CHAP. I.
Of Water in general.

SInce I am about to demon­strate the Advantages of Medicinal Waters, and to shew how fit a Vehicle this [Page 2] Element is to convey Medicine to the inmost Recesses of the Body; I think it not besides my business if I a little touch upon the Excel­lency of Water, which was Crea­ted for the Universal Drink of all Creatures, and the Health and long Life of the first Ages of the World, may commend its wholesomness. But if we examine its Nature, we shall find it consist of those quali­ties which denote its Salubrity, as Clearness, Thinness, Lightness, Soft­ness, &c. which Cool, Moisten, Attenuate, Refresh, Allay Thirst, and are a Pabulum or Recruit to fretted Spirits, and a proper Liquor to convey and distribute other Ali­ments. Some of the Ancients call'd it [...]. the Seed of all [Page 3] things: But I shall not here Dis­course of the Productions from Waters; what Vegetables, Mine­rals and Animals are generated by it. Neither shall I treat of the vari­ous kinds of Water, as River-Water, Rain-Water, Pump, Lake, Pond-Water, &c. That is the best and most wholsome which is void of Taste or Odour, and is Clear, Pure, most Light, soon Heated, soon Cold, and in which Flesh is soonest Boyl'd. The Living Spring I judge most valuable for Drinking, and that nearest the Head of it the best. For those living Principles which actuate all Bodies, and keep 'em not only from Putrefaction, but qualify 'em for Recruits and Sustenance to other Bodies, are in proportion in [Page 4] Waters, which denote 'em of such and such a strength and pu­rity, and may be us'd in quantities accordingly. And 'tis no small ad­vantage that they are capable of be­ing receiv'd in such large quanti­ties, without fuming or disturbing the Brain, to irrigate and soften the whole Body, and bedew the fiery Spirits with their supple Vapours: and when those Airy brisk Particles do extricate themselves from these soft Lodgments, they are again en­tangled with more, to prevent their leaping out, or firing one against another: and such a pretty bustle or ferment in Nature raises that ge­neral Efflorescence and Vigor, which Plumps, Exhilerates, and makes Gay a Well-temper'd Heal­thy Body.

[Page 5] The dispensing either of Food or Physick in a clear, thin, soft, and gentle Vehicle, must make a better Digestion, and a more equal Distribution of it, then in a fiery Chariot, which precipitates Na­ture, and hurries the crude parts through those strait and slender Passages beyond their natural Emunctories, and lodges 'em where neither Nature can expel 'em, nor Art reach 'em; and that causes Gout, and other Diseases. Whenas the milder Liquors make such easie gradations, that Nature can secern by her peculiar cleansing Ducts, those Feces and Crudities, which timely and orderly expel'd, prevent innumerable Obstructions and Distempers to the Body.

[Page 6] I wish for my own particular, who am sometimes afflicted with Stone and Gout, that I had earli­er studied these things. But what I can't prevent in my self, I'm willing to do for others.

But to shew how excellent a Vehicle Water is, for the distribu­tion of Generous and Restorative Medicines, is no difficult Task, if its Nature be considered, as is be­fore mentioned: For by searching out the minutest Passages of the Body, it promotes a general dispen­sation of the design'd matter to all parts of it. And I am of the Opini­on that fine Chymical Medicines should be deliver'd to Bodies in soft gentle Vehicles; yet I wou'd not have 'em convey'd in their own [Page 7] Terrestial Bodies (as Galenical Physick is) For they are so fitted there in their position, that our Bodies (especially when Sick) are not able to Extricate the benign useful parts from the intricate Mea­tus's of a tough Compositum, and raise its living Principles from their Domiclis so stifly munited and se­cured. Yet when by great Art and Labour these lively Particles are set loose and defecated, they are be­neficially deliver'd in another Body, where they can't so soon shape a Retirement: And if in thin, light, cooling Liquors, Nature can with ease gradually fetch out theit help and refreshment, without any fierce assault from 'em, and this Vehicle admits of quantity enough for a [Page 8] general and equal distribution of such Generous Medicines as are usually contracted into very slen­der quantities.—But I design brevity.

