary to distinguish the kinds of this more nicely than is usual, and I shall not inquire here into the particular seats of it, but mind the Reader in general, that by the name of this Distemper, I understand an affection of the Stomach or Ventricle, from Matter lodg'd in or near it, excepting those Affections of it, per consensum, from the Head, or in acute Diseases; and so it includes the primary Distempers of that Region, that produce pain in the Ventricle. I fansie a Syllabus of all the Affections and Symptoms of this kind, would be useful, and might be instituted after this manner.

Though the pit of the Stomach has the greatest sense of the Pain, yet this Pain may be all over the Stomach.

So an obtuse Pain with Faintness and Sickness, and an Hemicrania, signifies a watry vapid state of the Blood, as in a Chlorosis.

The same with Sickness attends a full Dropsie.

A rending Pain with weakness, follows great Evacuations in weakly Bodies, as Suckling.

Shooting to the Back, denote the matter to be windy, be it in the Cavity or elsewhere, and Cholicks vary. To say nothing here of Ulcers.

Moving a Rheumatism there fix'd, and increases immediately upon eating.

Pain moving and fixing in Spots, with most exquisite Pain, Coldness, and Convulsive Nippings, and working off with a Loosness, and coming some six or seven hours after, eating a nervous Rheumatism, or rather Membranous.

This last again increases or assaults upon Cold taking, and is sometimes seated in the Coats of the Stomach, and sometimes in the Membranes adjoyning, or both; so in some I have observ'd it to strike from the Stomach in a Vein, as they call it, upward, side-ways, or the like; and not to bear a Position of the Body that pents it, for the part afflicted always seems pent.

An obtuse Pain contracting the Stomach, such as is usually express'd by knitting, attends Hysterick Fits.

An obtuse Pain without this, an Obstruction of the Catamenia; or a Plethora sanguinis in hot Weather chiefly.

The Ventricle may be affected near its upper Orifice at the Pit of the Stomach only, with a nipping Pain, or a knitting Pain, attending the Hypochondriacal; and an obtuse Pain, with a Sense of weight in Trouble and Melancholly.

The sense of Pentness accompanies Wind, the sense of Fullness, Water or Humour. So I might proceed to Soreness, Coldness and Acuteness, Faintness, &c.

There are other Pains near the Stomach, as in the Jaundies, about the bottom toward the right side, so in a distemper'd Spleen or Liver, or Pancreas, may be known by their Situation.

Thus Judgment is to be made of the proper use of these Waters, from the Cause or Nature of the Disease; and of what means may reasonably be used together with them. For an Obstruction of the Catamenia may make that Remedy necessary that a Plethora forbids. A Chlorosis in a Phlegmatick Constitution is better cured with other Chaiybeats, and a Pain from Weakness requires another Intention. So that the use of these Waters is to be confin'd chiefly to Pains Convulsive in the Melancholy and Hypochondriacal, and to other Collections of Wind or Phlegm from any Obstructions. And although these chiefly arise from the Affectio Hypochondriaca; and so are curable in the general Intention, yet greater Accuracy is necessary both to the Discovery of the Distemper, and assigning a Remedy, and without which, sure Observation can never be made.

Another Disorder of the Stomach, is want or loss of Appetite, which though it is restor'd by other Waters and means, yet not only is more fully recover'd by these, but its cause more perfectly remov'd.

But there are other Distempers cur'd by these Waters, which are less understood, and over which these reign alone. I shall instance in two. The one is a Fistula, which though of many Years standing, I have known effectually cur'd in six Weeks, by the sole drinking of Tunbridge Water. The other which appear'd to me as extraordinary, was a Periodical Feaver and Cough, which I knew a Gentlewoman cur'd of by the same Waters, who for many Years had never escaped an Assault about October, before she was freed by this Remedy. Obstructions of the Pancreas I should have named before.

The Virtue these have of Chearing the Spirits, and relieving a Heart oppress'd with Trouble, or tumultuated with any Passions, is as extraordinary as any of the former; as being indeed the Cause and Producer of the Glandular Obstructions, which together with Cephalick Distempers, as Giddiness, Pain, &c. come under the Affectio Hypochondriaca, which therefore I shall consider now distinctly in all its Symptoms.

