THat I may not be too prolix in ush­ering in this following Discourse, by any Praeliminaries, nor seem to make flourishes before a pass; I shall therefore (without making him a Leg) forthwith close with my Antagonist at down-right Club-Arguments, and my Weapons shall be taken up from his own Authors: Yea, I shall sometimes turn his own Artillery upon him, to the wounding of himself.

The matter therefore that first and mainly offers it self in Controversie, is this, (viz.)

Whether Vitriol or Iron are two distinct Ingredi­ents, or constitutive Principles of the Scarbrough-Spaw?

Now my Antagonist asserts, that they are two distinct Principles of this Spaw: I take it (saith he) to be Iron Mineral, with a touch of the Vitriol; or [Page 4]if you please, ferrum vitriolatum, or, vitriolum fer­ragineum: this is a natural Vitriol generated in the Veins of the Earth, through which the Spring runs, which hath by its acidity or esurine Salt actuated the Waters, which thereby is inabled to corrode a Vein of Iron.

By which, I perceive, he looks upon Vitriol as a simple Salt, without any dependance upon any Mine­ral or Metalline Body: And, as such, hath no relati­on to Iron, being quite another thing, yet calls it ferrum vitriolatum, or vitriolum ferrugineum, hooking the Iron to partake of the Vitriol, and the Vitriol of the Iron, and yet are two distinct things. But, I pray you, will not you allow Vitriol, I mean the natural, to be made of the Principles naturally requisite for the concretion and constitution of that mineral Compage called Vitriol?

If you do, (as of necessity you must) then if you can demonstrate, by matter of experiment, any natural Vitriol from which by Art I cannot separate a Mineral or Metalline Body; then will I lay down the Cudgels, yea the whole matter, if you please, shall pass upon it.

Doth not Kircher expresly say, Vitrio­lum vel ex aerata vel ferrata massa suan originem naucisci: Mund. Subter. p. 320. And further, Aquam quam cunque acido sulphuris spiritu im­butam aeratam glebam exedere; sen quod idem est; corpuscula aerata sua edacitate dissolvere & separare dissoluta vero corpuscula prorsus insensibili [...] aquam in se recipere, iisque quadantenus misceri [...] Yea and annexeth, Magnus aes inter & ferrum in­tercedit magnetissimus, insignique sympathia ex simi­litudinem origines pollent, &c.

From whose words, as also from an experimental, Suffrage of Truth, it is clearly evident, That all sorts of Vitriols consist of an acid sulphureous Salt or Spirit, in whose imbraces are alwayes one or other Mineral or Metalline Body couched, which is the main Pillar in the constitution of the Concrete of Vitriol, whether of Iron, Copper or Silver.

For amongst all kinds of Vitriols, whether Natu­ral or Artificial, if thereon (dissolv'd first in Wa­ter) a lixiviate Liquor, or volatile urinous Spirit be poured, it doth certainly (as I have further illu­strated in my Hydrol. Chym.) precipitate the Mine­ral or Metalline Body therein secretly contained: And therefore such Vitrioline Waters do alwayes, upon the commixture with their contrary Liquors, become so much altered by the loss of their Mineral Bodies, as they are not afterwards capable of al­tering their Colours, or of becoming an opacous Body of Ink; no nor of ministring their wonted helps for the health of Man's Body: to confirm which, we have given many experiments in our late Treatise.

This Vitriol (saith my Antagonist) is not so pro­perly said to be made by an Esurine Salt, as to have an Enfurine Salt or Spirit in it self: If so, then some­what else must go to the making up the Compages of Vitriol: and this must be an embryonative mi­neral Sulphur, whether of Iron or Copper; if of Iron, then it makes the fontes acidi, or vitriolin Spaws frequently to be found in England, Germany, and other Countries: And those differ amongst themselves according to the disposition of the corro­ded Vein, or the different impregnation of the Preterlabent Water, with the esurine sulphureous Salt. If of Copper, then it makes the Vitriolin [Page 6]Veneres, or Vitriol of Copper; and that whether it be found dissolv'd in Water, and so boyled up by Fire into the consistence of Vitriol, or it be found spontaniously coagulated within its own Mine, as that called the Cyprian, Hungarian, Goslaricke, &c.

Yet all Artificial Vitriols are made by an imita­tion of Nature in the production of the natural, as in those that are made out of Copper, witness that which is made by burning of Sulphur upon glowing or melted Copper; from which, with much labour, is prepared a vitriolin aerngo, or that which Para­celsus commends as the best Artificial Vitriol, being made by a Cementation of Plates of Copper strati­sied with common Salt and Sulphur: and others af­ter him perform the same by distilling often Spirit of Sulphur or Vitriol from Plates of Copper, until they be black and friable, then dissolv'd in Water, is boyled up, and shoots into a blew Vitriol not un­like the Cyprian; So that to the Fabrick of all Vi­triols, whether natural or artificial, is required ne­cessarily not only an acid sulphureous Spirit or Salt, but also a Mineral or Metalline Body: And there­fore we may certainly conclude that natural Vitriol is, Partus immaturus Sulphuris Embryonati, and hath its own mineral and metallick Body in it self.

My Antagonist should have given us a definition of his Vitriol in the Searbrough Spaw. That we might have known what he had meant thereby: he saith indeed, that it is an Esurine Salt, which acu­ates the Waters, (p. 6.) which is able to corrode a Vein of Iron; and yet saith, (p. 5.) That the Vi­triol in the Spaw, is not made out of Iron. How to reconcile this contradiction I know not, unless you mean, by Vitriol, a simple Esurine Salt: And [Page 7]then in my judgment you fall far shore of expressing the true essence of Vatriol; which is not Vitriol; but as it hath relation to a Mineral or Metalline Body.

For the acute Helmont saith, (p. 55.) Seminas [...] lium cuncta in aquis sita sunt, attamon nondum sape­rem induerunt nisi corporum principin consentanca [...] ­ [...]resque terrae debites repererunt, &c. (viz.) That all the Seeds of Salts are placed in Water, yet are not indued 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 Allom, in another in Salmarine, in a third in Nitre, &c. To which he adds, Quocir­ca notandum, Sal quoddam existere hermaphreditieum metallorum quod defectu nominis esurinum sine ace­tosum re & nomine vocari capit, generale equidem & ad emnia metalla accommodabile, (viz.) That there is a certain Hermaphroditical Salt of Metals, which for want of an other name, is called an Esu­rine or Acid Salt, which is a general sort of Salt, and accommodated to all Metals: So that you see that this Esurine Salt, while such, is no more than Salt, and not a Vitriol; but if it become a Vitriol, it must espouse a Mineral or Metalline Body.

In as much as Helmont further saith, Vitriolum Prestantissimum naturaliter crescis, fodiris, quibus naturaistud Sal Esurinum poperit, Venam aeris fera­cem corrodens, & fontis labentis liquore dissolutum, (viz.) That the best Vitriol is most naturally brought forth in those Mines where Nature bath begot that Esurine Salt, corroding a strong Vein of Copper, be­comes dissolv'd in the gliding current of a Spring.

But do not you observe (saith my Antag.) that there is a palpable Pouder, which when a little Gall is put into the Water, (p. 8, 9.) by which it turns black, (which Colour it takes from the Vitriol) there will settle, after some hours, upon agitation of the Vessel, a black Pouder near a dragm in a gal­lon, which hath a stiptick and drying taste like Crocus Martis, and after the same manner tingeth the Excrements black.

Very true, I grant that the dissolved minera of Iron, or an equivalent minera of a strong Concre­tion, is precipitated either by addition of Galls, or by much agitation, especially in Oaken Vessels, or by long standing, and is that Ingredient in the Water which tingeth the Excrements black. But now look about you; you expresly say, That this precipitated black Pouder hath its colour from the Vitriol, and yet is the Iron Ingredient of the Spaw; therefore, according to your own words, it should follow that the Vitriol is yet left behind in the Wa­ter: which if so, Why doth it not upon a new ad­dition of Galls, give fresh tincture? Why is it that upon the precipitation of this Crocus, by long car­riage of the Water, it will give no more tincture by Galls, as we find by experiment.

For I observe that when the minera of Iron is se­parated by precipitation out of the Spaw Water, that neither Galls, nor solution of Galls, (either of which would have done before) will cause any alteration, either of Red, Purple, or Black Colour; which it would certainly do if the Vitriol were there, which (according to your own words) gives the colour. So that of necessity, either the Vitriol is not in the Water, or what you speak of it, is not true: chuse whether you please (Hydroph.) you are [Page 9]pinch't; and that no Vitriol remains after the fal­ling down of the minera of Iron, is apparent; be­cause if you then pour a dissolved lixiviate Salt thereon, instead of precipitating a terra vitrioli, (which in all solutions of natural Vitriols will hap­pen) you shall have nothing but a white troubled milkie Liquor: which will in a little time, let fall the several contained fabulous Concretions, which had been dissolved before in the Water, and the Esurine together, with the Nitrous Salt, (which a­cuated the Water, and made it as a menstruum) will be imbrac'd and complicated for the most part with the Lixivial Salts, into a kind of Tartarum Vitriolatum: So that by this it's as plain as the Sun at noon day, that there is an inconsistency of Vi­triol and Iron, as two distinct Ingredients of the Spaw; The presence of which, as two distinct con­stitutive principles thereof, was what I opposed with sufficient grounds, and now farther confirm, which I think may byas any unprejudiced Reader.

All Authors, (saith my Antagonist) whether Chymists or others, account the Esurine Spirit, or Juyce of Vitriol, enough to impregnate a Water with an acidity, that shall make it corrode other Minerals or Metals by which it passeth; So as we may very well lay aside this Esurine Salt, or primum eus salium, as wholly precarious.

How now (Hydroph.) do you accuse me of con­tradictions, (which I hope e're long I shall take of for the most part) and yet your self guilty of the same, even within the compass of half a dozen lines? Can the Esurine Spirit, or Juyce of Vitriol, im­pregnate Water as a menstruum, and yet the same thing, (viz.) the Esurine Salt (for by Esurine Spi­rit, Esurine Salt, or primum ens salium, the same [Page 10]is understood) be wholly precarious? how doth this hang together?

I perceive you have imbib'd but a very sleight touch of Helmont, otherwise you would have been better impregnated with his Principles, than to have denyed the same thing you had before owned in a very little different expression.

Do not you frequently mention the Esurine Salt, p. 5, 6, 7, 17. (viz.) That by its Esurine Salt, (speaking of the Spaw) it more freely corrodes the Iron, and that Vitriol hath an Esurine Salt or Spi­rit in it self? and yet here you say, It may be laid aside as wholly precarious; this is quidlibet ex quo­libet justly retorted. But why do I trouble my self, these are only sudden flashes of your gnis fa­tum, soon in and soon out, apt to lead the timerous and unwary aside.

But pray, if Iron be in this Spaw, as a distinct Ingredient thereof from Vitriol, What is that which is the menstruum in the Water, to dissolve Iron, (viz.) to make it appear in the form of a Liquor?

I tell you (saith he) what will do it, besides the Alkahest of the Chymist; Vitriol imbib'd at the first, doth by its Esurine Salt make the Water cor­rosive, and fit to take that or any other Mineral that is in its way: Well, this is a confirmation of your late Contradiction, yet you hover and endeavour to gain the Forts you formerly quitted; for first you own an Esurine Salt, p. 5, 6, 7. and then p. 11. you lay it aside as wholly precarious; and here, (p. 17.) you very fairly take it up again; and p. 96. you say, you have with good reason exploded Helmonts primumens.

I'le refer you (saith my Antagonist) to your grand Master Paraceisus, where treating of Acid Waters, Harum ortus est (inquit) ex resolutione Me­tallorum, antequam ad maturitatem pervenerint: And presently after saith, Interdum ex vitriolo & a lumine hujusmodi aquae promanant.

You are mistaken, (Sir) I pretend not to be a Paracelsian in Physiology, not much valuing his Theory; your self quote him five times, I may say, I think for my once; what I esteem him for, was his Medicinal Arcana's; by which he was enabled to perform great Cures, maugre yours and others malice against him, and other searchers of Nature. As to that first sentence you urge, if you consult a lit­tle further, you will find he saith, Aurum & plumbum dant dulcedinem, cuprum ferrumque acidi­tatem: Now as for Gold, that will give no Vitri­ol; and for Lead, that requires an Acid Salt, either Vegetable or Mineral to make a Saccharine Vitriol thereof; and Copper or Iron, with an additional Acreal or Mineral Acid Salt, gives in a Water Spring an acidity; that is in short, makes a Vitriol either of Iron or Copper.

But to proceed, There are four wayes (saith my Antagonist, p. 21.) whereby Water may imbibe the Nature or Vertue of a Mineral or Metal.

The first is, By receiving its Vapour; thus Water standing some while in a Brass or Iron Vessel, will taste of the Brass or Iron.

Not to say (Hydroph.) that those four wayes of imbibitions you reckon, are pillag'd out of Doctor French his Book of Knarsbrough Spaw, and out of Falopius, cap. 8. without taking notice of the Au­thors, is a crime you can indulge your self and not another.

Falopius tells us in that place, where he speaks of the several commixtures of Minerals and Metals in Water, Omnes mixtiones pendent a triplici causa, Scilicet a calors, a mora & ab aptitudine materiae ad Eliquationem. The last of which insinuates an ap­titude of the Solvent, solvable or both. Non solum (he goes on) telluris species, sed & vapores, & suc­ci, & metalla, in subterraneis cavernis reperiuntur, &c. Amongst those he calls succi, he reckons the Mineral Salts; which (as Basilius Valentinus, who was much conversant amongst Minerals and Metals, saith) are the Keys to unlock the Mineral Kingdom, and that whether naturally in the Bowels of the Earth, or artificially upon solid Minerals or Metals: and amongst the succs Minerales, Falopius reckons the succus Calcanthi, which whether ever it fell in his or some others way that treat cursorily thereof, to anatomize that Mineral, so as to rightly understand its constitutive Ingredients, may be much scrupled.

But to return to your Vapours, Falopius saith, p. 25. That they are all either maligni or benegni; the malign we will pass, and come to the benign, for those (if any) I hope, breath upon our Spring; These, he saith, are either bituminous or sulphureous. Ego (inquit, speaking of the Vapours) non reperi a­liud, non reperiri dico nec scriptum nec experientia, &c. So that although you say he useth the tearm above forty times in the sense you speak of, even in one leaf side, yet do I not find a word in that place, either that Vitriol communicates it self to Water by a Vapour, or that Iron or Brass will give a Vapour to Water which stands therein: And yet you say he speaks of Vapours in your sence; if he do, it is indeed so in your sence, but I know not that it is in any others: And that I may be very [Page 13]brief, I refer the intelligent Reader to compare what I have writ hereof in p. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. of my Hydrologia Chymica, with what my Antagonist af­ferts in his three Books, for I love not repetitions: I confess he saith, Aqua Calcant hosa cognoscitur gustu & olfactu. But that those Vitrioline Waters should chiefly (or eminently, as your own words are) partake of Vitriol by its Vapour; is what I do not find him mention, nor do I understand. It's pro­bable indeed that there are Vapours, but those arise from a fermentation amongst the Mineral Juyces, and are themselves scarce sufficient to make up any one Mineral Body, so as to become the efficient of a­ny Acid Water or Spaw.

But to proceed, (p. 28.) Doth not Iron (in effect urgeth my Antagonist) give it self by a Va­pour to the Water? for the Iron that is imbib'd in this Spring, is not a solid or compact body of Iron, but like an ordinary Earth impregnate with a con­crete Juyce of Iron.

To which I answer, That though we suppose Iron in those mineral solutions, to be in its juyce or succulent parts; yet do not you explain an agent capable of making this Iron spend it self in Va­pours? and since these Vapours must either be cor­poreal or incorporeal; the last, I hope, you will not grant; if therefore they be corporeal, then these Vapours must of necessity have the essential parts of Iron in them, (viz.) the Mercury and the Sulphur proper thereto: If so, then what difference is there betwixt these Vapours, or minute parts of Iron congregated, and the body of Iron it self? for seeing it is (as I further inlarge in my Hydrolog. Chym.) the union of the Mercury and Sulphur in various degrees, according to the model of the Me­talline [Page 14]Seeds, which gives the essence, yea and di­stinction of Metals amongst themselves. Therefore that which must be the agent or efficient to make a Metal (viz. that hath Metalline Principles, though not throughly maturated) to vapour, must be a­mongst Fire or Ferments, Salts or Solvents: For in Nature (as far as I can apprehend) there are found no other material Agents than what are com­prised in those four.