CHAP II.
Of Mineral Waters.

IN the Mineral Kingdom through which the Veins of Water glide, are amass'd mighty Treasures, from whence may be extracted greater Relief for the Necessities of Man­kind, than is by most imagined.

Excellent Medicines are gained by the due Management of Fire from several Minerals and Semi-Minerals, &c. But to come to my purpose: By playing the Hydroto­mist, The great Account of Mineral Waters may be Display'd, which [Page 10] receive their Medicinal Qualities from Subterranean Mines and Oars.

It may be considered that few Mi­neral Waters are simple, I mean impregnated only with one Mine­ral, but compounded as the Mine­rals and Marcasites lye confused in the Bowels of the Earth; and those who have been curious to search into the Nature of Medicinal Springs, have always discovered a mixture, though perhaps some of 'em have not been so lucky as to assign their Virtues to the proper Minerals, &c. In the Mineral King­dom I place Salt, Nitre, Vitriol, Allom, &c. For in the Salts of ma­ny Bodies lye their chief Virtues, [Page 11] either for purging by Stool or Urine, or for Cleansing, Cooling, Drying, Stimulating, Opening of Obstructions, Attenuating of gross Humours, or for Astriction, Corro­boration, &c. according to the Nature of the Body. The Learned Helmomt saith, (p. 55.) Semina Salium cuncta in Aquis sita sunt, atta­men nondum saporem induerunt nisi Corporum Principia consentanea Ʋte­rosque Terrae debitos repererunt, &c. viz. That all the Seeds of Salts are placed in Water, yet are not endu­ed with Taste, unless they find agree­able Principles of Bodies and suta­ble Matrices of the Earth; then, and not till then they manifest their Saltness, and become determined in a Saline Body; in one place into [Page 12] Allom; in another Sal-marine, in a Third Nitre. &c. To which he adds, Quocirca notandum, Sal quod­dam existere Hermaphroditicum Me­tallorum quod defectu nominis Esu­rinum sive Acetosum re et nomine vo­cari capit, generale equidem & ad omnia Metalla accommodabile: (viz) That there is a certain Hermaphro­ditical Salt of Metals, which for want of another name is call'd an Esurine or Acid Salt, which is a general sort of Salt, and accommo­dated to all Metals. So that this Esurine Salt, while such, is no more then Salt, and not a Vitriol: But if it become a Vitriol, it must espouse a Mineral or Metalline Body. He further saith, Vitriolum praestan­tissimum naturaliter crescit fodinis, [Page 13] quibus Natura istad Sal Esurinum peperit, venam aeris feracem, Corro­dens, & Fontis labentis liquore dis­solutum; (viz) That the best Vi­triol is most naturally brought forth in those Mines where Na­ture hath begot that Esurine Salt, corroding a strong Vein of Copper, becomes dissolv'd in the gliding Current of a Spring. But should I here inlarge in an account of Nitre, Vitriol, Allom, &c. I should ex­ceed my present Intention, and prevent a future Design. Yet I think it necessary to my present Business, to say thus much of Ni­tre and Vitriol: That the Esu­rine Salt discover'd in the Air, if it meet with a fat unctuous Glebe, and be preserv'd from Rain and [Page 14] Sun, that it spend not its strength in the Production of Vegetables, breeds great store of Nitre: For 'tis observ'd that in these fat Earths there is at first no Nitrous Taste, neither can any Nitre be extract­ed from 'em: But after their continuance a while in the Cool Air, its Magnetick Power from a Nitrous Principle opens the Un­ctuous Body of the fat Glebe, a fit Receptacle for the Esurine Spi­rit, and is therewith Coagulated and Envellop'd: And after this manner is the Nativity of Nitre.

'Tis commonly observ'd, That in Cold Weather the Appetite is more keen, and the Thirst little; which proceeds from the great [Page 15] store of Nitre that is in the Air.