The Affectio Hypochondriaca,

HAS very numerous Symptoms, and counterfeits all Distempers, and upon continuance brings almost as many. I shall consider the Symptoms, and then the reason of them, or seat of it. The Signs enumerated by Authors are, a Flatulent Stomach, ill Appetite and Concoction, Vomiting glewy petuitose Matter, the Stomach Flatulent, not well after Food; upon which came a rejection of Food by Vomiting; Lipothymia, Giddiness, turbulent Flatus's and Cramps, Convulsions, Tremors, Ructus's: Aquositates & Flatus inter binas tunicas seu membranos mesenterii; Ventriculi dolores vehementes adsunt, qui nonnullis ad dorsum usque procedant, & ab aegris incautisque pro Nephriticis hab • antur; concoctis cibis quiescunt, mox aliis ingestis cibis eodem modo revertuntur, qui interdum jejunos, interdum etiam à caenâ molestant; & non cessant priusquam aegri evomunt cibos crudos & Phlegmata subamara & caleda aut acida; Alvus adstricta; Aestus in Hypochondriis; Vrinatenuis; Anxietas Ventriculi; Pulsus varii; Cordis palpitatio; Animi deliquium; Pulsatio in sinistro Hypochondrio ab intemperie calidâ; Palatum lingua & os exsiccantur; & sitis levis excitatur; respiratio difficilis; dolor quidam & constrictio in pectore persentitur. Transit quandoque in Melancholiam & Epilepsiam, aut Apoplexiam abit; quandoque caeci evadunt; Symptomata Paralysi & Convulsioni similia; Lassitudo; Cerebrum exsiccant vapores & vigiliae adsunt; Insomnia or vain frightful and Distracting Dreams suddenly and often disturbing the Sleep. Nightmare, or sense of oppressing weight; Tension of the Hypochondries, but that is a sign, nor constant, nor peculiar to their Distemper; Obstruction of the Oesophagu • or Swallow; Periculum suffocationis conqueru •• tir; dolor in anteriore parte Pectoris; stupor & dolor Formicans nunc in dextro nunc in sinistro; Caligo; Dolor in Brachio vel digito hoc vel illo; sudor Frigidus, & de graviori morbo sibi metuunt. And at last the part where the Humour lodges has its Symptoms, as Stomach, Spleen, Liver, &c. which are then affected most six or seven hours after eating. Whence these Flatus's proceed, the Sense of Sennertus is, Magis consentaneum est istos Flatus contineri in illâ cavitate in sinistro Hypochondrio sub Diaphragmate ex Ventriculi, Omenti, Coli & viscerum connexu ortâ, & exitum non habente, sed ita conclusâ ut aquam & Flatus continere possit. And for the beating in the left Hypochondry, says he, Ad quam rem faciunt Glandulae in Mesenterio plurimae & praecipue magna illa, quae in centro ejus primae vasorum distributioni addita est. But the more difficult part of this Distemper to understand, is, that it not only affects and distempers the Brain, but likewise the Mind it self is a sufferer in it; which it chiefly or first afflicts with Fear and Despair; and freeing the Passions from the government of Reason, makes way to all the extravagant Actings, that an abused Imagination can give colour to; and every Object receives its weight from the Standard of the ruling Passion. The extravagant Dotages of this kind are numerous in History, and either are ruled by the Impressions of the last Stage, or Age of Life, or drown us in the present; or which is most common, distract between the Sense of both; and make us lose the use of our Judgment, if not of our Reason. Now this Distemper is effectually cured in all its Symptoms, by these Light Chalybeat Waters, and to inquire into the Nature of this Distemper, and on what account they do it, may not only be agreeable to enlighten the Disease, but teach us the full Scope of the Virtue of the Remedy. If we seek into the Cause and Seat of this Distemper, we may observe it to be induced by despiriting, and may have its Original either in the Mind, or the Body; and as it naturally is produced in our Bodies, I observe,

1. That it is a Flatus, as gross, crude, unconcocted, and vapid.

2. That the Fit usually comes six hours after eating, or as soon as the Chyle is digested, and the Spirit of it spent.

3. It is occasion'd by Diet, yielding a thick and plentiful Nourishment, and Flatulent, and by thick fermented Liquors as Ale.

4. A working active Life that preserves the Concoction, and duly forceth on the Nourishment, and cleanseth the Body, joyn'd with a spare and more simple Diet, is little affected with this Distemper.

5. Sower Belchings, not Signs of Acid in the Body, as is commonly judg'd erroniously, but only the effect of rich Liquors despirited, and effete or changed.

6. The time of its Accession is remarkable, which is at the Turn of Life to its declive, or at 27 Years, though may be put off longer in some, but begins then, when the Body begins to be despirited, when whereas before we see every thing through the eyes of hope, we now are apt to view with despair.