Now it would have very much establisht your Hy­pothesis of Iron, communicating it self to the Spaw by a Vapour; if you had assign'd the Agent, by which the Metalline Body should spend it self in a Vapour.

Well, (quoth my Antagonist, p. 29.) consult Kircher, and he'l tell you that Iron yeelds a Va­pour to the purpose, Observantur (inquit, Lib. 10. Cap. 10. p. 219.) in fornacibus, &c. To wit, In the Iron works, where it is melted, Vapours arise out of the Iron which turn into a downiness, which cleaves to the Walls and Roofs of the House: He also saith, That of all Metals, Iron sends out the most foetid smell.

Here is indeed an Agent (Hydroph.) with a wit­ness, (viz.) The fire of a Forge, which must needs make Iron, as well as all other imperfect Metals, take Wing, and make the next adjacent places their Receivers; the same doth Lead, witness Potters Houses, where they calcine their Lead to Pouder, by frequent agitation upon the fire, where the flowers of Lead are seen to hang round the Roof; so Tin, yea Copper will do the same, witness the flos aris in the melting Forges, &c.

But what Aequipolleut Fire will you suppose to be near the Scarbrough Spaw; Perhaps you may [Page 15]think Vulcau's Forge is near hand, and that the Vapours of calcined Iron are driven into this Spring, and so are somewhat akin to the late Eruptions of Mount Aetna: I confess indeed that Iron and Cop­per, &c. will not only contract an Aerugo by an Acid Salt or Spirit, which floats in the Air, and so waste themselves away in Vitriols, but also are sub­ject to the same fate of all other mixt Bodies, (viz.) to suffer some parts constantly (though insensibly) to wind off, and so wear away in a tabidness inci­dent to all Elementary Bodies; while some parts, by other active Principles, are wheeled off, and by different Seeds are determined into (and wound on) other bodies; and so in a round, in the Metastasis of bodies, from one form into another, through the whole Fabrick of the Creation, and that in a per­petual vicissitude; and unless you will take this con­stant unhinging the particles of Concretes to be Va­pours, I know not how you can possibly make good your assertion of the Vapours of Iron communica­ble to the Spaw.

Do not Metals (saith my Antagonist) yeeld an Apporrhea while they are firm? Have you never seen a wise man (for you have lost your smell) put a counterfeit Coin to his nose, and aver that it smelt of Copper? The like may be said of Iron and Brass, and yet you say the compact body of Iron will not impart a Vapour to a Liquor; wherein the Apothe­caries Boys will laugh at you, when we prescribe Chalybeate Drinks, which is ordinary to Hypo­chondriack Maladies; the Liquors receive a Vapour from the Iron, and yet the compact body of Iron still remains.

Metals do indeed yeeld an Apporrhea in that [...]ence I have lately discoursed on, (viz.) by a conti­nual [Page 16]winding of, or wearing away of the parts of the Bodies, some sooner, some later, and that by the efficiency of active principles alwayes in motion, and so all bodies are subject thereto, more or less, and so you may as well say Gold, Marble, &c. have Vapours; seeing these also escape not in some measure the general mutability of mixt bodies; be­sides there are many Concretes which have no smell, and consequently no Vapour, (according to the ac­ceptation of the word) and yet are subject to the common vicissitude of Bodies.

As to the discovering of counterfeit Coyn by smelling at ones Nose; in the alleadging of which, I perceive you were not very cautious, for Copper is a Metal that doth easily contract an Aerugo, or flos aeris, by the acid menstrual Salt in the Air, (which whether the Solution thereof be facilitated by the Conuate Esurine Salt, (peculiarly natural to Copper or Iron, as Dr. French would affirm, is not much necessary now to determine) and so what taste or smell it hath in coyn'd pieces, or otherwise, is to be ascribed to its Vitriol, and not to the body of Copper: We see where ever Copper or Brass is, whether aloyd with other Metals, (so as it out-pro­portions the united Metal) or alone, is very apt (un­less constantly kept drest and clean) to gather greenish Rust, which is nothing else but a Vitriol thereof, and this (and not the Metal singly) is that which both gives the taste and smell, both to Liquors that stand long, or are boyled in such Ves­sels, or to coyn'd pieces: And therefore Paracelsus, and others, together with your self, not well weigh­ing this considerable circumstance, might easily be deceived, and suppose the bodies of those two Me­tals, (when it was nothing but the Vitriols thereof) [Page 17]to give that taste & smell which is sometimes found; and therefore the instance (my Antagonist) then brings to confirm that emission of Vapours from Copper, (p. 25.) by putting Carps into a Copper Brewing-Vessel, with fresh Water, to be preserv'd for one night, were all found dead in the morning, is, I say, invalid; and that first, because the Copper Vessel (for ought you know) had not been used lately before, and perhaps was not carefully cleans'd, and thereby might (as we have shewed before) easily gather a greenish rustiness or Vitriol, which by the pouring Water therein, might easily dissolve, and as readily kill the Carps, as if so much other natural or artificial Vitriol had been put therein; next to which, the change of the Water, which might very likely have a touch of some Salt (that, many times is not easily discoverable) might prove altogether disagreeable to the Fish. Whether way we take it, you see there is no need to ascribe it, or justly think it ascribable to the Vapours of the Cop­per: Which suppose we should grant, how absurd and incongruous to our health would it be, to sup our Broth, eat our Meat, and drink our Drink, so constantly made ready by those vessels, whose steams were able to kill Fish? Would it be at all safe to prepare our ordinary Food in such Vessels as have such poysonous Vapours?

Yea, and that I might confirm what I say by matter of fact, I procured seven or eight small Fish taken in a Net in Colder, which I ordered to be car­ied to my House in some of the Water they were ta­ten in, which with more of the same Water I put into a bright clean scoured brass brewing Pan, which [...] caused to be set into the open Air, (for probably [...]ant of fresh Air might amongst other things, not a [Page 18]little contribute to the destruction of the Fish) and found them not only to be alive the morning follow­ing, but to be as lively and brisk in their motions, as when newly put in; where for tryal sake, I kept them another night, and found them the morning after, in a manner as brisk and active as at the first.

And whereas, I say, that all compact Metalline Bodies must have proper and peculiar Menstruums to unlock them, if any Medicinal Arcanum be thence expected. My Antagonist answers, p. 25. Why! I can assure him upon tryal, that the filings of Steel (suppose a pound) set to infuse in a quart o [...] clear Spring Water for a few dayes, the Water up­on evaporation afforded a clear Salt of greenish co­lour.

To which I return, That it is my Antagonists hap to be very unfortunate in the proposal of his Ex­periments, and therefore should not be one intrusted to make those Experiments from whence a well-grounded Hypothesis of natural Philosophy should be deduced; for he is unwary, in the due poysing of those concomitant circumstances which make Ex­periments critical, and from whose management de­pends the successfulness, or the contrary, of most Experiments. For had he rightly considered that all or most Spring Waters we meet with, have a sleight touch of some one or other Mineral Salt o [...] Earth, which is that which gives the difference o [...] tasts Spring Waters have one from another, (distinguishable by curious Palates accustomed to drink Water) he would not have made use of that as h [...] Menstruum, for the tryal of extracting a Vitriolic Salt out of Iron.

I did indeed try the like Experiment with [Page 19]Spring Water which we have by us, poured upon clean filings of Steel, (for that's another circumstance which unheeded may also make his Experiment, as [...]o what is intended, thereby miscarry) which being decanted (after it had stood some dayes) and eva­porated, gave (as my Antagonist saith) a greenish coloured Salt: which had I not been further inqui­sitive in weighing the circumstances better, I had concluded, with my Antagonist, that it had been a salt from the Iron: but I considered whether or no indeed this Spring Water might not contain in its self this sort of Salt, which upon tryal (by evapo­rating it away alone in a Jar Glass) I found that it [...]est the very same sort of Salt, and as near as could [...]e esteemed, the like quantity with that left after the [...]fusion of the Water upon the Iron.

Therefore, for further satisfaction, I poured some distilled Water upon filings of Steel; which being bured off, after several dayes infusion, found no [...]ch Salt at all left behind, nothing being left in [...]e bottom that had any Salt: by which I have early demonstrated how easily (for want of due circumspection in circumstances essential to things to [...] tryed by matter of fact) my Antagonist can im­pose upon himself and others by fallacious Experi­ments.

And as to what you say, that the Apothecaries [...]yes would laugh at me for denying Iron (as a impact body) to impart a vapour to a Liquor; I [...]ght tell you, that if I could spare so much vacant [...]e, I could both laugh at you and them; at you [...]t, and chiefly for your ignorance of the very na­ture of the Metals you treat of, supposing Chalybeat [...]inks (frequently ordered for Hypochondriack Ma­ladies) to be made after such a manner as wherein the [Page 20]Iron gives it self by a Vapour to the Liquor, not Un­derstanding (at least not recollecting) that to make Chalvbeat Waters, they most frequently (if no [...] alwayes) add some Saline or Acid Spirit, to make the Iron capable of being dissolved in part in the affus'd Liquor, and that either by taking the Cro­cus, or other preparation of Iron, wherewith to satiate their Liquors, which become so much dis­soluble as to give them the name of Chalybeat Wa­ters or Liquors.

For in all Chalybeat Extractions, you should not (Hydroph.) be ignorant that there is require either that the Iron be reduc'd into a Crocus, which is done either by Calcination, (and that either p [...] ­se, or with Sulphur) or by Acid Spirits, such a distilled Vinegar, Spirit of Salt, Niter, Sulphur, & or else that the Menstruum to be affus'd, have son innate acidity.

I would gladly know (Hydroph.) whether yet ever order your merry Apothecaries Boyes to ma [...] you any Chalybeat Liquors, by barely pouring sup­ple distilled Water upon fresh filings of Steel, a [...] whether they or your Patients do ever discern a [...] taste or smell of Iron from such Waters? Doth no I pray, the main reason of Chalybeat Extraction depend upon the reduction of Iron into a Cro [...] or the acuation or Menstruums by Saline Spirits, [...] either of which there happens a solution of some the body of Iron into the Chalybeat Liquors, which give them a sapor not a vapour? It's true, if you [...] rusty silings of Iron, Water upon its affusion [...] thereby have an Iron taste; but this is by reason an acid Salt in the Air which hath fretted the [...] and t [...]ned it into a Crocus of Iron, and the [...] makes it yeeld a solution of some of its parts.

And now (Hydroph.) by this time, I think you and your Apothecaries Boyes have done laughing, and may take time to turn your Vapours into Tears, and spend them at your leasure.

Doth not Falopius, p. 29, 34. (who had great experience in Mineral and Metalline Waters) say, Arbitror non reperiri aquam ferream; for certainly if Iron would give it self immediately to Water, then should we find frequently those aquae ferreae, in places where Waters run through the minera there­of: but no such by experience are found, therefore our Argument will be strongly inforc'd, a majore ad minorem, (viz.) that if in the minera, where the parts are more loose, it will not yeeld its Vapour or Tincture to Water, much less will the compact Body thereof, (which hath undergone the violence of the melting Forge) do any such thing.

And whereas you cavel at my Philosophical De­scription of Ink made forth by Colateral Experiments of the Spaw, if you could have carpt at any thing therein, no question but you would; or if you had given a better, then you had done like an Artist, and so might have passed it over with a joke: for though the Subjects sometimes we treat of be but common obvious things, yet they require a searching diligence and deep diving, Philosophically to solve the abstrusities of the nice Compositions and Com­mixtures of Bodies, to make their Phaenomaena ob­vious.

I pray, (saith my Antagonist, p. 35, 36.) Are Iron and Vitriol all one? I think they do as really differ as your Knife and your Ink. Do not all Au­thors, as well Chymical as others, that treat of them, do it severally? And doth not Paracelsus say, Na­tura genorat salem vitriolum dictum, &c. Do not [Page 22] Gallen, Mathiolus, Sennertus, Pliny, Renedeus, speak to the same purpose?

To which I answer, That Iron and Vitriol may indeed be two distinct things, but then the Vitriol must be such as is made out of some other Metal o [...] Mineral: but if you query concerning natural acid Salt & Iron, as coexistent in the same Concrete, the [...] I say they are both one, (viz.) they both together make up that Concrete we call Vitriol; from which if you separate the Iron, what remains falls short o [...] being a Vitriol, and becomes only a Salt, which i [...] more simple than Vitriol, as being indeed but one Ingredient thereof. And out of such a Vitriol o [...] Iron, if you be a good Metallurgist, and skilful Mechanick, you may make as good a Blade as you have a Haft; for, as to what you urge, how that those Authors speak in confirmation of your suppo­sition, I am not much sollicitous, especially if what they write come in competition with truth, as i [...] results from matter of fact; besides some of these Authors, (as they have occasion) treat severally o [...] these Concrets as different Subjects, and not as they bear any relation to each other in Mineral Soluti­ons and Concretions, and so indeed they are diffe­rent, and may be discoursed of as differently.

And as to what you repeat out of Paracelsus, [...] am not concern'd, seeing he doth not confirm it by matter of fact, nor by any evident demonstration I find Paracelsus very incautious in his assertions and as for true Physiology not much to be re­garded; besides, what he there saith doth diame­trically oppose what may be made evident by Ex­periment; for he calls that a Salt, which after se­paration of other Ingredients, is yet reducible into a more simple Salt, witness the Salt of Vitriols which [Page 23]is separable out of any natural Vitriol, after the se­paration of the Mineral or Metalline parts.

Yea, I will tell you, (Hydroph.) that if you can produce out of any of the aforesaid Authors, so much experiment as to make evident, by matter of fact, what you would prove; yea, if you can shew me from any ingenious Chymical Artist (to whom you must be beholden, if ever it be done) such a Vitriol either extracted from this Spaw or elsewhere, that is such a simple Salt as from which I cannot separate a Mineral or Metalline Body; or if you can separate a Vitriol out of the Spaw, after the pre­cipitation of the minera of Iron, The Game I assure you shall be upon your side.

For where you instance what I say p. 47. of my Hydrol. Chym. in p. 105. of your Mamick, (viz.) that I arguing against Vitriol, as being inconsistent with that of Iron in the Spaw; the reason you blusht not to urge, why though Vitriol be in the Water, yet it should not vomit, was that we used it (said you) in Juleps and Cordials, which doth not cause Vomiting; which you confirm and say, That the main part of the Vitriol in this Water is the Spirit; which is as much, yea far more diluted with the Water wherein it is, than the force of the Vi­triol is corrected by the vehement heat of the fire in the distilling of the Spirit thereof.

Now to come to the point, (Hydroph.) if it were certainly true what you say, that the main part of the Vitriol in the Water is the Spirit, then it would without controversie demonstrate it self by distilla­tion: For seeing, according to your own suppositi­on, the Vitriol is in Spirits in the Water, and these Spirits are also very subtile, volatile, and penetra­tive; therefore of necessity, upon distillation of these [Page 24]Waters fresh from the Spring, these Spirits should arise first; but that they do not, I can assure you, by matter of Experiment; for I distilled some fresh Water from the Fountain in a Glass Retort, at Scar­brough, whose joynts was exactly closed up; I sav'd the first half ounce, yea and in another distillation of fresh Water, the first quarter of an ounce of Water which came over, (supposing that if any volatile, vi­trioline Spirits would come, it would be at the very first) whose taste or smell did not (I affirm) at all resemble the Spirits of Vitriol, which according to your Hypothesis they should have done.