Vitriol I take to be an Esurine Acid Salt, corroding the Sulphu­reous Parts of Metals or Marcasites, by an Acid Subterraneal Spirit, (whereof there is great quantity in some Mines) Corroding the Veins of Iron, Copper, &c. from whence are the Varieties of Vitriol. Some­times from a Vitriol Loam, or Clay diluted with Water, and set in a cold Cellar, may be gather'd an Alluminous Efflorescence, which shews there may be a Mixture of Allom with Vitriol. But the Dif­ferences or Varieties of Impregna­tions arise either from the Diffe­rence of the quantity of the Acid [Page 16] Spirit, Corroding the Veins of Copper or Iron, or from the grea­ter or lesser Continuance of the Course of the Water through those Metallick Veins.

It need not seem strange to any that there is such Acidity in Water and Air; from whence else doth Iron and Copper, being put into Water, or standing long in the Air in a cool Cellar, contract such a Rust as they do? Is it not from the Acid Spirit of Air and Water uni­ting with the Esurine Salt in those Metals, exciting its Corrosive Power to destroy the Texture of the Metal? And this Rust being boiled in Rain-water, will yield a Vitriol.

[Page 17] There are many ways of making Artificial Vitriols: But I shall pass beyond my Intentention if I now Discourse of 'em.

'Tis obvious what Beds of Mine­rals lye in the Bowels of the Earth, on which the Currents of Water wash in their Circulating Veins, from which they are Impregnated with their Medicinal Qualities.

But before I dismiss this Chap­ter, I think fit to add this, That there is a universal common Salt of Nature, the first Ens of Salts, which is specificated according to the diversity of Nature, and re­ceives various forms.

[Page 18] GOD, the Original Founder of all Beings, hath Implanted in the Superficies of the Earth, that great variety of Vegetable Seeds, which propagate themselves in their Spe­cies: So that very Vegetable at its proper Season, by the Instigation of the Heavenly Insluences, setting at work its Seminals, and by stir­ring up its Innate Power, begins to shape it self a Body according to the Laws of Creation, every Plant in its kind, till they have made up that wonderful Variety which so richly Adorns the Earth.

In like manner are disperst the Mineral and Metalline Seeds in the Bowels of the Earth, determin'd [Page 19] for Specification, and to become Prolifick by the Embryonate Sul­phur, according to the Purity or Impurity of the Terrestrial Ma­trix. And thus the Metallick Or­der is Compleated by the Perfe­cted Metals, while the Imperfect and middle Minerals arrive but slowly to Metallization.

CHAP. III.
Of the Balsamick Wells at Hoxdon.

HAving Premis'd thus much of Water in general and of Mineral Waters, the better to Ex­plain my Essay of these New Disco­ver'd Balsamick Wells. I shall now give a short and plain Account of their constituent Principles, which upon a strict Examen▪ many ways in my Laboratory, I have dis­cover'd to be only these following, (viz.) The first Ens or Mother [Page 22] of Salts, which runs thro' and is shut up in all Specificated Salts; tho' it is not easily made Appear: for it requires a Laborious and Skilful Hand to resolve the Com­page of a Mineral or Metal.

The Balsamick Principle is a Sul­phur well digested and purified by the Volatile Salt, and retains in it a great deal of the Embryonate Sul­phur. But 'tis brought to that Height and Volatility in the Bowels of the Earth, that were it not for the Third Principle, the Vitriol of Mars, to give 'em Fixation, I be­lieve they would not have been Retained in Water alone. But this being of a more fixt Nature, and a Salt, has Magnetically [Page 23] caught and entangled the Esurine Spirit with the first Ens or Mother of Salts, and that fragrant tender Sulphur in her Belly. So that when the Metalick Oar is unloosed, and you come near to the Original of Salts, then you'l find the tender Sulphur close Lockt up in it, which when 'tis long digested by Nature or Art, becomes most grateful, and withal so volatile by the Uniti­on of it with a sublime Salt, that it will imbody it self without much shew, save that of a pleasing gum­mous Smell: for all Odour is from Sulphur. But before I pass any further, I think fit to Explain what I mean by an Embryonate Sulphur, and that is, a fragrant Gas or Breath containing the beginnings and im­pressions [Page 24] of Sulphur which are not yet Imbodyed, but like the first Rayes of an Embrio in the Womb, before it has gathered much Mat­ter. Now that our Waters do contain these Principles, and in so great Purity, it may thus ap­pear: For where there is no Floating Oyl, as in One of the Wells there is but very little, there is nevertheless a most plea­sing Scent from the Sulphur that is Incorporated with the Waters. Now wherever there is such an Em­bryonate pure Sulphur, there must be a Volatile Salt of the highest Na­ture, to Attenuate this Sulphur, and carry it on its Wings through the whole Body. And thus it is in our Waters, which upon Ordi­nary [Page 25] Experiments you'll find con­tain these Volatiles: For by Eva­porating some of the Water, you'll perceive it lose most of its Grateful Sulphureous Odour, be­cause so Tender and Volatile: Nay, though you shou'd Distil 'em with never so much Curi­osity, in Glass Vessels exactly fit­ted and luted, yet wou'd your Sulphur fly away insensibly, and leave no Footsteps of its presence.