7. It joyns hand with the Scurvy.

8. Is cured by Acids, as Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur in some measure, and kept off by drinking common Water, which is void of Fermentation, or elastick Turgescence.

All which marks inform us, That this Distemper is seated in the Chyle, which when effete and tumultuating, produceth these effects; and as it may be discharg'd and slung, may induce more terrible ones in earnest, which as it is moving, it only represents by lighter touches: And as the grand Cardo of our Life at the Climocteric before named, gives opportunity for this Insult; so the strength of these Turgid parts of our Nourishment, is discernable in other States of Life, though the Violence is most apparent at the meeting of differing habits. For that all these Irregularities are owing to our Nourishment, and that we admit our Dispositions to Passion and Vice by our Throat, and only then when we take more than is necessary or requir'd by Nature, we are taught not only in Men where we see the effects of Ease and Luxury, only when it is in an high degree; but the power of differing Nourishment and manner of living, is most conspicuous in other Animals, especially the more tender. These Animals that live hard (that is) use great labour to get their Food; and that mild and unfermented, are free from three Dispositions that Domestick Animals, as those that dwell near Towns, or have opportunity of living easie, are lyable to. The first is, change of colour in Coat or Feathers. 2. Inconstancy to their Mate, and Intemperance in Passions. The last is, Distemperature of Body, and lyableness to Diseases. No wild Animal was ever observ'd by Naturalists, to have been seiz'd by those Diseases which afflict them when kept • tame. Hens I have seen Epileptic, Magpyes are often afflicted by the same Distemper when housed, but who ever found them fallen in the Fields? The same may be observ'd of other Animals, as Bull-finches, and many Quadrupids, which can scarce bear housing, without peril of some Disease or other. Which seems to imply, that a distemper'd Air can make no impression, but upon a vitiated Nourishment. And this gives me a rise to add, That as the Efforts of our Passions, that are owing to our Intemperance, are more silent in other seasons of our Life, so it is observable, they have not been distinguish'd by any Inquirers into Humane Nature, through want of well understanding Humane Nature distinctly, or in its simplicity. And here I find a late excellent Author much wanting to himself, in not examining the Fountains of Idea's, which would have helped him to have uncompounded them, who, might by this means have discern'd Practical Idea's; a Principle of Justice being as difficultly erased, as that of Self-preservation. For (to wave questioning the Hypothesis of Idea's) since Judgment is made of Objects, as they lye in the Imagination, it must needs be, that, as on the one hand the undue Examination of things may make a Notion imperfect, so the strain of Imagination by our Passions, must render our Judgment unjust. And this we see in our grosser Passions, as Fear, Anger, Love or Aversion, but cannot discern it so well in the lesser Emotions of our Temper, which seem more quiet, wherein yet it is equally discoverable, that the Inequality of our Temper sways our Judgment, and is often before-hand in the Cause, where it appears only in the sequel, and seems to proceed from the Determination. Indeed we may usually see in any error the stamp of that Temper that form'd the Argument, or of a rapid and unheedy Apprehension, that inform'd the Understanding; so necessary to right thinking and due Notions of things is a due Temper, by how much our Passions have a share in adjusting, if not forming, our Idea's. I might here observe the Mistake of those that refer the illness of their Nature, to the necessity of their make, and how natural the Account is, of Man's first Defection: But to keep close to my Subject, I shall only mind, that the Debility of our Mind, as well as the Infirmities of our Bodies, is owing to the Irregularity of our Living, and Vice of our Nourishment. An Instance of this, is the Distemper in hand, not only in the distracting Fears, and tumultuating Passions, that attend it; and the innumerable delirous Fancies that are consequent to it, but in the Diseases of the Body, as Obstructions of the parts before mention'd, with Cephalick Diseases, as Convulsions, Epilepises, Apoplexies, &c. the last nam'd of which, is so often owing to the Pre-disposition of this Distemper, as much confirms the account I have before given of it. Now although the reason of the Hypochondriac Affection, as it gives a reason of the effect of these Waters, may make this account satisfactory enough; yet it is farther serviceable, in discovering the Cure