But suppose that what had come off at the first, had been of the nature of vitrioline Spirits, and had, by the sharpness of their taste, and sulphureousness of their odour, demonstrated themselves to have been such, (which yet I assure you hapned to the contrary) yet would it not thence have followed that these had been Vitriol, as you assert, for it is (if I mistake not) beyond the bounds of Art and Nature, to make Vitriol out of these Spirits alone; these Spirits indeed may (as I have sometimes seen) be coagulated into a solid dry Salt; but yet is this Salt as far removed from the Essence of Vitriol, as it was, while liquid, and in the form of Spirits; Now that Vitriol should yeeld it self by Spirits, and these Spirits impregnate the Spaw, and yet up­on the test to be found to be no such things, argues a fiction from the beginning to the end.

But if you further urge and say, (as I find you do, p. 104.) that these Spirits are so penetrative, as that they can even pass through the Glass and Lute; then you must erect a new Classis of Spirits, such as never yet have been found in rerum naturâ: For we find that the volatile and most subtil Spirits of [Page 25]Harts-Horn, Urine, Blood; yea, and of Sal Ar­moniack (then which nothing is more penetrative) may be catched in Receivers; (yea, even in such as I us'd for the taking these supposed Spirits of Vitriol) and may be kept a considerable time in Vials, close stopt, even for a year or more, as I have done, with­out any great loss of their volatile parts.

These Spirits, I say, may be received and kept, and yet are the most penetrative of all sorts of Spirits we meet with in Nature, save the flatus incoercibilis, or spiritus sylvestris, which is the common sequel of Fer­mentations; whether of Minerals, whence pro­ceeds the incoercibleness of the pulvis pyrius, au­rum fulminans, &c. Yea, and whence all sulphu­reous arsenical and malignant damps, or whether of Vegetables, witness the flatus from the fermen­tation of all potable Liquors, &c. Or lastly, of Animals, from the spurious fermentation of whose Juyces, proceed a flatus incoercibilis, the very ef­ficient and agent in Paralytick, Apoplectick, Epi­leptick, Asthmatick, Hysterick, and other Dis­eases, as you may further see in our Hydrologia Chy­mica.

As to what you say, that Dr. Heers in his Spa­dacrene saith, That the German Spaws consist of Iron, Vitriol, and Ochre, thereby making Iron and Vitriol distinct: if you consult what I say thereof in p. 138, 139. of my Hydrol. Chym. you may find a sufficient resolve thereof, which I shall not now repeat.

Fallopius (saith my Antagunist) treating of the Spaw in Germany, and that at Rome, saith, Arbi­tror eas [...] quia habeant calcanthum puris­simum.

I grant indeed that all Acid Waters are chiefly from Vitriol; but then that Vitriol must have an­nexed to it the mineral compage of Iron or Copper, or what third you please, yea, and is not factitious neither, but natural; for Scroderus (which Author you also quote) faith plainly, Varia sunt genera Vitrioli, pro naturâ minerae quam in se continent dif­ferentia, (as you may see, p. 4. 14. of his Pharmach.) But that Scarbrough Spaw Water is as a Vitrioline Acidity, is petitio principii, as I shall afterwards make more evident.

Another token of Vitriol, (saith he) is that Apporrhea Mineralis, or Vitrioline Vapour, which any of an indifferent smell may observe, which is somewhat like that of Ink, though more pure.

Indeed (Hydroph.) when I was last at the Spaw, I tryed several times if I could any way be sensible of that Vapour; but neither I, nor two Physici­ans more that were by, could at all perceive it: but perhaps we had by consent got cold, and were ob­structed in our Nostrils, so as we could not as well perceive that apporrhea as Hydroph. Nor do I dis­cover any thing of Vitriol, either as to the Juyce thereof, or apporrhea; which afterwards I shall make good by ocular demonstration.

But looking back (Hydroph.) to p. 13. of your Mimick, I espie you impeaching me of a contradi­ction, in that I asserted, that an aluminous Salt, from a mineral acidity, had dissolv'd a slight touch of the mineral of Iron, &c. Are not here (saith Hydroph.) two Minerals made, (viz.) Iron and Alom by his own confession? To which, I answer, that it's graunted. Nay further (saith Hydroph.) I'le see if I cannot find two more, look (p. 359.) [Page 27]and there he saith, upon a further tryal of the Spaw Water, he found a body of Vitriol, which he calls Terra Vitrioli; then turn over leaf to (p. 360.) and he tells you he found Nitre.

To which I return, That as to that which I call terra vitrioli, I understand no other then that Cro­cus Martis, or ramenta ferrea, or terra rubrica, or minera ferri; all which are synonymous, signify­ing the same thing, (viz.) the mineral or metalline Ingredient dissolv'd by the Esurine sulphureous Spi­rit in Vitrioline Spaws, or by the nitro aluminous Salt, in nitro aluminous Spaws, such as Scarbrough Spaw. So as you are mistaken (Hydroph.) to think that I intend by terra vitrioli, any other In­gredient then the minera ferri; wherefore all right­ly weighed, you find me but to number up (besides the several fabulous Concretions) three mineral In­gredients of that Spaw (viz.) Alom, Nitre, and the ramenta ferrea; and those are demonstrably apparent, as elsewhere I may take time further to enlarge upon.

But now (Hydroph.) that I may not be long in your debt, but may retaliate in specie, I find, as I pass along, that you say, (p. 7.) The Iron is not here (speaking of the Spaw) a perfect solid Metal, but in solutis principiis. And (p. 44.) you say, That Iron is here in its body, which being calcin'd, yeelds a scoria like Iron: And yet you say, (p. 80.) That the Salt got out of Iron by burning it with a Candle, infusing it in Water or Wine, this is the Ingredient in our Water.

How will these hang together (Hydroph.) that Iron in the Spaw should not be a solid Metal, and yet should be here in its body, yea and not in his body? for you say, The Salt got out of the Iron, [Page 28](while the Astringent Crocus remains) is that which opens Obstructions,pag. 7. pag. 44. pag. 80. and is the Ingredient of our Water; so that it's this Salt, (it seems, according to those last words) and not the body of the I­ron, which is the Ingredient of the Spaw; which how contradictory they be, let the impartial Rea­der judge.

Also, you say, in the calcination of the Minerals of the Spaw, pag. 67. That though they calcine whitish, yet there are (here and there) Laminae ferreae, or flakes of Iron interspersed, broad and thin like those that fly off from Iron while under the Smith's Hammer; and yet you query, (p. 65.) Why we should expect that the Minerals should calcine in Scorias & Crocos, since we had not here to do with perfect Metals or Mine­rals dissolv'd in Water? for you acknowledge that there are Laminae ferreae, which you expresly (p. 67.) call the scoria of Iron; and yet you ask, why we should expect these Metals or Minerals should calcine in Scorias & Crocos?

Again (p. 65.) you instance Snelfer, (viz.) That the firm Metals being calcin'd with violent fire, (among which he reckons Iron) will not cal­cine into a Pouder, out of which Salt may be extra­cted. But in scorias & Crocos convertuntur neuti­quam in cineres quibus verum Sal eliciend. Thus far you have from Snelfer; here you stay not, but you borrow anothers Weapons, and forthwith become lyable to have them turn'd upon your self; for pre­sently you pass into tearms expresly contradictory to what you bring him in to vindicate. Your words run thus, Now if so (quoth Hydroph.) why then should these men expect that these Minerals should [Page 29]calcine in scorias & Crocos. And (p. 67.) speak­ing of Iron precipitated, This (say you) I calcin'd in a Crucible, in a very strong sire, and it became of a dark brown colour, and turns to a gross Pou­der hard as a Cinder, and is no other than the Sco­ria of Iron: After calcination, I dissolv'd and eva­porated it, it afforded a brownish floscule, very sharp and biting upon the tongue.

Now (Hydroph.) pray you observe the plainness of the contradiction; for first you produce Snelfer, urging that Iron will not calcine into a Pouder, out of which Salt may be extracted; and yet you say, you calcined the precipitated Iron of the Spaw with a strong fire, and it turned to a gross Pouder as hard as a Cinder; out of which, by solution and evapo­ration, you can get a brownish floscule, very sharp and biting; which you confess to be a Salt, first by saying, p. 67. that the Water where the solution is made, is brackish; next to which you expresly call it a Salt, saying, The Liquor will have a strong taste from the Salt, which opens Obstructions, and is the Ingredient in our Water: So that being incautious of what you lately urg'd out of this Author, and being byas'd by colateral experiments, you present­ly even unwarily fall foul upon the very Author you even now quoted, by contradicting those very words you expos'd for the vindicating your own assertions. And whereas you urge the same Authors words, (viz.) Sed in Scorias & Crocos convertuntur; if you proceed you will find him to continue on with these words, Qui Croci tamen nil nisi Scoriae sunt, in minutissimas atomos conversae, & veluti in terram mortuam insipidam, è quibus Sal aquâ affusâ elici nequeat: For the scope of this Author in that place is to answer these three considerable Queries.

The first, Whether any Metal may be truly calci­ned and brought into real Ashes, from which a Salt map be extracted? which in his Discourse he deter­mines in the Negative.

Secondly, Whether an extraction of the same Su­gar or Salt of Lead, (and consequently of Vitriol, &c.) be a true extraction, or only a solution? the latter of which he affirms demonstrably.

The third and last, Whether this or any other Salt or solution may be edulcorated by solution, filtration, and evaporation? which he denies evidently.

Now as to the first, He denies that any Metal may by force of fire be reduced in Scorias & Crocos, vel Cineres, from whence any Salt may be extract­ed; and yet you say, (Hydroph. p. 79.) That the deopilative property of Iron lies in a Volatile Salt, with which it abounds; which you say you can ex­tract, and is the Ingredient in the Water; so that it seems it's the Volatile Salt of Iron, and not the bo­dy of Iron is the Ingredient of the Spaw. Surely (Hydroph.) if there were a Salt in Iron, yea, and that Salt volatile too, (as your own words express) why should not it have taken wing by force of fire at the melting Forge, where the Iron is melted and separated from its drossie earth; by which I con­clude you were more taken with the nearness and novelty of the word Volatile Salt, then with the truth of what should be intimated thereby; but your Tyrociny in these abstruse studies plead your excuse; yea, the rawness, or rather lightness of your experiment, (p. 80.) doth upon that account call for some more grains of allowance, where you say, That if filings of Iron and Steel be cast into a flame of a Candle, that they burn like Salt-Peter or Rosin, which you suppose to happen from thevola­tile [Page 31]Salt, as if that gave the flamability; whereas amongst the whole Classis of simple volatile Salts, there are none found to be flamable; simple, I said, because in the complication of these, with other vo­latile Spirits, somewhat sulphurous may arise, as that of the Offa made with other volatile Spirits of Urine, &c. with Spirit of Wine; for it is the essential property of sulphureous Spirits or Bodies to take flame and burn, but not of volatile Salts; and that it is so, appears further, in that we have sometime extracted out of Iron, Aqua Fortis, or Spirit of Vitriol, a combustable Sulphur.

But to pass to your third Argument, Why Vitri­ol (as you say) must be in the Spaw, and that is by reason of the deep tincture that the Water takes from the Gall, more then any other you have seen or read of, which cannot (you say) come from the Alom.

To which I answer, That if we can demonstrate by matter of fact that Alom will give this tincture, and that whether calcin'd or crude, then must this your great Argument fall; but both my self, and my ingenious Friend, have demonstrated before you and the Gentlemen at the Spaw, at several times, that both will readily give a Purple tincture (be­ing dissolv'd in fresh Water) with the addition of Gall; yea, and will both undergoe the same muta­tions of colour with that of the Spaw, by the addi­tion of the like Spirits and Liquors; as I have in my Book already, and I may afterwards take occasion further to illustrate.

Your last Argument is assumed from a vitrioline Salt which (you say) sweats out of the Cliff, of a dark yellow colour, very sharp to the taste, even far beyond Nitre or Alom. My answer is, That [Page 32]you have no ground to suspect that dark yellow co­loured Salt to be Vitriol, seeing there are no vitri­oline Marcasities to be found all along that Cliff, where that Earth or Salt is found; for I have with much diligence searched the Bank, but could find no vitrioline Stones at all: And seeing (as you may further see in our Hydrol. Chym.) that all Salts reside in their own proper and peculiar mineral Beds, Urpote in toris suis mineralibus; Therefore where Vitriol Stones are found, Vitriol is made: And where the Alom Glebe is found, Alom is made. Now where both Minerals are found, there is both Vitriol and Alom; as I have sometimes seen in a parcel of common Vitriol, where the natural Alom hath also been intermixed, being shot forth in white Chrystals amongst the green Cubick Chrystals of the Vitriol. So that Vitriol is never made out of the Alom Stone, nor Alom out of the Vitriol Mar­casite, but each are got distinctly out of their own Mineral Glebes; otherwise the Vitriol and Alom workers would be grosly mistaken, (viz.) if the Alom-worker should out of Alom Stones make Vi­triol, and the Vitriol-worker out of Vitriol Stones should make Alom. Besides, a solution of this yel­low Earth or Salt will by Filtration and Evaporati­on, perfectly become a mineral aluminous Salt, as you may see in my Hydrol. Chym. which yellow Salt will also undergoe all the mutations of colours equally with the Spaw.

As to what you say, (Hydroph. p. 45.) That the Cliff out of which this Spring flowe, 's plainly Iron, is surely a very gross mistake; for all along that Bank, yea even over the head of the Spring it self, is most-what Alom Stone, as is obvious to all that see it; and as to what you say, that though at first [Page 33]when it falls, it be like ordinary Earth, yet at length by the weather it becomes hard as Iron, and heavy, and is fusible in the fire: I must tell you, that what is fallen down, and you denote to be Iron Stone, is not one of the hundreth, nay (I may say) scarce one of the five hundreth part, either Iron or Iron Stone, for we had much adoe amongst it all to procure a few pieces even of that Stone which may (at the best) be suspected to be Iron Stone; for indeed those heaps are most what nothing else but a farraginous mixture of many sorts of Stones, Sand, Earth, &c. fallen off from the Bank, and crusted together with the beating of the Sea, and so hard­ned by the Salt of the Sea and Weather, into con­fused heaps. Thus far reacheth your first way or manner of Waters being impregnated with Mine­rals (viz.) by taking in their Vapours.

The second is, when some of their Juyce is dis­solv'd in the Water, and that whilst the Minerals are in solutis principiis; to which as before, so now we assent.

But as to the third way,Corrosion of the sub­stance of Minerals, pag. 46. (viz.) By corrosion of the substances of the Mi­nerals, and that by the help of the Concrete Juyces, which extract and corrode Mineral Substances; to con­firm which (Hydroph.) you tell us that the Concrete Juyce of Vitriol, which is of a corrosive property, being imbibed in a Spring Wa­ter, will corrode other Minerals or Metals, (so saith Helmont in the place before cited) that it pas­seth through as Iron and Alom.

In answer to which, I shall refer the judicious Reader, to what I object against this (in p. 12, 13. of my Hydrol. Chym.) where supposing (in favour [Page 34]to his Doctrine) a Juyce of Vitriol to be in the Water; yet how improper a Menstruum would it be for extracting or corroding Mineral Substances, seeing that the Esurine or Sulphureous Salt or Spirit had already coagulated it self upon a mineral or metalline body, thereby to make up a Vitriol, which we have shewed before, must necessarily have those essential principles to concur to this constitu­tion: So that if the Esurine Spirit in Vitriol must become a menstruum to extract or corrode any other Minerals, it must first deposite that body it hath already dissolv'd: And therefore we see that if a strong solution of Vitriol be boyl'd a long time in an Iron Pot, (which according to your opinion, (Hydroph.) must needs make a considerable corrosion thereof) that no more of the Iron Vessel is dissolv'd, then is precipitated of the innate cuprous body in­herent in the Vitriol, which we find tingeth the superficies thereof. Nay, if I affirm to you, (I shall not say more then I can prove) That Vitriol, whether in fieri, or in facto esse, cannot become a menstruum for mineral bodies, nor menstrual apperi­ents for the humane body, till it lay aside its first dissoluable, whether it be Copper, Iron, &c. As to mineral bodies, it's evident, that after the esurine or sulphureous acid Spirit hath once prey'd upon, and coagulated it self upon any mineral or metalline body, it ceaseth to act upon any other, till it be loose­ned from the first, and then it's at liberty to be mar­ried to another, otherwise bodies would be solvents for bodies; whereas it is that Salts are the proper menstruums and apperients for bodies; and as to humane bodies, we see that if those usually prepared Salts of Vitriol, or vitriolum album, be taken in­wardly, act not suddenly as apperients; because [Page 35]having in them a colcotarine body, makes them hostile to the ferment of the stomach, which pre­sently throws them up again by Vomis, which in­deed is the main reason why Vitrioline Vomits are the most sudden in their operation; for if they should stay so long (as sometimes they do) in the stomach and intestines, till the metalline or mineral body be by the diluting moisture precipitated, then they cease to act as Emeticks, and only in part pass away by Stool; while the Salt which was the men­struum in those sorts of Salts called Gilla Theo­phrasti, or Vitriolum Album, becomes set at liber­ty, and proves an apperient of (otherwise) obsti­nate Obstructions; and that these Salts of Vitriol so called, as also the white Vitriol, have in them a metalline body, is apparent, by calcining even these Salts: yea, the Vitriolum Album, though exqui­sitely depurated by frequent Solution, Filtration and Distillation, or Evaporation, (as I have often done) will with no very strong fire calcine red; from whence by solution, &c. more of a mineral body may by art be separated.