But besides these, we are as forward as any other Mineral Waters: For we have a pure Vitriol of Iron, depurated and cleansed by Nature from a dan­gerous Aerugo, or Ironish Rust, which may be Precipitated in [Page 26] some Mineral Waters. This shews it self to every one by the Common Experiments made on any Chalybeate Waters; as by the Powder of Gauls, the Leaves of an Oak, or Tea, &c. Besides the Blackish Colour it leaves on the Ordure: Not to mention here all the Excellent Medicinal Qualities, which are a Cloud of Witnesses for it. This Specificated Vitriol entangles the fine Salt and Sulphur, whereby it Enriches it Self, and Retards those Volatiles, and so become all together Digested, and more ea­sily Dissolv'd in the Vein of a Spring. And the further they pass together in the Meanders and Sabulous or Gravelly Streiners of [Page 27] the Earth, they become the more purged from the Terrestrial and Sulphureous Feculencies they con­tracted in their Solution.

A Parallel to these Waters I believe is not discover'd. The more I Examine 'em, the more I wonder, to see such Life in Wa­ters, from Themselves so pure. 'Tis usual, especially in the Bow­els of the Earth, for the Princi­ples of Life to Contract great Impurities; Or at least, to be­come so heavy loaded, and dis­appearing, that they seem either not to be, or stifled, beyond smelling of 'em out by any Grate­ful Odours. Where there are any Sulphureous Spaws, as in York­shire, [Page 28] and other Places, their Oils (by Report) stink like Rotten Eggs in the Stomach, &c.—But there is no Unwholesome Glebe, or any dangerous Mineral or Metal, that casts one Unhappy Ray into this Healing Fountain. So that it appears to be a most Excellent Composition, (viz.) No less than the Original Purity of Salt and Sulphur, digested with the finest Vitriol of Mars.

Now as I can discover by my Art no other Principles in this Water, so I hope there is no other: For I can't ima­gine what is wanting to render 'em highly valuable, and promi­sing the greatest Benefits to Hu­mane [Page 29] Bodies, if Rightly Used. 'Tis true, They are not Far­fetch'd, therefore may be dis­esteem'd by some. But I have sound out a way to make 'em Grateful even to such Persons: Since then we can't Remove the Wells to Germany or Tunbridge, if they will but Remove Thither, and so send for 'em, or come once a year to 'em, that Squeamish Distemper will be Cur'd.

CHAP. IV.
Of the Virtues and Excellency of these Waters.

NOw what Great Things, and Truly too, can I say for These Fountains? They seem to be a Lively Alkali, or come nea­rer to it than any thing I know by Nature to be so. I'm apt to think 'em able, with a little help, to Recc­ver a Decay'd Mass of Blood, and to dissolve in some measure Tartarous Coagulums, such as STONE [Page 32] and GOƲT: But it must be by a well-govern'd Method in the Use of 'em, directed with a great deal of Skill. By the help of the Volatile Salt and Embryonate Sulphur, I believe a deep-rooted SCƲRVEY may be Cur'd; in Restoring those Decay'd Princi­ples which a Scorbutic Fret of Blood has almost eaten out.