more clearly and perfectly, and by giving a right Notion of it, may assist in setting the Understanding to rights, and help those that are afflicted, to make a true Judgment of their Disturbances, as well as incourage them to a Cure. With respect to a Cure, we may observe the Benefit of Exercise, and a moderate Diet, without fermented Liquors; and that Action and Attention are required, to Health of Body and Mind. That Action is necessary to due Thinking, all studious Men may and do observe, and the reason is, That the Tumults of the Chyle, or Stoppages of the Vessels by it, are remov'd by the hurry of the Blood; which, together with steadiness of Mind, which I call Attention, gives our Engine its free Exercise and Working. And as the same thing, that Exercise doth with moderate Living, is effected artificially by these Waters, so the pleasure of an even Life, void of these Hurries and Inconveniencies, recommend a preventional Method of this way of Living, for its Rectitude and Generosity, before the Flights and Extreams of the other, that must seek for Remedies to Art. And it is to be noted, That as this Distemper, in all its Symptoms and Consequences, is effectually cured by these Waters; and as it is moderated by the foremention'd means, so all that are affected with it, find their Error in drinking Wine and strong fermented Liquors, as an artificial Support, by the great sinking of their Spirits, if not other Symptoms; likewise about six hours after, and by the increase of the Distemper by that means. To which I may add, what may be no small Information, and hath not been taken notice of by Physicians usually, That the Distempers that seize the Body at the Climactericks, if they be moderated, so as to be kept from making any mortal breach, will usually in two or three Years time, depart of themselves upon moderate living. I could give many Instances of Epilepsies themselves, as well as Giddinesses, Convulsions, a beginning Phthisis, &c. that abated without any means two or three Years after. But as this Remedy, viz. these Waters, relieve variety of Diseases, that are induced by the power of distemper'd Chyle or Nourishment, and Weakness of Constitution at the Cardines of our Life or Climactericks; so the Observation of this may turn to account, if we consider, That many Distempers that are not usually distinguish'd, are of this Original: For the enlarging therefore of this Benefit, we may observe, That the Affectio Hypochondriaca, is, in this respect, but a Species of Distempers, which we may call Climacteric or Cardinal. For the better understanding of my Sense in this matter, I must take notice, That though I cannot admit the receiv'd Notion of them fully, either as to their Fatality, or superstitious Original from Numbers, yet that at the Septenaries, or near the Body, receives its Changes, is not to be denied; and that then many Diseases have their Original, which may execute not fully till some Years after. But although every Septenary may be in some sort considerable, yet I judge from Experience, that some may be reputed Cardinal, and that not from the Efficacy of Number, which runs the grand Climacteric upon 63. Those that I find reason to name Cardinal, are those on which our Life receives a considerable Change of State; and though the fourteenth Year, on this account, cannot be excluded, yet Observation of Distempers, or Mortality, makes me, with respect to Diseases, to make or name three grand Climactericks, and to fix them on those Years, when the Body receives its grand Alterations in its Cuspis and declension, and these are 21, 27 and 49. The Diseases of the first are Hemorrhages and Consumptions, which are frequent at that Age to enter the Constitution, and not to yield to Remedies till two or three Years after, though the Prevention of Exulceration render it curable. The Distempers of the second are Cephalick, Nervous and Flatulent. Those of the third again are Phthises, Gouts, Stone, Hemorhagies, Rheumatisms, and other Inflammations, that proceed from an over Alkalisat Crasis of the Blood, as hot, burning or smarting running Pains, and the like. In all which cases these Waters may be expected to be highly serviceable, by the same Qualifications that capacitate them to relieve the Hypochondriacal, viz. by Astringing, Deobstructing, Invigorating, and taking off either the Orgasm or Degeneracy of the Chyle. And I speak not this without some Instances that favour it: But from Hypochondriacal Distempers, I pass on next to Ulceration of the Kidneys, which I have known cured in more than one by Tunbridge Waters, which I must make this Remark on, That they were Women of the last cardinal or grand Climacterick. But yet must not this confine the use of these Waters to that case only, or forbid their proper use in like Ulcers in other Ages.