Thus far you see (Hydroph.) that though we should grant a Vitrioline Juyce to be an Ingredient of the Spaw, yet can it not be a competent menstru­um to corrode or extract other mineral bodies, and that for Reasons before alleadged; yea, and that notwithstanding what you quote out of Helmont's fourth Paradox, where he saith, That that which is volatile (viz.) a Spirit, whether it be concrete or liquid, may corrode other mineral bodies. Pray take in the whole Sentence, and it runs thus, Corpo­ra non corrodunt corpora; quatenus talia neque fixa in invicem agunt: sed duntaxat quatenus alterum co­rum velatile est, id est spiritus, sive is concret [...] est [Page 36]sive liquidus: Here you must know that he is trea­ting of the Esurine Salt; where indeed if you had duly weighed what he saith a few lines afore, you might have had light enough to have led you out of your former Errors; which an ingenuous Spirit would own, though it was to the casting down his former wrong apprehension of things; for it's the truth of the matter (we contend about) that we should aim at, and not our prejudicated Opini­ons.

He tells you that the natural Vitriol of Iron, is made by an Esurine Salt of an embryonative Sulphur corroding a Vein of Iron; in which act of Corro­sion there happens a kind of solution of the Vein, and a coagulation or fixation of the Volatile Salt: Which Salt, saith he, as long as it is Volatile, may be reckoned amongst Spirits: This Spirit (and not bodies one upon another) is this agent (and that whether it be concrete or liquid) that may dissolve bodies. Here (Hydroph.) take notice, that he doth not mean, nor say, that either Vitriol or the Juyce of Vitriol is this Spirit which corrodes bodies, but it is the Esurine Salt, whether concrete or liquid, (viz.) whether in the form of a Salt or Liquor, which proves the menstruum in mineral solutions. So that it's plain that either you understand not this Author, (quoting him, because a Chymist, right or wrong) or else you designedly wrest his words from his own, to speak your sence. And now how truly you say, that you have with good reason ex­ploded, and sufficiently confuted, what I say concerning this Esurine Salt,pag. 48. (viz.) that it cannot imbibe, or work upon any other Mineral then one, let the judicious Reader (upon scanning both) determine.

As to the fourth and last way, how the nature and vertue of Minerals and Metals do impregnate Waters, which is by confusion; I might justly re­ject it as not worthy further scanning, but that I find you bringing in an instance, how you under­stand your mixture by confusion, (a tearm I con­fess big enough to cause a jangle) and that is, that a Mineral that is dissoluable in Water, as Vitriol, Nitre, or Salt, may be so fully taken into the Wa­ter, as that the Water and Mineral are confusedly joyned together; every drop of the Water having something of Mineral Particles, and every particle of them mixed with the Water.

To which I answer, (Hydroph.) that if so you expound your mixture by confusion, as when Vitriol and Salts, as Nitre, Sal marine, &c. are dissolv'd in Water, I pray you then what mean you by regu­lar or uniform mixtures of bodies? how differs this from the mixture of Juyces of Minerals, and a­mongst them, of the Juyce of Vitriol (according to your own judgment) in Water? either this con­fused mixture is the same with that of the Juyce (as you speak) of Minerals, or not? if the same, then it is confusion without jesting, a multiplica­tion of Entities (at least the Entia rationis) with­out cause: if it be not the same, then you should have done well to have shewn us the difference, and so put the matter beyond dispute; as you lay it down, I see no ground of distinction at all: for you say, Every drop of the Water, hath something of the Mineral Particles, and every Particle of them is mixed with the Water; that is in short, they are mixed per minima: How these should be confus'd, and yet different from the mixture of the succulent parts of Minerals in Water, is (I confess) beyond [Page 38]my understanding in Philosophy. If you had (Hy­droph.) brought the matter to a compute, and given the proportions between bodies and their menstru­ums in other kinds of your supposed mixtures, then your notions had not been so confus'd but we might have distinguished them. But by the by, I would a little take notice of that instance you bring out o [...] Galen, treating of the four Elements meeting i [...] every mixt body, Ea tota per se confundi, & su [...] eorum substantiis misceri docet; by which it should seem as if the four Elements, in their combination to make up the composition of bodies, were onely confounded, and hand over head jumbled together [...] me thinks no regular or uniform mixtures should hence arise in the beautious and wonderful compag [...] of the World; but all would yet remain unhatch [...] out of the first confused Chaos or primitive Hyle [...] and instead of an uniform mixture of the constiu­ent part in the Genesis of mixt bodies, guided by Spermatick Principles, according to the Mandate o [...] the Primitive Fiat; all mixed bodies would either appear so confus'd in their constitutive parts, as w [...] could not difference them one from another, or else they would be no otherwise intelligible to us, tha [...] so many blanks upon which confusion was writ. By this time, without doubt, the Reader may discover the dimness (not to say confusedness) o [...] Galen, pag. 53. and this his Sectators Intellectua [...] in this point of Philosophy.

Now come we at length to view you Artilery,My main Fort yet standing. and your Cannons, whereby you intend to batter down my main Fo [...] (yet standing) to the ground. My ch [...] Argument therefore, which I urge against the en [...] stency of Vitriol in the Spaw, and at which you [Page 39]level your battering force, is no less then what is confirmed by Autopsy; and that is, that my inge­nious Friend, the Chymical Apothecary at York, took some of the mineral Ingredients of the Spaw, which remain'd after the evaporation of the Wa­ter, which he had from your self; those he calcin'd in a Crucible for the space of three hours; and all this while, without the least appearance of any red colour, or the least foot-steps of either Colcothar of Vitriol, or Crocus of Iron. Now for certain, if there had been any thing of Vitriol or Iron in it, the discovery would have been made, and it forced to confess its nature, in its yellow, red, or purple colour, by so great a stress of fire.

Now (saith Hydroph.) if I prove that Vitriol will calcine white, then his Argument is invalid; and this I shall do both by the heat of the fire, as also of the Sun. First, By the heat of the fire, wit­ness that of Swelfer, Vitrioli veneris pulverisati, & ad albedinem parumper calcinati. Secondly, It will calcine white by the heat of the Sun, witness the making of the Sympathetical Pouder out of Roman Vitriol calcin'd white by the Sun.

To which (Hydroph.) I answer, That had you been so throughly verst in the Chymical Art as you pretend, you had not set your Guns so furiously to work to so little purpose: That Vitriol should by a gentle heat of fire be so altered, as to be dryed to a white colour, is a thing I deny not; but that this alteration to a white colour, should be the effect of calcination, is a thing I cannot admit: For if after your supposed Calcination, you suffer your white Pouder to be dissolv'd, filtred and evaporated, you will find it appear Vitriol again as green as at the first, which it would not do, if it had under­gone [Page 40]a thorough calcination; so that your great mi­stake depends upon your supposing that whiteness to proceed from a calcination, when indeed it is onely an exiccation, and no more but a degree to calcina­tion, parumper calcinati, as you instance out of Swelfer: For the same degree of heat which will blanch Vitriol, is even requisite for the exiccation of Plants, to make them quickly pulverisable.

And as to your second Argument from the calci­ning Vitriol white by the heat of the Sun, drawn from the calcining Roman Vitriol white by the Sun for the Sympathetick Pouder. The return is the same as before, being onely an exiccation of the su­perfluous moisture of the Vitriol, and that done by a degree of heat from the Sun equivalent to that ex­iccation performed by the fire upon the same subject matter.

Now me thinks (Hydroph.) you have not laid your Argument diametrically against our Autop­tical Experiment; for in ours the calcination was truly performed, being urg'd by force of fire in a Crucible; yours is but a slight exiccation: Now if you had proved that Vitriol by a strong calcination in the fire would have become white and have con­tinued so, you had followed your Argument closely. But this contradicts matter of fact, easily experi­mented by any person who was willing to be satis­fied in the truth thereof, in as much as Vitriol in a gentle degree of heat, whether of fire or the Sun, by an exiccation of the redundant moisture, be­comes white; after which if the fire be increased, it turns yellow, then calcines red, and lastly pur­ple, driving away thereby the menstrual Salt, which had incorporated it self with the metallick body.

Now to prove, that these Minerals, upon their dissolution in this Water-Spring, must necessarily deposite what other colour they had, you quote Paracelsus in these words, Videtis metalla & mine­ralia similitudinem nullā habere cum corporibus illis, ex quibus generata sunt: In the englishing of which, I perceive you soyst in two or three words of your own: to make him the better to speak your sence, you translate the words thus, (to wit) you see that Metals and Minerals (dissolv'd in Water) have no resemblance with those bodies out of which they are generated: those words (dissolv'd in Water) I find not in the Author. But Paracelsus explains more fully what he means, even in his very follow­ing words, which you leave out, (viz.) Haec enim aqua sunt, cujus similitudinem metalla non exhibent, sicut autem metallum aqua fuit, sic visissim aqua fit lignum, fit gramen, &c. Here Paracelsus is (as by the scope of his words may be discerned) dis­coursing of the dissimilitude of bodies amongst them­selves, though from the same subject matter, and therefore urgeth that Metals and Minerals, though originally from Water; yet (while such) bear a dissimilitude to their first subject matter, Water, for that Water which was the material principle of those bodies, by the superinduction of metalline and mineral Seeds, was before the determination thereof by such a Seed, as equally alterable into a­nother body, as (for instance) of Trees, or Grass, &c. as into that of metalline or mineral bodies: And this is the genuine sence of Paracelsus in that place, which yet he further illustrates by that next instance you quote, Videtis vitriolum aliud viride, &c. id si in aquam resolvatur, colorem omnem depo­nit: where again, in your translation thereof, you [Page 42]miss his sence, and wrest it to your own, and that either designedly or ignorantly, for you translate i [...] thus, (viz.) You see one sort of Vitriol is green, another blew, but if it be resolv'd in Spring Water, it layes down all its colour; how (id [...] in aquam resolvatur) will bear that translation, I do not understand; and here, would I appear Pe­dantick, I might severely chastise you, as you have indeavoured to lash me for smaller matters; for it is not in aquâ, but in aquam; and how it should bear the interpretation of Spring Water I know not, but let that pass.

Now as in the former instance Paracelsus urged, That Metals and Minerals have their original from Water, to which (whilst such bodies) they carry no resemblance. So in this latter Example he affir­meth that Minerals (for instance Vitriol) may be resolved again into Water, and then they loose their colour; yea, other properties which (otherwise whilst mineral bodies) are essential to them; and that it was so, I may (Hydroph.) take leave to tell you, that both Paracelsus and Helmont could by their Liquor Alkahest reduce mineral and metal­line bodies into simple Water; to confirm which, you have instances enough in my Hydrolog. Chym. In the third instance out of Paracelsus, you are as much (if not more) besides the cushion, as in the two former, it runs thus, Similiter & auri colur flavus est, qui tamen in transmutatione fit purpureus, si per transmutationem hanc resolvatur, tunc aquam nullam tingit amplius nec colorem in se continet. You may remember (Hydroph.) that at our last Discourse before the Gentlemen at the Spaw, I pres­sed you to signifie what you meant by that instance, and why you brought it in: you replyed very [Page 43]gravely, after a little pause, let Paracelsus speak for himself. A fair return, Paracelsus must speak for himself, truly so he doth, and properly enough, for ought I know, as to what he is there treating of. But indeed (Hydroph.) either he or some else ought to have spoken for you, seeing you had so little to say for your self why you forced an Author to speak in your sence, when you your self did not know, nor could give any account of your reason of transcribing that Sentence out of Paracelsus. For first, you make your additions in the translation thereof, the better to colour your pretence, though without reason; you translate it thus, (viz.) In like manner, though the colour of Gold be yel­low, and in transmutation it become purple, yet if it be resolved by this transmutation, that is, in Spring Water, it tinges the Water no more, nor does it keep its own colour. Your addition, (to wit) that is, in Spring Watet, is a seeming interpretation; whereas indeed Paracelsus speaks nothing at all in that place of Spring Water, I say, besides your own figmental additions to, and half constructions of this quotation out of Paracelsus, you do not (not­withstanding) make it fadge to your purpose: For what Paracelsus meant by transmutation, (by que­rying with you) I found you knew not; and what his resolution of Gold by this transmution was, you did as little understand. But that I may give you a little help to what you might possibly mean (even at the best) for your purpose: We will suppose that you imagin'd Gold dissolv'd in Aquâ Regiâ, of what sort soever; and that after precipitation with Sal Tartari, or any Alkali, it should come to be purple; which yet it doth not, witness the Aurum Fulminans, which is yellow; or that by edulcora­tion, [Page 44]let us suppose (at the best) that it may be­come purple. Now (Hydroph.) if you could pro­duce any such purple coloured Gold, made by what skill or art you can, that would thereby be resol­ved in Spring Water, and yet would not tinge that Water, nor keep its own colour, Eris mibi magnut Apollo. Here perhaps (Hydroph.) may return, as a French Man once did to the learned Kircher, who having sent him a Scrowl of a Character (which he had writ at random) to explain; which when Kircher had undertaken, and with a great deal of pains & dexterity of Art (as he thought) had inter­preted it, according to the sence and meaning of the Author, returned him an answer to this purpose.pag. 60.61. Sir, You have explained my Character singularly well, for you have interpreted that of which I knew not the meaning my self, having scribled it carelesls and at randome.

Had these (saith Hydroph.) been perfect Mine­rals in their kind, (viz. Vitriol and Iron) they might with good reason have expected they should have calcin'd of a red or purple colour, &c. but if the Mineral (viz.) Vitriol, or the Iron be imper­fect, and only in succo primitivo, no such thing can be expected.

To which I answer, That if one of these two, which you call imperfect Minerals, (viz.) Iron, may by force of fire be actually brought into the Scoria of Iron, which indeed is Iron it self: Then by a parity of reason, may we conclude that the other imperfect Minerals, Vitriol (if such there be in the Spaw) may by force of fire be brought to un­dergoe the like mutations of colours competible to it as a perfect mineral body: The assumption I shall [Page 45]prove from your own words, (p. 67.) where you say, You calcin'd the black Sediment precipitated by the stipticity of the Gall, which you call Iron: This you calcin'd in a Crucible in very strong fire, and it became of a dark brown colour, and turn'd to a gross Pouder hard as a Cinder, and was no o­ther (saith Hydroph.) then the Scoria of Iron; and in the same page you call them laminae ferreae, or flakes of Iron. The consequence is so evident, as needs no further demonstration; for if the Juyce of one imperfect Mineral, (viz.) Iron, becomes by force of fire perfect Iron, (viz.) the Scoria of Iron. Then why may not the other imperfect Juyce, viz. Vitriol (if such (as I said) there be in this Spring) by the like stress of fire, be also brought to undergo those changes of colour belonging to the actual or perfect (if I may so call it) body of Vitriol.

And as to what you seem to solve in saying, Vi­triol is not imbibed in Scarbrough Water corporal­ly but precolated; we deny it to be there any man­ner of way, either in Juyce or by precolation, per­fect or imperfect, in fieri, or in facto esse, or what other way you can name; from all which it appears, that if there be Iron in the Spaw, there is no Vi­triol, because Iron is apparent, but Vitriol not.