But before I proceed any fur­ther, 'twill be necessary to make a little Digression of the Nature of the SCƲRVEY, and its Cure, the better to explain other Di­stempers.

The Scurvey then is, when the due Temperament of the Blood [Page 33] is broke up by the Raging of the Fixt Salts, and their Prey­ing on the True Sulphur or Oleity in Man eat it out, and subjugate the Pure Volatile Spi­rit to their own Dominion, and so becomes a Corrosive fiery Spi­rit. While this is doing, many Symptoms appear, as Scorbutic Frets, and Feaverish Intermissions, &c. But because it is done by degrees, and in some time be­comes Natural, a Man loses a good habit of Body he knows not how. Now when this Fixt Salt has in good measure de­stroy'd the other Vital Princi­ples, it sets up a Corrosive sharp Spirit, which (for want of the other Principles to purifie it) [Page 34] contracts a foul nasty Humour, which by some is call'd Bitturn; 'twill look Blackish, Green, and Yellow. By this time a Man's come to a pretty pass, and fit to complain he's Ill; for every thing about him begins to tell him so: But 'twill be too tedi­ous to mention Symptoms here.

Now the Common Cure for this, (after Purging and Bleed­ing) is, Testaceous Powders, Crabs Eyes, Pearl, Coral, Am­ber, Steel, Milk-Water, Asses Milk, going into the Countrey, and then to the Grave.

I say that no Dead Alkali will Cure the Scurvey, when come [Page 35] to a height: It will Palliate, that is, Obtund the sharp Parti­cles of the Blood, and lick 'em up for a while; But then the Corrosive Scorbutic Spirit breaks through again, unless suffocated: Just as the Spirits will disentan­gle themselves from an Opiate, unless over-power'd. But a Live­ly Alkali will beget a New Mass of Blood; 'Twill enter into the Fixt Salt, Open its Body, and Raise a New Stock of Princi­ples, and Ferment off the Course Salts with its Bitturn. Now these indeed are True Medicines, which alas too few yet know; Yet the Scurvey every Body knows and Cures.

[Page 36] But I must not digress too far; tho' I cou'd not well avoid this short imperfect touch at it; be­cause 'tis the Radix of most Di­seases. Indeed 'tis the M [...]ster that Cuts out; for most other Diseases do but finish its work. And since few dye of the Scur­vey, strictly so called; therefore many will pretend they Cure it. For it shifts into another Di­stemper, and the Doctor shifts it off too, and gives out he Cur'd him of the Scurvey; for the dy'd of a Consumption, &c.

Now whatever contains a pure Spirit, seated in a soft Volatile Salt and a Gass of Embryonate Sulphur, is this Lively Alkali; [Page 37] and such our Waters do in some degree: Therefore I may pro­nounce them an ANTI-SCOR­BƲTICK; which, rightly Consi­dered, is a Proud Medicine. And that such a Medicine is good a­gainst STONE and GOƲT, both my Reason and Experience can affirm; for 'twill bid fair for the Resolving of Tartarous Concre­tions. And that such Medicines will open Obstructions, dissolve Congelations, and the manifold Thicknings of the Juyces up and down the Body, is equally mani­fest by Reason and fair Practice. For Coagulums are the Common Effect of the Scurvey: And most of the Diseases of the Body are caus'd by the Acid Corosive Spi­rit, [Page 38] which will inspissate Juyces; just as Acids turn Milk to Curds and Clottedness. All Imposthu­mations, Schirrus's, Ulcers with­in the Body and without, are from this Scorbutick sharp Salt. From this Topick I could go through with most Diseases, and give the best Account of their Cause.—But I must forbear.

These Waters from their pure Sulphur can't but be Excellent for all inward Ʋlcers and Decayes, and to supple the Spirits fretted by ma­ny Distempers.

From their Impregnation with the Vitriol of Mars, they are em­bled for all those Excellent Opera­tions, [Page 39] which Tunbridge and other Chalybeat Waters perform. But because they are so commonly known, I will in this short Lecture omit 'em. It may therefore for the present suffice to mention the Virtues of these Waters from their Principles United.