Thus according to my design, I have recited what I have experienced of their Virtues, but I must not pass the Cure of Periodical annual Colds and Feavers (which I mention above) without this useful Observation, that as it is the Peccancy of the Chyle, or Faeces of it, that makes the Body obnoxious to the Effects of the Air, so it may be reasonable to expect the use of the same Remedy to be successful in some other Distempers that come under this Consideration.

Of some general Directions to be observ'd in the Vse of the Chalybeat Waters.

THE Directions that emerge from the Nature of the Waters, and of the Distempers they are used in, vary in some measure with the Constitution of the Drinker, the State and Nature of the Distemper, and Season they are drank in. And although the Choice of the Species of Water is directed by the Distemper, yet nice or infirm and cold Constitutions, make exactness necessary in choosing those that have least Coldness; on which account some have found, in the light sort, Wellenborow and Islington less safe to be drank, or to require more caution, from their ill Effects on those that have drank them when out of Temper. The Season that one would wish to drink these Waters in, is a dry Time, and Summer, the Waters being then strongest, and the Season favouring their exerting their Astringency, and inspiriting Qualities; yet as Distempers do not wait always for the conveniency of the Remedy, so the Waters have been found effectual at all Seasons likewise. And the incommode of the Season may be help'd, by a Glass of somewhat more Generous, after the Waters are run off, as Gentian Wine, or the like; or Chalybeat Wine in the Afternoon, which I have • ound to be very Helpful, where the Moisture of the Season, or Weakness of the Constitution made it necessary; but not to be continued longer than it was so. The difference of the Water makes some difference in the rule of Drinking, the Heavy ones not allowing so long a Continuation of Drinking, and often admitting, if not requiring, Purging, during the Course, which six Weeks may well determine; whereas the light sort may safely, and ought to be continued longer, to prevent return of the Disease, and establish the Constitution: Else the Chalybeat Waters require the same common Rule, which is to be observ'd before, in the time of, and after the drinking. Before the drinking, that the foulness of the first ways may not be carried farther, and at least clog the Remedy, and that Nature may be more light and easie, that must be removed, before the drinking of the Waters is entred upon. And although it cannot be supposed, that the proper Purges for particular cases, can here be consulted, yet that Emeticks, in Cephalick Diseases, are best and fittest to answer all the ends necessary, is an Intimation I cannot allow my self to pass. Catharticks ought to be doubled at about two days distance, the first to regard the cleansing the first ways, may be by a Bole of Lenitive Electuary, and as much Resina Jallopii as may quicken it to desire, or Pills, or Draughts of Infusion of Sena and Rhubarb; in both which forms, I admire the additions of Salts either of Wormwood or Tartar, that may make them more detersive, and occur any unnatural or exorbitant Acid. The latter Purgation ought to regard the Disease, as Lenitive Electuary with P. Diasenae, and Dialtheae, or Manna for Gravel. In Colicks, and where the Wind afflicts the Bowels, Hiera Picra. In Cephalick Distempers, or where there is a Disposition to be Aguish, gentle Emeticks. Where Wind afflicts the more remote Passages, or in the Blood, afflicting the Muscular parts, Infusions of Purging Ingredients, as Sena and Rhubarb, with a handful of Chamomel Flowers, or the Weakness of the Stomach may require the Decotum amarum made Purging, or Pills of Rudii and Ruffii mix'd, and two or three drops of Oyl of Cinnamon. The Dropsical Succus Ebuli in the quantity of Cochl. 2 vel 3 is most proper for, in my Judgment: In the Melancholick Constitutions, an Infusion of Sena and Salt of Tartar, among others, is one of the first rate: The Scurvy, bitter Decoctions. The three last Diseases, these Waters, as other Chalybeats, serve, by strengthning, invigorating, and carrying off the offending Matter; and therefore those need a due preparatory Course, as is sufficient to bring the Blood and Vessels into such a state as may be fit for these Waters. But yet beginning Dropsies, and other Obstructions from Trouble of Mind, admit these Waters as the only Remedy, and require no course but this general Preparation. Excepting Dropsies, and Distempers that are attended with old Obstructions, and Apoplectick Dispositions in Phlegmatick Brains, I say, setting aside these, the Purging Waters are the best Preparative, washing more universally, and leaving the Body in the Temper that is most fit; and sometimes prevents the necessity of these Chalybeat Waters; the Proprieties of which, will appear in a Table at the end of their History. But because Pains of the Stomach often happen to be so violent, as not to allow the use of these Waters▪ before they are abated, and sometimes require a particular Evacuation, it seems incumbent on me, to give some information, how that Symptom may be reliev'd: They are usually one of these three sorts, First, a Convulsive Nipping Pain at the pit of the Stomach, that holds for some Weeks, and soon upon eating is exacerbated: This usually readily gives way, either to an Infusion of Baccae Juniperi in Whitewine, or Ol. Terebinth taken inwardly, the last 16 drops at a time in Beer. Another is a Pain all over the Stomach, though sometimes gathering more to one part of it, and is more violent and racking, and goes off with a Looseness, being from a Congestion of Watry Matter; This yields to the common Domestick Glysters often repeated, and is check'd by Ens Veneris, and sometimes by Chalybeat Wine. The Pain that attends a Chlorosis by Ol. Caryophyllorum taken in Sugar; if from a depauperate Blood, by Vinum Chalybeatum.