As to what you report out of Falopius concerning a Mineral Spring near Rome, pag. 64. In Agro voleterano, in illâ aquâ est suc­tus & albus, & est succus Calcanthi, non Alumi­nis. Now (quoth Hydroph.) it's very probable that this white Juyce would make a white Salt by calcination, after its separation from the menstruum; and truly it's as probable Hydroph. never tryed a calcination of a white vitrioline Juyce, or of a white Vitriol; if he had, he would certainly have [Page 46]been of another mind, in as much as any white Vitriol being calcin'd, passeth through all the co­lours ascribable to other kinds of Vitriol; besides which, what is this white Juyce to the Scarbrough Spaw, seeing no vitrioline Juyce, of what colour so­ever, is apparent therein? and therefore what ever you quote out of other Authors, may indeed prove Vitriol to be existent in those Springs they treat of; but it's nothing, ad Rhombum, as to prove the existency of such a Mineral in this Spaw, unless it could be made demonstrable by matter of Fact, which you neither do nor can; not to say how pret­tily you confirm what you would aim at by a pal­pable contradition in p. 65. of your Mimick, which I have gently touch'd upon p. 22. As for your inference which you draw from your Argu­mentum ad hominem, (as you call it) where you say, That seeing I grant that this (viz.) the Swear Spaw at Knarsbrough hath Vitriol and Iron, and yet calcines white, &c. I answer, You take that for granted, against which I demonstratively argue in the Negative, as the Reader may see, p. 3, 9, 10, 136. of my Hydrol. Chym. where I assirm and de­monstrate that a Vitriol which contains Iron, is not Vitriol and Iron distinctly, but joyntly make up a Vitriol of Iron; and that the Esurine Acidity prey­ing upon the Minera of Iron in the Knarsbrough Spaw, had got a slight touch therefrom, and is as a Vitriol of the Minera of Iron; and hath not both Vitriol and Iron, as I have sufficiently hinted be­fore? And from thence to p 76. is an impertinent Discourse of the properties of Vitriol and Iron, af­ter such a manner indeed as is not worth the time t [...] bestow a reflection thereon, where the Reader may please to take notice that some Galenical Physician [Page 47]do ordinarily, and perhaps no less learnedly dis­course of Simples, whether Vegetables, Minerals, or Animals, according to the four first qualities of heat, cold, dryness and moisture; to each of which they cunningly ascribe four degrees, whereby they strictly judge of the temperature of the simple. Thus they say Vitriol is hot, that is, it's heating; Iron is dry, that is, it's drying.

Now if the temperature of Simples, and their Operation upon the body of man, may be judged according to those four qualities with their degrees: Then might I justly query first, Why two Plants of the same supposed degree of any the four first qualities, are not of the same signature, tast, smell and operation? Why (for instance) the four grea­ter hot Seeds, Cardamoms, &c. which are reputed hot and dry in the third degree, should not have the same figure, taste and smell? Why these should not be Emetick or Purgative, as well as Asarum or Hel­lebor, which are reputed hot and dry in the same degree, seeing the temperature of them, according to the doctrine of qualities, are the same? Why Mandrakes, Hemlock, Henbane, Opium, Solanum, Lethale, should be deadly by being cold in the fourth degree, seeing (for instance) Opium is bit­ter, sharp, ulcerating and inflammable? the signs of heat, according to the same Doctrine; yea, and is also eminently Diaphoretick in its Operation, which is irrational to conceive, can proceed from a told quality. Why Tobacco, which is the Hen­bane of Peru, should, according to Monardus, be accounted hot and dry in the second degree, and yet hath a benumming and stupifying quality, which in it (as well as in the Juyce of Poppy called Meconium, or the Stillitidium of the same wound­ed [Page 48]heads called Opium) proceed from extream cold, as Gallen and his followers do opine? Why one and the same Plant should in its temperature or Crases, harbour two such inimical guests, as heat and cold, without strugling in the Womb. As to that di­stinction the Galenists make betwixt the temperature of a Concrete, and the property of its whole sub­stance, seems to me too slight to solve the difficultie arising from this Doctrine: For what's the tempe­rature of any Plant, but a specifical modification of its substance? and what is its substance, as to parti­cularities, but a different modification of its par [...], according to the variety of Seminal Principles?

Again, Why is Aconitum and Napellus (two mortal poysons accounted) hot and dry in the fourth degree? and yet white Briony is placed a­bove the third degree of that rank; Why not in the fourth being above the third? and then, why not im­mortal as the two former? Surely the Galenists for­got to add minutes to their degrees, and to rank every thing in its right Clasis. That the Aconite [...] a deadly Poyson, is evident, by the remarkable and no less lamentable example at Antwerp, recorded by Gerrard, where those who eat of the Leaves thereof serv'd up in Sallads, were forthwith taken with cruel Symptoms, and dyed. But white Briony i [...] so far removed from that dangerous toxical proper­ty, as that it is sometimes taken inwardly to a ℥ in quantity, as a Hydragogon.

That Hemlock, Henbane, &c. should, (as [...] said) being taken inwardly, perform those strange effects in the humane (or other Animal) body, by being in their temperature cold in the fourth de­gree, is no less difficult, then irrational to conceit that Hemlock should have such an influence upon [Page 49]the animal powers of the sensitive soul, so much to eclipse them, as to cause an alienation of mind, witness the notable Story Kircher relates of two Seminary Priests of Germany, who eat of Hemlock Roots, (being mistaken by the Cook for Parsley) forthwith, even ere the Roots were well swallowed, they fell into a rage, tore off their Cloaths, and leaped into an adjacent Pond; out of which being taken, and by Antidotes restored, (save that the toxicum had seiz'd upon the genus nervosum, where­by for three years they remained Paralytick) were asked the reason why in their madness, they had thrown themselves headlong into the Water? an­swered, That they fancied themselves Geese, and so after the manner of those Creatures, betook them­selves to the Water to swim. That Henbane should be so toxical, as that two dragms of the Seed there­of (as Helmont reports) being given to a Lawyer, by a mistake, instead of as much Dil-Seed, (pre­scribed for the Cholick) made him become so mad, as that he could not utter one intelligible word, and spoiled his pleading, Ita insanus (saith he) quod nil stolidius, magisque fatuum viderim.

But say the Galenists, pag. 78. and with them my Antagonist, There are, besides these four first, other secondary qualities, as molifying, condensing, rarifying, &c. As also some which they call third qualities, such as are vomiting, purg­ing, expelling the Stone, &c. Yea, and that there are a fourth sort (now to the Point) call'd, Occult Qualities. These are indeed their Asvlum ignoran­tiae, to which in all Phaenomena of difficult solution they have their refuge; for where their manifest qualities fall short in explicating the powers, and unfolding the secrets of Nature, there must the Oc­cult [Page 50]Qualities bring up the Rear, to the rendring of things rather more unintelligible, after the manner of an ignotum per ignotius.

Well, but to return to Vitriol, which our Phi­losopher saith is hot, that is, it's heating, yet he tells us not what sort of Vitriol that is, whether of Iron, of Copper, Silver, &c. For we have de­monstratively made evident, that there is no Vi­triol existent in nature, but hath a mineral or me­talline body, as the main Ingredient of its Com­pages: Yea, if we should know which sort of Vi­triol he intended, yet should we be at a loss to find whether it must be the whole compound body of Vitriol, or any of its constitutive Ingredients, or any parts separable therefrom by the fire; whether the Colcothar, Esurine Salt, Spirit, Flegm, Oyl, which is hot, that is, its heating?

That Iron should be dry, that is, drying; and Vitriol hot, that is, heating, we have no other Argu­ment, then what is purely effeminate (viz.) it is so, because it is so; And what if Jacobus de Partibut, Kircher, Gallen, Conciliator, Paracelsus, and a hundred more should say so? It's but yet an [...] at the best; and that will not half go down with the Explorators of the new Philosophy: But it seems my Antagonist knows nothing, or very lit­tle of useful Experiments, the very Basis and main Pillars of the true Physiology; but consults rather those Authors, who themselves have frequently ta­ken what they have from others upon trust, subscri­bing rather to dogmatical Placets, then willing to unravel Natures Clew of Genuine Experiments.

But that my Antagonist may not appear altoge­ther barren of Experiments, he end eavours to illu­strate the opening and drying, the deopilative and [Page 51]astringent qualities of Iron; the former to lie in a Volatile Salt, the latter in the Crocus or terrestrial part; by this Experiment, of casting filings of Steel or Iron into the flame of a Candle, and it will burn like Salt-peter or Rosin. These filings, when in­fus'd three or four times in Water or Wine, (as in making Chalybeat Wines) till the Liquor hath dis­solv'd all the Salt; then dry it, and cast it into the flame, and it shall not burn, but the Liquor shall have a strong taste from the Salt.

As to the verity in matter of fact of the flagrati­on of filings of Steel cast upon the flame of a Can­dle, Experto Crede Roberto. But his Philosophick remarks thereon are indeed remarkable, (viz.) That that which gives the flame should be the Volatile Salt of Steel, is no less then a mistake of a Salt for a Sulphur, an incombustible for a combustible; for no Volatile Salt whatever as such, is inflamable, be­ing indeed the essential properties of Sulphurs, whether Vegetable, Animal or Mineral, to take flame and burn; which that it is so, is evident both by a flagrable Sulphur, which we have separated from Steel, as also by this Experiment, (viz.) That if in the making the Saccharum Martis, you hold a Candle at the top of the Glass, while the Oil of Vitriol is working upon it, you will find that as soon as it toucheth the steam, which ascends from the intestine contest of the two Combatants, it will im­mediately take flame, and burn like as if so much Oil or Spirit of Wine had been fired. Now that Iron should (according to the testimony of those Authors my Antag.Two Con­tradictiōs quotes) be cold and dry, and yet according to his own Experiment should take flame, is surely no less than a palpable contradiction: for sulphureous [Page 52]parts are alwayes reputed hot, so that an inch breaks no squares betwixt his Arguments and Experiments; Yea, that Vitriol which he judgeth hot, that is, heating, should be so, and yet the Spirit of Vitriol, (as well as the Spirits thereof in the Spaw) which in plain words, (p. 97.) he saith, are both Vitriol (how true we may elsewhere examine) are used fre­quently in most cooling Juleps, both to cool and quench thirst in Feavers; that the same numerical body of Vitriol should, as such, be both hot & cold, is not a sleight, but a gross contradiction, and argues great inconsistency and unfaithfulness to himself.

From hence to pag. 90. is nothing but what al­ready hath been said, and already may (without further repetition) be reputed sufficiently answered. Here he quotes what I said, p. 38, 39. of my Hydrol. Chym. (viz.) pag. 90. That I demon­strated to him what he would not other­wise believe, That the bare solution of the Calx of Alom Stone, doth give exactly the same alteration of colour, as the Spaw it self, yea and as the soluti­on of Vitriol too.

My Antagonist returns thus, I said indeed (quoth he) and so I do confidently say still, That it is the Vitriol alone, that being dissolv'd by its Mineral Juyce in this Water, takes the tincture from the Gall.

Now, I pray, (goes he on) With what Logick can he argue from calcined Alom-Stone, to this aluminous Juyce that is here in the Water?pag. 91. Had he tryed whether the crude Stone of Alom would qualifie simple Spring Water to take a tincture from Gall, or impart any Sapor to Water, he had acted according to rea­son.

To which I answer, That to gainsay confidently, yea to persist in the deny al of what is plainly, even ocularly demonstrated, becomes not, yea, is below a Philosopher or lover of Truth. Did not my inge­nuous Friend, both before your face, and in the presence of many Gentlemen at the Spaw, shew you to your astonishment, that the crude Alom Stone (even taken out of that place of the Bank which your self pointed to) dissolv'd in fresh Spring Wa­ter, would with Gall, give as deep a tincture as the Spaw Water it self? Can you deny this? The same have I also shewed before other Gentlemen at the Spaw, yea, and sent up some of it to be tryed before the Virtuosi.

The circumstances of that transaction about that Experiment, is now too tedious to relate, onely in short thus, (viz.) After this Mimick was brought upon the Stage to publick view, I made a Journey on purpose to Scarbrough Spaw, to make some fur­ther Experiments of that Water, where, with much adoe, ingaging my Antagonist in a Discourse about what he had asserted in his Book, querying with him about the solution of many contradictions therein inserted; which whether he was not almost driven as far as Hercules his Pillars, with the In­scription of a ne plus ultra, I shall appeal to the ingenuous Physitians, Scholars, and other learned Gentlemen who were by; and was so far gravel'd, as being pincht about a Sentence he had transcribed out of Paracelsus, which I press'd to know why he made use of, he was glad to refer me to Paracelsus, and bid Paracelsus speak for himself; together with many other circumstances too prolix now to in [...]st upon, concerning which we have (as occasion hath offered) now and then glanc'd upon them.

The next morning we did, descend [...]re in arenam, without either our Swords or our Seconds, where controverting the matter privately, I asked him, Why he dealt so unworthily with me in his Book? why so many scurrilous invectives, and unhandsome reflections? and why he had endeavoured to cast such an odium upon me as to my Practice, when I was able to make evident, by substantial witness, the falseness and the injustice of the aspersions cast up­on me, that an unprejudiced eye might easily dis­cover a vein of fire to run through all his lines, no way grateful to any judicious person? He answer­ed, That I had made him my Enemy, and that he had softned something therein, and had intended to have done more, but that he came more suddenly from the Press then he expected, and that I had dealt severely with him in my reflections. To whom I returned, that mine touched not his personal Practice or Concerns, but his Philosophy; and that if when he had by clearness of Experiment or strength of Argument (as he thought) found me tripping, then to have paid me, in specie, in my own Coyn, would have been acceptable to most ingenuous Per­sons. For saving a few lines (which I confess might have been put into a better dress, and which I told him he might have look'd upon as slips of my Pen, or little flourishes of youth) his gravity might have given a better president: I cared not if all the World saw the Book; and in short I told him, That though I looked upon my self bound to give a re­turn to his Book; yet I did so much abominate that unchristian-like way of proceeding against each o­ther by calumination, and casting odiums upon each others Practice, as I promised him (though I might possibly have been furnished with a competent [Page 55]stock of matter) never to retaliate upon him in the like kind.

After a little bickerings, and some experiments I made of the Spaw Water, my ingenuous Friend, the Chymical Apothecary, for a through-experiment whether of us was in the right, desired my Anta­gonist to shew in what part of the Cliff his suppo­sed Vitriol lay; who pointing to the place, thrust in his Knife, and took out some of the crude Alom Stone which lay under the Floscule. That it was Alom Stone my Antagonist could not deny; but that it should in fresh Water, with the addition of Gall, give a purple tincture, he utterly denyed; wherefore that they might not be long in suspence whether it was so or no, it was concluded that an Experiment thereof should be forthwith made, and that the whole matter should hang thereon, (viz.) Whether Vitriol or Alom was the Ingredient in the Water; for it might be easily granted, that if Alom did not give the tincture, then it must be somewhat else, and that could be no other than Vitriol; but if that did give the tincture, then it was not from Vitriol, because Alom hath been separated, but never any Vitriol from the Water.

Therefore taking a Porringer of fresh Water, in which some of this crude succulent Alom Stone was shav'd, with addition of Galls (wherewith my Antag. was well stockt) and in the presence of several Phy­sitians, Scholars, and other ingenuous Gentlemen, it presently struck as deep a tincture as if it had been the Spaw Water it self: at which my Antago­nist trembled and grew pale, and in a sudden pas­sion told them, That he would take his Oath, that Dr. Tunstal told him that it was Vitriol the last year; which with reiteration he averr'd: The Phy­sicians [Page 56]being by, asked, Where was his wit­ness? So with an Aposiopesis, they broke up ab­ruptly. Thus my Antagonist was cast upon the Sands with a Hurricane or sudden storm of an una­voidable Experiment; Yea, and not only the suc­culent Alom Stone, but even any of the hard Alom Stones (of which that Bank is full) we found would give a tincture in fresh Water, acidulated with Spirit or Oyl of Sulphur, if thereto Galls were ad­ded; for to make a hard compact mineral Stone to give its tincture in fresh Water, cannot easily be ex­pected, according to the uniform Laws of Nature, unless that Water be first made a proper Menstruum, by acidulating it with a singular and mineral Spirit proper for that purpose.