They Cleanse, Cool, Stimulate, open Obstructions, dissolve and at­tenuate all Gross Humours, and are abstersive of Viscous, Tartarous, and other Humours in the Stomach, Mesenteries, Hypochondries, Reins, Womb, Bladder, Joints, &c.

They create a great Appetite, by Recovering and Strengthening her Tone. They Cleanse, Strengthen, [Page 40] and Contract the Womb, which must be of great use to such as are subject to Miscarriages, Weak­ness in those parts, and are un­apt to breed. But because I think not fit here to particularize, I'll once for all say, They are of ex­cellent use for Ladies in all their distinguishing Circumstances from Men: But not to be used by those with Child. For particular di­rection herein, a Physician shou'd be Consulted.

And here (in a Parenthesis) let me say, 'Tis requisite to the Health and Happiness of every Person to have Recourse to a Spiritual and Physical Guide, and that in times of seeming Health, to provide [Page 41] against those Evils, which the height of a Distemper and the hour of Death make unseasonable for any considerable Ministration. Principiis obsta, &c.

These Waters are powerful in all Cachectical and Obstinate Diseases. Like an Alkali, they im­bibe the Acidity and Sowerness of the Blood, and consequently dul­cify the same: For by a Natu­ral Propensity uniting Magneti­cally with the Salts, they are e­jected together with the Obstru­ctive Humours, by a strong Ir­ritation of Nature (from these Waters) to expel 'em. And from their Diuretick Nature, after they have Attenuated, Cut, Resolv'd, [Page 42] and so alter'd the Mucous and Tartarous Humours of the Body, and prepar'd 'em for Excretion, they then carry them off by U­rine, which is the most Safe and Effectual Conveyance (for all sharp and Saline Humours) of all sorts of Evacuation what­ever.

This Water, enrich'd by my Tinctura Regalis, and some Pow­ders that are Lively Alkali's, search such Latent Passages, and Abstruse Retirements of the Bo­dy, as other Medicines cannot reach; and after a Discovery made, doth not only dispossess what is Preternatural of its Usur­ped Power, but also by Corro­borating [Page 43] and Reinforcing Nature, so firmly intitles her to her for­mer Right of Inheritance, that scarce any thing but an Act of Hostility or Old Age, can cut off the Entail.

They so Correct and Amend the Juices of the Body, by expel­ling Watery, Sharp, Sower, Gnawing, Hot, Foul Humours, &c. that they Cure the Scurvey,, e­ven in those whose Gums and Teeth, as well by Spots as other Signs, shew it to have deep Rooting.

Admirable against DROPSIES, especially in such as have those Humours fluctuate up and down, [Page 44] by falling into the Legs and re­turning again, which prevents sore Legs, &c.

They are justly Recommended against the Jaundice, Yellow and Black, Melancholy and Fearful Passions, Cholick, Diarrhaea, and Dysenteria, and the Distemper call'd, Vapours offending Head and Heart.

They Open, Cool, Cleanse and Strengthen the Lungs, consequent­ly good against Asthma's, Coughs, and Consumptions, if not too far spent.

They are Abstersive and Mea­ling; therefore Consolidate Lungs [Page 45] decaying by Exulcerations: Like­wise Ʋlcerated Kidneys, they cleanse 'em of Mucous Foul Mat­ter, the Duelech, Sand, Gravel and Stones.

I may likewise commend 'em to those Subject to Head-Aches, Vertigo, Megrim, &c.

And for Gonorrhea's, and the Fruitful Improvements on that Graft; especially if taken in Me­thod, with a few other things; to speak Modestly, they will an­swer Expectation.

'Tis too tedious to Enume­rate so many Distempers as Au­thors have found hard Words [Page 46] for. The preserving the Blood in, or restoring it to a good Tem­per (without any more adoe) cuts off a Thousand Diseases.

I'll only add, That these Wa­ters are of Use to such as are af­flicted with Wounds, Ʋlcers, Fi­stula's, Sores, Itch, Scabs, Sore-Eyes, Sore-Legs, Leprosie, &c.

CHAP. V.
Directions to be Observed Before, In, and After the Ta­king these Waters.