Phlebotomy here comes under consideration, which, although some Asthma's, and other cases, may render it necessary, yet, where not necessary, is to be avoided, as an ill Prepara • ivee for drinking of Water; and must be referr'd, together with other Preparations in partic ••• Distempers, to the Judgment of the Physician that knows the Distemper, and consults the Constitution.

Of drinking I purpose not to prescribe either time or quantity, which vary with the Disease and Constitution of the Drinker; but only shall note, that as rising gradually▪ to a full quantity, is required not only by the body, that it may the better bear it, but by the distemper'd part too: So the Vessels, that they may be cleansed and strengthned in their own Tone and Tension, require a gradual decrease. But though the continuation of this Remedy must be prescrib'd by the Nature of the Disease, yet that a Caution is necessary, that the drinking them be not left off too soon, appears in that in my own Observation, many having suffer'd a Relapse, for want of continuing the Remedy some time after the Cure. And this is so general, that I may peremptorily assert, that less than three Months is not generally sufficient to the drinking of them, though they take effect in half the time. It is not convenient to drink these Waters too early, nor without some preceding walking to empty the Body; neither is it safe to lye down upon them, especially in Cephalick Distempers; nor to allow any business to take place in the Thoughts; on which score the distance of the Wells, and the Resort, recommends the drinking these Waters at their Springs. But the most material Rule, which the very design of them require, is, That during the Course, the Drinker use Exercise, avoid all Flatulent Diet, and that of Gross and much Nourishment, and drink as little fermented Liquor as he may. And here especially drinking much Wine is to be condemned on a double account, for beside that the inconvenient Temper that the Wine gives, renders them unfit for drinking the Waters the Morning following, it opposes the Remedy, and renders it ineffectual, by supporting the Morbid State; and for this Reason, as generous Liquors are not to be omitted at the beginning of the drinking, so they ought wholly to be set aside when the Course is well enter'd; without which, Hypochondriacism, which is the most general Case, will not admit of any entire Conquest. Neither is the Course of Living to be ended with the Course of drinking the Waters, but that the use of them may be effectual; a spare Diet, and the same abstemious living, with Exercise, ought to be continued for two Months, in which time the Body may be suppos'd to be a little confirm'd. And for the same Reason, though some Distempers, as Stone, Jaundies, and Melancholy, particularly, may require some other Intentions to be satisfied, and so make a Course of Physick necessary at the same time, yet the use 〈◊〉 the Waters is so much the less beneficial, by how much it is disturb'd by Purging, or any other Medicines, and therefore Reason and Experience place this means last. But in Apoplexies, and some watry Distempers, as Dropsie and Chlorosis, an Astringent more potent is very necessary to close and strengthen the Parts. The most proper and powerful of this kind. I intimated above, to be the Ens Veneris of Mr. Boyle, which, if it succeed, the Waters, as the other Detersives and Purgers, are to precede, make an entire Course in the surprizing Distemper that I there apply it to; and in the room of it, I have sometimes used Chalybs Preparat. with equal Success, if the Apoplectick Symptoms were mild.

These Waters, as they suffer by warming, so are apt to bring some Disorders, especially in an ill Season or Constitution, as Cold, Nauseousness, difficulty of Urine and Giddiness, which are usually provided against by drinking a Glass of Wine after every three or four Glasses of Water, for the first few Mornings. But because the two last Symptoms do sometimes prove more considerably obstinate, I shall take notice, that it is good for those that are obnoxious to Cephalick Diseases, to provide against the Giddiness procur'd by these Waters, by chewing of Nutmeg, and indeed Bisket, or a Crust of Bread chew'd do the same, the motion of the Jaws seeming as necessary as the warming the Stomach. And for the Stoppage of Urine, shall acquaint the Drinker, that where it is not occasion'd by the Stone, though Glysters and Purgers may be requir'd sometimes, yet it may soon be remov'd without usually, only Ol. Terebinth. guttis iij. in umbilicum instillatis: And the same I have known done by a plentiful Glass of Rhenish. But in all these Rules, I must make this reserve for the Heavy Chalybeat Waters, That Purging is absolutely necessary during the taking of those, which are not so clean, nor pass so well, and may bind the Body too much.

I have nothing more to add, but for a Conservative of Health, to recommend the drinking of Tunbridge Waters with Wine in Winter, to the Hypochondriacal, which are easier to be had than the German Spaw, and are as much better than those, by how much they are lighter, and which, in Flasks headed with Oyl, will keep well.