So that my Antagonist may as equally conclude, that Sulphur has neither tincture nor acidity in it, because being boyled in Spring Water alone, it gives neither, nor doth it yeeld any acidity to the taste being chewed; and yet let the same Water but be acuated with an Alkalie, or let the same fixed Salt be melted with the Sulphur, and the body of Sul­phur will thereby be so opened, as to yeeld both its tincture as red as blood, and odour also, which last will be made to appear by the addition of any acid Juyce; yea, its acidity will plainly be evident by burning it under a Glass Bell, witness the Oil of Sulphur made after that manner: so that where mi­neral bodies are to be dislolv'd or unlock'd, their Menstruums are to be acuated and duly prepared.

Wherefore in confirmation of what I elsewhere assert in my Hydrol. Chym. concerning an Acid Sul­phureous Spirit or Salt, which being dissolv'd in a Water Spring, becomes a sutable Menstruum to make Solutions, or to take in the tinctures of Mi­neral [Page 57]or Metalline Bodies which lie in their way; I say, in confirmation hereof, I find the ingenuous Swelfer in his Appendix, (p. 97.) saith to the very same purpose, thus, Etenim vitriolum caerulcum (quod me judice nihil aliud est quam cuprum, quan­doque etiam ex venâ argenteâ ortum ducens in visce­ribus terrae a spiritu sulphuris solutum, quemadmo­dum viride vitriolum à venis ferri est; eodem spiritu sulphuris in terrae autris dissolutum) è cupreis venis exortum, &c. And that this is a sulphureous Salt or Spirit which acuates the Water of this Spaw com­patible, as well to Alom as Vitriol, is evident, both by the profound Helmont's definition of this Esu­tine Salt, (viz.) Est partus immaturus sulphuris embryonati. As also by this experimental Observa­tion which confirms both, (viz.) That in the bur­ning or calcining the Alom Stone, to make it capa­ble to yeeld its imbred Salt, a Sulphur is found thrust forth to the surface of the Stone, by the force of fire, which will take flame at a Candle, and burn with a blew flame, with the same sulphureous smell as common Sulphur, which lies in a crust driven from the body of the Alom Stone, and adheres to it; of which I have some by me, and have tryed the Experiment therewith; by which it appears that that Salt, connatural with the Alom Stone, hath also espoused to it self an embryonate Sulphur, which lies dormant in all mineral acid Spirits, whe­ther of Vitriol or Alom, this not being able to abide the force of fire in the calcination of the Alom Stone, is pressed forth to the superficies thereof, chiefly at the outside of the heap, and there appears in the real form of Sulphur, as combustible as any com­mon one.

Thus the Legich, by which I argue from calciu'd Alom Stone, to the crude aluminous Juyce in the Water, is no less then by an autoptical induction, as apparent as the Sun at noon day, and no less de­monstrable, but indeed more obvious, then that three Angles of a Triangle should alwayes be equal to two right Angles; or then that the Angles of in­cidence and reflexion should alwayes be the same.

But that we may be the more certain, whether if there were any such thing as Vitriol in this Spaw Water, it might not by tryal be discovered; I there­fore, for better satisfaction, made a solution, first of Vitriol and Nitre in distilled Water, mixed and e­vaporated them in an easie heat of a Sand Furnace, until they did shoot in Chrystals, which were plainly distinct each from other, so as one might see them severally in the bottom of the Glass.

Then I took Vitriol and Alom Salt, (viz. the true Alom) of each an anatical proportion, whole Solutions in distill'd Water were filtred, mixed and evaporated to Chrystals, which also were distinct, (viz.) the Chrystals of Vitriol from those of Alom; Then I took the Solutions of Vitriol, Alom and Nitre, of each alike in distilled Water, which being filtred, mixed and evaporated, ad cuticulam, gave three distinct sorts of Chrystals, (viz.) long styriate, which were of Nitre; white Chrystals, which were from Alom; and green, which were from Vitriol, every one, in their several form, distinguishable e­nough to the bare eye.

But that I might leave no stone unmoved that might lie in my way, or upon which my Antago­nist might have the least foundation for his ficti­ous Hypothesis of the existency of Vitriol in this Spaw, that I might (I say) unravel to the very [Page 59]bottom of his Clew, whose deepest reserve (and by which he thinks he hits the nail o'th head) is fetche from a supposition of the presence of Vitriol in this Water by its Juyce, or in succo primitivo; I there­fore took some of the Marcasite Stones of Vitriol, which I got out of the black Bog, near the Sulphur-Well at Knarsbrough, which is the minera of Vitriol, in which (if any where) the Vitriol is in succo: upon this pulverised, I poured a Solution of Sal marine, and let them stand together in a Matrass for several dayes; which by standing in stigido, extra­cted a green tincture from the Marcasites: This I decanted and filtred, which with the addition of Galls, would strike a tincture not inferiour to the Solution of the body of Vitriol. This yellow green salty Liquor I caused to be evaporated, in a gentle heat, in a Jar Glace placed in Sand, which shot into curious yellow ting'd Chrystals, which left in the bottom an Oaker, or Terra Vitriolica; after the manner as is found upon the like process with other factitious Vitriols.

That which was very remarkable was, That the yellowish Liquor wherein these Chrystals did shoot, would not with Galls strike any colour, but remain'd clear as before the addition thereof: but when I added some more clear Water, and thereby diluted it, I found that then it gave a purple colour. The very like to which, I observed to happen to a strong Solution of Dantz-Vitriol, brought to an oyly consistence immediately before shooting, which with the addition of Galls I found would give no alteration of colour; but when I diluted it with more Water, it then gave its purple tincture, and that the deeper by how much (to a certain propor­tion) the more Water I added; just as some men­struums [Page 60]may be graduated too highly, and made too strong to corrode or dissolve their proper bodies; the Solutions of which they cannot perform till they be made weaker. Here if I should tell my An­tagonist, That I know by a menstruum, (not rare amongst Chymists) with the addition of mine or his breath, how to calcine a Metal, (viâ humidâ, as the Chymists speak) without which (or some­what equivalent thereto) the humid calcination of that Metal cannot be performed, also how to melt a­nother Metal (prepared after a certain manner) with the help of one single Lamp, unassisted by any blast, he would, without doubt, look upon them as Paradoxes.

But to confirm yet further the existency and pre­cedency of Alom in the Scarbrough Water; I ob­serve that in the very minera of that Stone and Earth, found upon the Bank, a thin Scale of a bright Chrystalline Marcasite, of the very colour and brightness, like another which I do, by an artifice upon that Water, separate therefrom, which is in­deed a bright clear Talk; yea, I find other gritty parcels of a sabulous Earth, much-what like the others, separated from the Spaw Water by the fore­said Artifice.

Now from a collation of Experiments, these fol­lowing Corrolaries will naturally result.

First, That a Mineral, in its crude succulent parts, may easily be dissolv'd in Spring Water a­lone, when its more compact body, whose parts are lockt up more strictly, require a sulphureous Menstruum to dissolve it, or take it in pieces; wit­ness the crude succulent Alom Stone, readily giving its tincture with Gall in fresh Water, when the hard slate thereof requires Water acidulated with is [Page 61]sulphureous Spirit, to open the body thereof, to make it give its vertue.

Secondly, That the Marcasites of Vitriol and Alom, have an embryonative Sulphur connatural with them, produc'd out of the same Mineral Seed; for instance, the Sulphur crust, separated by Calci­nation of the Alom Stone; and in the Vitriol Marcasites, I find, that putting them into the fire, they burn of a blew flame, and have a sulphureous smell; in both these the Sulphur is really answera­ble to the common Sulphur or Brimstone.

Thirdly, That several Mineral Salts, and other connatural bodies may consist disguis'd under one liquid Mask; which when taken off by a gentle distillation or evaporation, each shews it self in its own likeness. Thus Alom, Vitriol, and Nitre, be­ing dissolv'd in Water, and so mixed together, ap­pear in a liquid form, with very little discriminati­on; but when this Water is taken away by easie distillation or evaporation; then they appear, statu quo prius, (viz.) Alom, Vitriol and Nitre, again, each in their several shapes. Thus the several con­stitutive Ingredients of the Scarbrough Spaw Water, whilst under that liquid Mask, shew as one simple limpid transparent body, but take off the Mask, (as aforesaid) and then they appear, each in their own form, such as they were before their Solution in that Spring.

Fourthly, That the minera or Marcasites of Alom or Vitriol, do as really give their tinctures, or yeeld their Solutions in Water; yea, do every way an­swer the operations agreeable to what is expected, or may be performed by their factitious bodies: Thus the solution of the succulent Alom Stone, gives the same mutation of colours, as the Liquor drawn [Page 62]from the body of the calcin'd Stone; so in like manner doth the solution of the Vitriol marcasite in Water, give the same tincture by Galls, as the factitious body of Vitriol doth, yea, and precipi­tates the same Vitriolick Oaker, or yellow Sediment, as the other doth.

Fifthly, That a mineral or metallick solution, may have its parts so concentred, as it may not ad­mit of that alteration of colours, compatible to the same solution diluted or thin'd. Thus the strong yellowish Liquor made from a solution of Salt, extracting the tincture from the Marcasites of Vi­triol, would not with Galls give any alteration of colour, which yet it would do, when diluted, by adding more Water thereto; and thus a strong so­lution of Vitriol would strike no purple, nor other colour with Gall, when yet the same diluted did so.

But the truth is, (saith my Antagonist) I have tryed it of that sort of Alom-Mine which is in the Cliff near the Well,pag. 91. ha­ving broken it to Pouder, and infus'd it in Spring Water some hours, and it received no tincture from Gall: Nay, I calcin'd that very Stone, and then dis­solv'd it in Spring Water; and yet it received no tincture from Galls.

Which how true, I shall appeal to those many Gentlemen at the Spaw, who saw the Experiment ocularly demonstrated, yea, the Royal Society, to whom I sent up so much as was sufficient to pass the test before them; yea, to those who have seen the Experiment tryed at publick places and elsewhere in York.

To confirm his Opinion, That Alom Stone gives no tincture, nor yeelds any vertues to Water, my Antagonist brings in this instance, p. 29. (viz.) [Page 63]That at the Alom Mine at Whithy, in the middle thereof a Spring of fresh Water breaks forth, ha­ving twelve fathom of Mine about it; which yet gives no tincture with Galls, having taken no vapot, odor, or sapor from the Mine.

To which I answer, First by observing how in­consistent my Antagonist is to what he declares, p. 16. of his Mimick, accounting with Kircher, That Spring Water is a proper menstruum to take in the vertues of Minerals and Metals; witness that at St. Lucas in Italy, which hath imbibed Iron and Alom; another in Germany impregnated with Alom and Nitre; and yet here denies it either to take va­por, odor, or sapor from the Mine it passeth through: Next to which I endeavoured, by climing that steep Bank at Whithy, to have examined the source of that Spring; but having not time, I procured this account thereof from an ingenuous Friend, (viz.) That it runs not through the Alom Work, but under the bottom of the stony Quarry, full of Cleffs, (about which there are divers Earths about the height of eight or ten yards to the surface of the ground) underneath which Quarry is a Mine, in colour much resembling that of Alom; but is not the same in na­ture with it, nor accounted so by the Workmen, but is usually called by them Doggers, or Cats-heads; betwixt which, and the abovesaid Quarry, issues forth that Spring, and therefore no wonder it partakes of no vertues therefrom; in some of these Cats-heads, being broken, are found in the middle thereof, a kind of transparent Talk.

Thus as he concludes,pag. 93. Alom Stone to give neither vapor, odor, or sapor to spring Water, (which how true let the World judge.) So he further proceeds to tell us, That neither doth [Page 64]Iron give any tincture in Spring Water with Gall, nor yeeld any Sediment upon evaporation; witness the Spring of fresh Water which runs out of an Iron Mine near Barnsley, upon the edge of Derbyshire; the which my Antagonist contradicts, by closing with what he relates out of Paracelsus, by which he hints (in his own words) as if simple Water alone were sufficient to imbibe a Metal, (as Iron) while it hath not attained its perfection; which in truth is the case of the Iron Mine at Scarbrough, and yet here (according to him) it neither gives tincture with Gall, nor yeelds any Sediment; but this also contradicts his Experiment of a Vitrioline Salt made out of Iron by an infusion in Water.

NOW, because I find that Alom is the chief and essential Ingredient of the Scarbrough Spaw Water, I shall (for further illustration) give my Observati­ons concerning the Alom-Works at Whitby, to which place I purposely made a journey, for my own and others satisfaction; where first I observ'd, that it is not every Alom Mine that the Workmen will im­ploy their labour and time about, as finding some that are unripe, and therefore unfit to extract the Salt therefrom; amongst which that blew Slate or Earth (which they often find near the true ripe Stone) which they call Doggers or Cats-heads; and other slaty Stone mixed therewith, they reject: which I cannot better parallel, then with those un­ripe Mines which the Cole-miners often upon dig­ging find, and call Smitts, as being an imperfect Cole, whose Sulphur is not brought to maturity, wherefore they reject it as an unprofitable and use­less Fuel; and yet these may no less be reputed Coles, then the other unripe Alom Stone may be accounted Alom Minera: so that to expect that these crude Stones or Earth (which are akin to true Alom Stone) should give a tincture with Galls in [Page 66]fresh Water (as some, not very cautiously, have at­tempted) is no less irrational, then to expect from these Smitts, all the essential qualifications belong­ing to the true ripe Cole, though both are Cole.

Next I observe, that when they have pitch'd up­on the right Minera of Alom, they calcine it thus; first, digging great quantities thereof; then heap­ing it Stratum super Stratum, (viz.) a layer of Coals, and a layer of Stones; piling them up a great height in a vast bulk, like a little Mountain, they fire it below, and so let it burn day and night, till the fire of its own accord ceaseth, or rather till all that is combustible be spent; when the Stone hath throughly taken fire, the whole Mass burns much more intensely then at the first, and that because of a plenteous Sulphur connate with the Stone, which then becomes fired, and is thrust forth to the super­ficies of the Alom Stone, being a real combustible Sulphur, which as a Crust cleaves to the Minera, of which I have some by me, sent by an ingeni­ous Friend.

Thirdly, We observe that this Calcination is therefore made of the Minera, that it may the bet­ter and more plentifully yeeld its innate Salt, partly by opening the body thereof by this previous Calci­nation, and partly by preparing it for a Magnet for the nitrous Particles flowing from the Air to settle thereon; with which, by being the longer exposed to the Air, it becomes the more saturated; plenti­fully, I said, because the natural Stone, unprepared or calcined, will sometimes separate its connate Salt to the superficies thereof, by the bare solitary heat of the Sun: as I am by an Autopsie confirmed, in that I have sometime seen an Alom Slate spontane­ously sweat forth its own Salt; which being dis­solv'd [Page 67]in fresh Spring Water with the addition of Galls, I found would immediately strike a deep pur­ple, and with Oil of Sulphur and Vitriol become clear; and then opace again with the addition of Tartar, &c.

Fourthly, The Minera being thus opened by the Calcination, they make a Lee thereof, in Pirs made within the ground, which run one into another by Pipes or Channels; this Lee or Solution, they pump into Troughs which conveigh it into leaden Ci­sterns, which will, with Galls, strike a deep pur­ple colour, whereof they have whole Tuns, which will give that tincture, (as any who pleaseth may try.) This Liquor consists both of a Sulphur, A­lom, Salt, and an Oaker, which as it runs along the Troughs, drills in some places through the crevices thereof, and by the heat of the Sun is congealed in­to Salt, of which I procured a quantity to make Experiments with: This Salt will also (being dis­solved in fresh Spring Water, and filtred) give the purple colour with the addition of Galls.