TO them who intend the Use of these Waters for the Re­moving of any considerable Di­stemper, I advise that they pre­pare their Bodies as shall be thought most proper by their Physicians.

To those who carefully keep their Bodies from any glut of Humours, and design onely to [Page 48] take 'em for Pleasure, or to re­move slighter Indispositions; or if it be but to dilute and tem­per the Blood and preserve it from decay, or to create a good Stomach, &c. I advise but a slighter Preparation, by a gentle Infusion, or a few Stomach Pills, &c. to clear the first Passages.

But what I have furnisht my self with, requisite to be given before and with these Waters, &c. I shall keep at home, for such who Resort to me. For I wou'd willingly avoid all Offence; not coveting any Mans Employ.

[Page 49] And thus I hope I shall easily demonstrate my Care to prevent Obloquy, and satisfie any I de­sign not to Monopolize.

If Prejudice prevent not, these Waters may be Prescribed by Physicians in Method to their Patients, to the full as well as Other Medicinal Springs: And by their Skill may become Use­ful Vehicles for the distribution of such Generous and Noble Me­dicines as our Art directs.

These Waters are to be Ta­ken alone, from One Quart to Two; or Five Pints at most.

[Page 50] The Rules to be observed in the Taking of 'em, are common to other Mineral Waters, and so generally Known, that almost every one can prevent me in those Few and Easie Directions that are requisite.

They are to be Taken in the Morning Fasting, and before the Body is heated with Exercise: Therefore come to these Wells Early, and as Easily as you can.

They are not to be Drank too Quick, nor too Slow: But Con­venient Distances are to be allot­ted; as once in half an Hour a pint, or rather less, as your Sto­mach can bear 'em and pass 'em, [Page 51] till you have taken the Quantity you design. But to sickly Per­sons I advise but half a Pint at a Draught; and a little warm'd in cold Weather, by setting a Bottle in a Skillet of Cold Wa­ter close stopt, and so let it warm with the Water.

After you have taken two or three draughts, 'tis best to use some very gentle Exercise, to promote 'em by Urine.

Whilst you walk, ride, &c. you may eat Orange-Chips, Ci­tron-Peels, Carraway-Confects, Elicampane-Roots Candy'd, &c.

[Page 52] When your Waters are almost return'd, then you may increase your Exercise ad ruborem, non ad sudorem; till you be pretty Warm, but not Sweat.

'Tis not fit to Dine till the Waters are past; and half an Hour before Dinner (for some Persons) a Glass of Rhenish, White-wine or Clarret, I think not amiss.

I shall not here prescribe the Quality of your Diet: Every one knows that Mutton, Veal, Lamb, Chickens, Rabbits, &c. are good Fare. My Care is to Caution you as to Quantity, and that the rather, because [Page 53] these Waters rightly used, give a great Appetite:

'Tis better both to Dine and Sup Moderately, then to Over­charge at once.

Temperance prevents and helps to Cure many Diseases. He that desires to Eat much, must Eat little; for by Eating little at a time, he lives long, and so makes it up.

All Intemperance in Drink shou'd at all times be avoided; But Excess in this Method may be dangerous: Nevertheless I commend to some Persons, a little good Wine towards Night with Discretion.

[Page 54] And here I think it kind to Insert this Note; That the Dilu­tive Cup, or Evenings Draught so much in Use, is generally ta­ken too late: For to fill the Bo­dy with Liquor and presently to Bed, causes many Diseases. 'Tis fit it shou'd as to the grea­test part be passed first, which wou'd prevent Gravel, Stone, Gouts, Dropsies, and many Disea­ses of the Head, &c.

The Use of these Waters is to be continued as need shall require, and as you are Advised by your Physicians. A Fort­night or Three-weeks together is long enough without Inter­mission. For 'tis better to Omit [Page 55] 'em Two or Three Weeks, and then take 'em again, then to continue one long Course of 'em together; for fear of a Diabetes, or other Injuries.

Now if in this short Tract I have not given some Satisfactory Account of these Balsamick Wells, as to their Virtues and Use, I shall be ready to give further Direction to any that are pleas'd to Require it.