Fifthly. This Lee boyl'd up to such a height in leaden Cisterns, is pump'd into other Cisterns, and there it precipitates a great quantity of a yellow sul­phureous earthy Sediment, and so becomes purged of its dross; then is it conveyed into other Cisterns, where it meets with a decocted Lee of Kelp and U­rine, and thence (if I mistake not) is pump'd up into the first Cistern and boyl'd again; then lets fall another Sediment, and then is sent into low Ci­sterns within the ground, where it in part shoots; what doth not shoot, is pumped up into a boyling Cistern, and therein is brought to its due height; then is it pumped into great Tun Caskes, where it shoots into that form we find the factitious Alom [Page 68]of. To the last decoction, in the boyling Cisterns, is alwayes added its Mother, which is a Liquor which alwayes remains after shooting, and contributes much towards the chrystallizing of fresh Alom Li­quor.

But in their last decoction, which is performed in their roaching Pan, they boyl up that part which before was shot into grains in the lower Cisterns, to­gether with that which did not shoot, (and all af­ter the mixture with the additional Salts) into a due consistence, and so they let it run into the fore­said Tun-Casks to shoot.

That this aluminous Salt is esurine and sharp, (as we have said in our Hydrol. Chym.) as well as that of Vitriol, is evident by the Experiment of put­ting a plate of Iron, suppose of about a quarter of a pound weight, into the last boyling Liquor, (which I caus'd to be tryed) which in a few hours was to­tally corroded and dissolved, which in longer time would scarcely be toucht, when covered with a broad cloth, shred or list; and what is remarkable in this (but common to other mineral menstruum fretting their proper bodies) was, that while the Iron was dissolving, the Liquor did ferment, boyl and rage more than ordinarily; which when the Solution was over, ceased, although I must confess that it's probable, that the addition of the Salts of Kelp and Urine, may promote the corrosiveness of this Liquor, and may make it the more readily dissolve Iron, and perhaps other Metals, if they were tryed in it.

And were these Salts of Kelp totally alkalizate, (after the manner of the fixed Salts of common Ve­getables, made by the calcination of Plants, by na­ked force of fire) would certainly prove destructive [Page 69]to the Alom Work, and that because the last are indued with a saltiness, contrary and quite destru­ctive to all acid Salts, which after a sharp contest would terminate not in Alom, but in a neutrum quid, (viz.) Tartarum Aluminosum. But the Lee made out of the burnt Sea-wrack or Kelp, is over halanc'd with a Marine Salt, which (by a continu­al pressure or agitation of parts) works it self into the texture of those Sea-faring Plants, by unhinging some parts of their first composition, whence the brackishness and sulphureous twang of the Lee of Kelp is produced.

The addition of those Salts, (viz.) of Kelp and Urine, perform two things, (viz.) first, cause a further separation of a Sediment by the precipitati­on of a kind of Oaker from the Alom Liquor; and next to that they add weight; and a third is not wanting, (viz.) to help the chrystallizing or shoo­ting of Alom: the first of which is evident, because the artificial Alom will not with Galls strike a pur­ple colour, but the natural Alom with its imbred Oaker will: the last is as apparent, because I have observed the natural to shoot in a different form from the Artificial, as I can shew. After the shoo­ting of the Alom, those yellow and green sordes, which are rejected, are used as a manure to some grounds; and that because the Alom Earth, toge­ther with the Sediment of the Kelp, become as a Magnet, which attracts (if it be proper so to speak) the fertilizing Nitre in the Air, the main efficient of improvements of all Soyls; the which, doubt­less, might be much promoted to a further improve­ment of grounds, if they were but calcin'd again, and then expos'd to the Air, by being thrown up­on ground; for hereby they would become more [Page 70]hungry (if I may so say) of the volatile aëreal Ni­tre, and make it fall the more plentifully by Rain and Dews, or Snow, and other manner of circula­tions of that vivifying Aether, which impregnates Grounds for all sorts of vegetation; wherefore I have advised some that live upon Blacomore, (not far from Whitby, being a barren Soyl) to burn their Alom Slate Stone, (of which there is store in that Countrey) after the manner as is done with Lime-stone in other parts of the Countrey; and when it is sufficiently burnt, to throw it upon their Fallow Grounds; from whence probably an improvement worth their charge and labour may be made of that Soyl.

Thus there are few sorts of Soyls in England, or elsewhere, which are so barren as may not be im­proved, by being artificially cultivated with what they bring forth, whether Alom-stone, Lime-stone, Marle, Cole, &c. Nay, there are few barren Soyles in the Indies or elsewhere, but have that in their Bowels, whose worth, one way or other, doth com­pensate their thread bare Coats; the barrenness of their outsides, being well amended by the riches of their inwards. From what is premised, will necessarily result these following conclusions, (viz.)

First, That to extract or separate Salts or Sul­phurs out of Mineral Marcasites, respect must be had to the crudity and maturity of the Mintra, (viz.) That such a Bed is to be chosen, where the Mineral Principles are not too crude, but are brought on to a certain degree of maturity; as for instance, If a Coal-Mine be to be chosen, for burning well, it must be such a one whose Sulphur is plentiful and flagrable, and not a Smitt, which is but an imper­fect Cole-Mine: So if plenty of Alom-Salt be in­tended [Page 71]to be separated from the Marcasite there­of; then must a ripe Stone be chosen, and not that blew Slate or Earth called Doggers.

Secondly, That to unlock some Mineral Beds to come at their hidden Treasure, is required a foregoing Calcination by the force of fire; witness the burning of Alom-stone, before its Salt can be plentifully separated, and the burning of Vitriol in close or open Vessels before its Spirit, or Salt can be procured.

Thirdly, That the treasures these unlock'd Mi­neral Bodies afford, consist in a Salt, and an Em­bryonative Sulphur; for instance, the Salt separa­ble both from Alom and Vitriol, first opened by force of fire, and in both is an apparent Sulphur, viz. In Alom it appears in an inflamable sulphurous Crust, thrust forth to the surface of the Stone; and the same is apparent in Vitriol, both from what Pa­racelsus and Helmont have wrote thereof; As also by the Experiment of pouring Aqua Regis upon Vi­triol, brought by gentle exiccation to a whiteness, by whose humid calcination of that Mineral, an impetuous cloud of sulphurous Vapours arise, which if pent up in a close Vessel, would break it in pie­ces, though the strongest imaginable, whose plenty of fumes are not inferior to those which arise from the like menstruum poured upon crude Antimony, or the Spirit of Nitre upon the Butter of Antimony, or the like Aqua Regis upon the Caput Mortuum of Viride Aeris; which three metalline and mi­neral Bodies, viz. Copper, Antimony, and Vitri­ol, I find by this Experiment to have the greatest plenty of a combustible Sulphur; and it is by the influence of these two, (viz.) Salt and Sulphur, [Page 72]by which mineral and metalline bodies perform their most considerable cures upon the humane body.

Fourthly, That these acid Salts, thus opened, having their native Sulphurs dissolv'd with them in a Lee of fresh Water, do by decoctions, and the addition of other Salts, as of Kelp and Urine, suf­fer the Sulphurs, and other heterogeneous mixtures to separate by precipitation; witness the plenteous separation of the recremental faeces by the foresaid operation from the Alom-Liquor.

Fifthly, That the Alom-Salt, whether natural or calcin'd, is esurine and acid equally with the same in Vitriol, and capable of making solutions of other mineral bodies which lie in its way; for in­stance, the natural succulent Alom Salt dissolves a sleight touch of the Minera of Iron in the Scar­brough Spaw Water; and that either as it lies in the same Alom Bed, or at least in a Vein of Iron, through which the acid aluminous Salt dissolv'd in a Water Spring glides: The same doth the corrosion of the Iron in the Alom Liquor evince, according to our former Experiment.

Sixthly, That some menstruums may dissolve, or break in pieces the close rivetted parts of some (but proper compact) bodies, when they yet leave other bodies of a softer and sleighter texture untouched; witness the Alom Liquor corroding the Iron, when the Cloth Lists, which had covered it, was not dis­solv'd, though it had been longer in that Liquor than the naked Iron; which gives light to possibility of finding out by Art and Industry, such menstru­ums as may dissolve and reduce in minima, the com­pact Duelech, or hard stone of the Bladder, and [Page 73]yet leave untouch'd the tender soft membrane which makes the concave of the Bladder, and other hol­low bowels.

Seventhly, That to make acid menstruums more powerful and more universal (especially as to solid metalline or mineral bodies) is required an additi­on of other Salts, of such a fabrick of parts, as may not by any intestine commotion destroy each other: but may acuate each other with a mutual invigora­ting ferment. Thus the Salts of Kelp and Urine do that to Alom Liquor, which the addition of Sal Gem, or Sal Armoniack doth to an Aqua Fortis, (viz.) makes them dissolve those bodies, which be­fore they could not; the one forcibly to take in pie­ces the body of Iron, the other the body of Gold.

Eighthly, That the Alkalizate Salts of most Ve­getables, made by naked force of fire, do differ from the Kali of Kelp, almost toto Coelo, although both be done by the like calcination; the one being acido saline, (viz.) that of the Kelp; the other, (viz.) the fixt Salts of Vegetables are lixiviate; by the difference of whose constituent parts, ariseth the known ebullition made from the mixture of both.

Lastly, That the faeces remaining after the depu­ration of the Alom Salt, and incremental addition of other Salts, do still retain a kind of Magnetism of the Aethereal Nitre, or at least become a proper subject for that fructifying Nitre to settle upon; whereby some Grounds may be improved, yea, and gives more then probable hopes that the same recal­cin'd, or the crude Stone once calcin'd, may well become a medium for the better improvement of some barren Soyls, as well as Lime-stone, Marl, faeces of Soap-ashes, &c. are by the like method made capable of enriching other Soyls.

Now to confirm (besides what is said) the exi­stency of Alom, as the chief (if not sole) ingredi­ent of some Spaws, I think it not amiss to acquaint the Reader with my Observations on a Spaw of the same nature, which I found out the last Summer in Barnsdale upon Blacomore, about ten or twelve miles from Whitby; in the bottom of which Dale runs a Rivlet fed with several Springs, and walled in, (in some places) as it were, with Alom-Rocks on both sides, but more on one side then on the other, out of the Clefts of one large Alom-Bed, (whose length may by conjectural compute be 50 or 60 paces, and the depth 4, 6, 8, or 10 yards.) I observ'd several Springs to issue forth, with a yellow Sediment, along the Chincks and Crevices; one of which that had the best current, broke forth two or three yards from the foot of the Alom-Rock, having more a­bove it. This, when I tasted, I found very much in taste to resemble the Scarbrough Spaw, and would with the addition of Galls, readily strike a purple tincture: being not a little glad hereat, I ordered a Bottle thereof to be brought along with me to York; which (there) bringing to the test, I found it to contain much-what the same Mineral Ingredi­ents with that of the Scarbrough Spaw, but was no­thing near so plentifully fraught therewith as the other. But however by this it was clearly apparent, that a Water-Spring running through an Alom-Bed, might (and did) imbibe the immature Juyce there­of, in so much as to give it a taste resembling that of the Scarbrough Spaw, and to render it as capa­ble of readily striking a tincture with Galls, as the other, which was no small confirmation of our Hy­pothesis, asserted in our Hydrol. Chym. concerning the Scarbrough Spaw.

Had I been at my Antagonists back, when he was vindicating the existency of Vitriol in our Spaw, I might have cherished him, by whispering (yet I would first have been sure to have had an answer in promptu) this Objection, to wit, ‘That Dy­ers in the making of their Blacks, use not Alom but Vitriol, yea find Alom a great enemy there­to, alwayes mortifying the stiptick parts of those Ingredients, which are necessarily required for that colour, and therefore might seem to argue against Alom, and for Vitriol as the cause there­of, made by Galls in the Spaw Water.’

To which Objection I thus return, (viz.) That this is done, first, because Vitriol contains a greater quantity, by much of a precipitable Ocre, then Alom, which should close with the flats of astrin­gent bodies, for the better intercepting of the Lumi­nous Rayes, whereby that colour becomes made; next, because factitious Alom having great plenty of Urine, the Spirits or Salts thereof doth precipitate the Ocre of Vitriol, and also destroys the acidity thereof, which should otherwise bind in its Ocre, and confirm the stiptick or astringent parts of Galls, Sumach, Logwood, Elder Bark, &c. frequently used for Blacks.

WHat I have said in my Hydrol. Chym. con­cerning the Sweet-Spaw at Knarsbrough, I find no reason to reclaim, notwith­standing the carping of some, by the in­stigation of others; for that it hath imbibed but a small quantity from a Minera or Marcasite of Iron, is apparent; first, because upon its evaporation it leaves an insipid dark coloured Pouder, arguing that the Vitrioline Marcasite, over which this Spring Water glides, is very thin and lean, of a Vitrioline Acidity, and that is the reason it coagulates not Milk, as do the German Vitrioline Spaws, and some of our own: which happens not as Dr. French ima­gineth, from a volatility of its acidity, which eva­porates before the Milk boyls, but rather from the inconsiderableness of the acidity, and the easie pre­cipitation of its Ocre.

Secondly, By the great quantity of that Water which is to be drunk, before any sensible Operation can be made, either by Stool or Urine; insomuch as it gives just cause of suspition that it is most-what from the weight of that Water pressing upon those E­munctories, which chiefly gives energy to its Ope­ration.

Thirdly, The same is evident from the Mineral Waters, which are Springs, passing through some Vitrioline Marcasites, which are found in Cole­ground, of which I have some by me; with these are those Springs, drilling through Cole-Mines, of­ten impregnated, many of which have a Vitrioline taste, and will strike a purple tincture with Galls, of which sort is Old Town Spaw, and some near Leids and Hawton, &c. some of which have a sleight Iron-like, or vitrioline taste, and yet are so thin and poor, as not to be able to give any tincture with Galls, while others of them that are strong, give both tincture and taste.

Fourthly, The same is apparent by observing, that all these languid vitrioline Waters, if they ei­ther restagnate, being exposed to the Air, or by motion be carried to a great distance, and if by ei­ther way, a little yellow Sediment be precipitated, then forthwith they become effete in their vertues, and have neither any distinguishable taste, nor will give any colour with Galls, but degenerate again into simple Spring Water. So that the supposed Spirits of these Waters are only imaginary and mere Chimera's, no where existent, but in the brains of those who conceive them.

For further confirmation of what I have already said, and shall now further add concerning this and other the like mineral vitrioline Spaws, I will elu­cidate it by this following Experiment, (viz.) I took a bright Cuprous, or Vitrioline Marcasite, found about the surface of Cole-Mines, and after­wards exposed to the Air, upon which (without any other preparation) I poured simple distilled Water in a Jar Glass, which, in frigido, did immedi­ately receive a vitrioline taste; and being forthwith [Page 78]filtred from the Marcasite, struck a deep purple tincture with Galls, as deep as any vitrioline Spaw I have yet met with; its taste was exactly like that of the Sweet-Spaw, we are now treating of, and would, as other the like Vitrioline Spaws, be redu­cible to its pristine clarity, by the pouring a few drops of Oyl of Vitriol; and became opace, by the adding of Oyl of Tartar, and so passed those colours found in the Vitrioline Spaws, as we have hinted more at large in our Hydrol. Chym. concer­ning those Mineral Waters; from which Experi­ment may follow these direct and collateral conclu­sions, viz.

First, That Vitrioline Marcasites are allyed unto, and generally found in those Mines where Sulphur is much predominant, viz. in the Cole-Mines, &c. yea themselves are impregnated with an immature Sulphur, witness their combustibleness, if put upon hot Coles, burning with a blew flame, and yeelding a sulphureous fume.

Secondly, That these being exposed to the Air, become the more readily ingravidated with a Vi­trioline Salt, by determining the nitrous Particles, floating in the Air upon its Body, by a peculiar Magnetism (if I may so say) proper to such bodies; and this is evident, because the longer these Marca­sites are exposed to the open Air, the more they be­come fraught with a vitrioline body, contracting a Crust, which by solution, filtration, &c. will easi­ly resolve into a body of Vitriol.

Thirdly, That these, and their connatural and analogous Juyces do increase, and (suo more) ve­getate in the Earth as other Minerals do, is apparent in that I have observed a piece of Wood invelloped with a vitrioline Crust found in the Earth, where [Page 79]other Marcasites of the like nature have been dig­ged, which I keep by me.

Fourthly, That these Marcasites, the nearer they lie to the surface of the Earth, and the more patent the Channels are, by which currents of Spring Wa­ter glide by them; the more readily they give their tincture, or yeeld a solution of their substance, whence some vitrioline Springs or Spaws become stronger, both in taste and operation, then others; and this is evident, because of the facile ingress the Air hath to these places.

Nor may this contradict what we elsewhere say, viz. That an Esurine Acidity, preying upon the Minera of Iron, gets a sleight touch therefrom, and so becomes as Vitriol of the Minera of Iron, which gives essence to the Vitrioline or Sweet-Spaw at Knarsbrough; for both may be true, though in va­rious respects, from different Soyls; in as much as there are even in these Marcasites a connatural acid Juyce, reasolvable by the confluence of Air, which seizeth on an embryonative Sulphur of Iron, essenti­al to those Concretes, which are carried together in their mutual imbraces, by a preterlabent Spring of Water, unto the place where they break forth, cal­led a Spring-head, which gives Original to all or most of the Spaws called Fontes acidi.

So that all Vitrioline Spaws are reducible to one of these two Causes, viz. Either to a sulphureous acid Spirit, dissolv'd in a Water-Spring, passing through the Minera of Iron, the acidity dissolving the looser parts thereof, and coagulating it self there­on; or to the foresaid Vitrioline Marcasites, whose acidity being resolv'd by the Air in the bowels of Earth, takes along with it the connate immature Sulphur, or loose vitrioline Ocre; and both in one [Page 80]gives essence to these Mineral Waters, and from the [...] two causes singly and joyntly, do the Spaws of Knarsbrough, Rotheram, Oulton, Turnbridg, A­strap, &c. take their Original; amongst which those that have but sleighter touches of the Mine­rals, and consequently do the more readily suffer a precipitation of their Earth or Ocre, fetch their Mi­neral in a longer line from the place of their Erup­tion, and that too perhaps from Marcasites more pe­nurious, and less opened then others which keep their Minerals unprecipitated, and consequently their Vertues the longer.

These Marcasites, calcin'd in a Crucible with a blast, will melt and flow, especially helped with Nitre; which melted Mass being poured forth, gives no Regulus or metalline body, nor is so pondrous as it was before, but hath some bright yellow, or cuprous sparkles interspers'd. This in two dayes time, doth almost all fall to a black Pouder, much like what I remember hapned to a Scoria of Iron in the making Regulus Martis; which being laid o­pen to the Air, did in a few dayes fall into a black Pouder.

Wherefore these Stones are without doubt a Me­talline Embryo, consisting of a Salt and inflamma­ble Sulphur, which hath scarce begun the matri­monial embraces of its Mercury, and therefore at the best is but a Mineral in the road to metallizati­on; and being plentifully impregnated with an acid sulphureous Salt, whose other Ingredients hanging but loosly on, makes it the more readily soluble in a preterlabent Spring of Water; for I have, for expe­riment sake, onely suffered simple distilled Water to slide over one of them, and have found thereby that the Water would by so sleight a gliding over, [Page 81]strike a purple tincture with Galls, which it will do again and again to fresh Water, yeelding there­by an inexhaustible treasure to the transient Springs of Water.

Amongst these Marcasites, I have one by me bright and sparkling, cut into curious angular forms, like so many Diamonds of several sizes set in a Ground, as if Nature in this neat peice of work, did vie with Art. And yet in the very Inter­stices of these Diamond-like cuts, (betwixt each other) is conspicuous the Mineral Salt which gives Essence and Operation to most of the Vitrioline Spaws.

Some Mineral Waters may (I confess) be such as are only acid, being only impregnated with the Esurine Salt of the Earth, and have no addition in them of Mineral Sulphurs, neither of Iron nor Copper; of which sort I have tasted one near Che­sterfield in Derbyshire, which hath a very strong sowrishness, but yet, with Galls, gives no tincture, although I found a reddish Ocre to lie along the sides of the Current.

The like (I doubt not) may be found in other places; all which may notwithstanding prove very good Waters to open Obstructions in the body of man, by their penetrative Vertues.

Lastly, A solution of Salt of Iron in Water, with Galls, gives a deep purple tincture, and pas­seth all other mutations of colours answerable to all natural Mineral Waters. But the solution of Ro­man Vitriol, (with Galls added) gives no purple colour, but becomes a muddied Liquor, which, with Oyl of Tartar assused, becomes greenish, but [Page 82]with Oyl of Sulphur wholly green. The same al­terations doth Viride Aeris suffer with the same additions. But Roman Vitriol infus'd in a weak Spirit of Urine, gives a blew tincture, which will not be altered by the addition of Alome. The same doth Viride Aeris dissolved in Water.

Whence (by the by) I conclude, Roman Vi­triol to be factitious, made up (sometimes) of A­lom, with a tincture of Copper, taken in a weak Spirit of Wine, or the Phlegm thereof, and so cau­sed to shoot into Chrystals.

WHat I have said in my Hydrolog. Chym. concerning the essential cause of this Mineral-Water, (viz.) That it consists (as a Spaw) of a Sal-marine or fossile Salt (which differ not either materially or formal­ly) impregnated with an embryonative faetid Sul­phur, or rather sulphureous odour, is (I say) true, and may be illustrated after a double manner; And that first, by the collateral Experiments I have there inserted, concerning an embryonative Sulphur, as faetid as this Spaw Water it self, close locked up in the body of Sal-marine; as at large is made evi­dent by that Experiment, which I shall not now insist upon.

But secondly, (and now more to the purpose) the same will better be discovered by a fresh light; let in by some new Experiments: only before I proceed to produce what I have to urge herein, I shall first (taking things as they lie in my way) make an in­quiery [Page 84]what Ingredients are not (though by some supposed to be) in this Spring, (viz.) That neither Vitriol, Nitre, nor Sulphur, (as to the body there­of) are the constitutive Principles hereof.

First, That Vitriol is not here, is apparent; first, because it will strike no tincture with Galls, which any Mineral Water, that hath but the least partici­pation of Vitriol will readily do; but this Spring, with the addition of Galls, gives no purple at all; next, because upon evaporation or distillation of this Water, no Vitrioline Ocre is found, with which such Waters (whilst in the vigour of their Opera­tion) are constantly impregnated, and as certainly let fall to the bottom, when effaete in their Ver­tues.

Nay further, the same is apparent by this follow­ing Experiment, (viz.) I took some of the Vitriol Marcasites (of which more anon) found in the Bog, about 240 paces North-west from the Well, upon which, grosly bruised, I poured a strong solution of Sal marinum Hispanicum, made in distilled Water, and set them in frigido in a long glass body; from the commixture of which, I found no sulphureous ap­porrhea to arise, but the solution became green; which being decanted, and evapored, or distilled, (which last, as I remember, I did to try if it would yeeld any effluvia of Sulphur, but found none) I obtained a yellow Salt in Chrystals, with a Vatrio­line Ocre or Sulphur at the bottom; which Salt was the Sal-marine, ting'd with the vitrioline body, (of which I have some by me): for being dissolv'd again in fresh distilled Water, it will, with the addition of Galls, strike a deep tincture; yea, the liquamen (viz. the Mother, as the Vitriol or Alom-workmen [Page 85]call it) which shoots not, will (if diluted with Water) give the same colour.

By which it is plain, that as Vitriol gives no o­dour or effluvia of its Sulphur, to a solution of Salt; so neither consequently doth it yeeld the same to this Salt Water, considered simply as such: we will suppose that the Salt Spring in the Earth (I mean the Spring impregnated with Salt) may in its passage run through these Marcasites of Vitriol, which are found not far from thence, (as I shall afterwards prove it doth) it would of necessity (if simple Salt) make some sleight solution thereof, and give its Indications answerable to our Experiment, by receiving a tincture from Galls, &c. But by mat­ter of fact, I find it not so to do; Ergo, Vitriol, as such, is no Ingredient of this Sulphur-Well.

Secondly, That there is no Nitre, is as evident, in as much as, in the Analysis of this Water, no such Ingredient is to be found; for neither doth there appear any Salt which shoots into such Styria's, nor that hath any inflammable property; both which are essential to Nitre, as such.

Thirdly, Nor is Sulphur (as to the body there­of) an Ingredient of this Spring, notwithstanding that it hath its denomination therefrom, being cal­led the Sulphur-Well; and this is evidently appa­rent, because in the genuine resolution of this Spaw Water into its Principles, not one grain of a com­bustible Sulphur is to be found; for upon a gentle distillation thereof, in Glass Vessels closely stopt, the sulphureous odour goes off in much less then the third part of the Water, which is first distilled. The rest which distils, is simple Water without any odour or taste; and what remains in the bottom, (which I filtred, though it stood not in much need [Page 86]thereof) was a liquamen of Salt, which being eva­porated a little more, shot into a Salt of cubical Fi­gures; exactly in taste, colour, figure, &c. resem­bling, yea, the very same with a Fossil, or Marine Salt, having an inconsiderable addition of Alom Salt lest after precipitation of the Sulphur; so that nothing of Sulphur, or any the least inflammable matter can be separated from the Spaw.

Against what I say hereof, I have met with an Objection, urg'd by a Physitian of note, who grounds it upon this Experiment, (viz.) That up­on this Sulphur Water, or others of the like nature, which break forth higher upon the Bank, above the usual Spring: I say, that upon these Waters restag­nating, is found a kind of white Cremor, (which sometimes is of various colours) this being skim'd off, and dryed, will take flame and burn; which by matter of fact I have my self upon tryal found true.

To which I answer, That this Sulphur which thus separates from this restagnating Water, is the same with that which swims upon other sorts of Mi­neral Waters upon long standing, being a blewish cream or skin, which swims as well upon the Sweet-Spaw, and any Vitrioline, or other Mineral Wa­ters; and (as Dr. Heer's saith) being put upon the fire, is inflamed, and yeelds a sulphureous odor: The same is also found in an Azure coloured skin, swimming upon the restagating Scarbrough Spaw Water: Yea, the like is frequently to be seen upon Water that stands long upon any Bog.

This Sulphureous skin which swims upon most Mineral Waters, is referrable to a double Original, (viz.) Either they are such as have a bituminous matter swimming upon them; which with the Water [Page 87]Spring, issues forth joyntly out of the bowels of the Earth, from some sulphureous or bituminous source; witness the Spring at Pitchford in Shropshire, and in Averna in France: The Mare Asphaliticum, called Mare Mortuum, which hath plenty of Naptha and Bitumen issuing from the Shores, which have store of bituminous Pits.

As also that Water, in agro Parmensi, Falop. 24.6. according to Falopius, of which Water he saith, Est usque aduò bituminosis vapo­ribus referta; ut ex flammâ vix sibi ad­maeâ accendatur: And that likewise, in agro Pata­vino; and all other Waters, upon which swim Camphire, Amber, in succo suo soluto, (both which by Falopius Cardanus, Agricola and Casius, are accounted, è genere bituminis) Pisasphaltum, Petroleum, Balsamus Indicus, &c. all which are reckoned as various species de genere bituminis; in all which the bituminous skin will take fire and burn with a sulphureous flame; for as no Oil, so neither Sulphur, nor the Bitumina, will mingle, per mini­ma, with Water, Oyls, and Sulphurs, consisting of similar parts, which bear no proportion with wa­tery Particles, unless the watery be subjugated by an oyly Ferment. Or,

Secondly, They are such as (whilst in the bow­els of the Earth) are impregnated with Minerals, (although perhaps not sulphureous) but when they come into the open Air, presently (especially by re­stagnation) let fall their imbibed Ingredients, and by continuance of time suffer a sulphureous matter to be generated de novo; or rather indeed, as I ap­prehend, by long standing, suffer the Air, by a kind of putrefactive ferment, to cause a slow reso­lution of the very compage of Water; and in this [Page 88]gentle Analysis, makes the restagnating Water cast its Sulphur, which was not preexistent in the Wa­ter, as a Mineral Sulphur; but is (as I said) either a bituminous Cremor, or a Sulphur of Water in­gendred by a putrefactive resolution thereof; which will, being dryed, take flame and burn.

That I might make a sesemblance of this Water, the better to inquire into the nature thereof, I took one ounce of Hepar Antimonii, upon which, pulve­rized, I poured some warm Water; into which, fil­tred, we dropt some little solution of Alom Salt, (for I knew Vinegar would do it, as is usual in the making of Sulphur Auratum Antimonii) and it forthwith separated the Sulphur of Antimony with a strong sulphureous odor, not unlike that of the Sulphur-Well; and being filtred, was the same in taste and smell: by which I learned what that was which precipitated the body of Sulphur after its first solution in the Water from its native Minera, viz. That it was an Alom Juyce, in which I am con­firm'd, in as much as I find a Bed of Alom, with­in the space of ten yards from the breaking forth of that Well; from the surface of whose Stones, I have taken a Salt, which (dissolv'd in fresh Water) I found would strike a deep tincture with Galls; yea, the very Stone it self, being put into fresh Wa­ter, will, with Galls, give the very same colour; of which very thing I have not met with any that have taken notice, either those who have wrote of, or others who have frequented the Spaws; and though I found hereby, what was the second Juyce which precipitated the body of Sulphur, and had made its Apporrhea or volatile odor to appear, yet was I still at a loss what this Sulphur was, or from what body, and by what solvent it first became [Page 89]loosened or prepared; for all Sulphurs, whether in their own Earth, or wrapt up in mineral or metal­lick Veins, till they be opened by some particular and proper Solvents, are not fit to give forth their volatile parts, nor to strike the nostrils with their odor.

And that Water impregnated with Sal marine, is not sufficient to open the body of a mineral Sulphur, and consequently not adapted for a Menstruum, is apparent by this following Experiment, (viz.) I took a pint of Spring Water, and dissolv'd two or three dragms of Sal marine therein, (which is the quantity, at the most, which the Sulphur-Well con­tains of the body of Salt) into which I poured three ounces of the Marcasites of Vitriol aforesaid; then stirred the mixture very well; after that I pou­red off some of the Liquor, and filtred it, which would neither tinge Silver, nor yeeld a sulphureous odor; but to try whether Sal marine would at all open the body of Sulphur in the Marcasites, as some suppos'd, I added to the filtred Liquor, a solution of Alom Salt, as I had done for the precipitation of the Sulphur of Antimony, out of the solution of Hepar, but found no precipitation, coagulation, nor alteration of that Sulphur, either in colour or smell, nor would it at all tinge Silver; all which it would have done to an opened and prepared Mine­ral Sulphur.

This Menstruum of the Sal marine, had indeed made such a solution of the Vitrioline parts of the Marcasites, as rendred it capable of receiving a tin­cture from Galls, but had not at all touched the sulphureous parts thereof.

But before I deposite my own Thesis of the true native Ingredients of this Spaw, which shall be [Page 90]clearly demonstrated by Experiment. I would first take off what Dr. French opinionates thereon, who saith thus, As for the stinking odour thereof, (speaking of the Sulphur-Well) that I suppose is caused from the vapours of the burning Bitumen, and adust terreness therewith; and therefore he judgeth it to be hot in its original source, in the manner of Hot Baths, who supposeth subterrestrial fires, sed with a bituminous or sulphureous mat­ter, not only to cause hot Springs or Baths, but also to give being to the faetidness of such sulphure. ous Waters.

Now this is (I confess) an Opinion that not on­ly he, but Falopius, Empedocles, Agricola, Casius, Kircher and others hold; for by two wayes they did suppose all Waters to be heated, Nam aquarum (according to Empedocles) aliae calefiunt quia tran­seant per saxosa loca, quibus subjectus fit ignis ar­dens in metallo sulphureo vel bituminoso; aliae inca­loseunt quia transeant per ipsum metallum ignitum & ardens, as thought Agricola. Nor was Falopius much otherwise minded, who treating de aquis Patavinis, whose sulphureous odour is not much unlike that of our Sulphur-Well, saith, Ques halitus sulphuris Pa­tavinis, iste aqua habent non ideo quia bullient in metallo ipso sulphureo; sed quoniam transeant supra loca, sub quibus ebullit sulphuri, ex quo efferuntur vapores ad cuniculos, & cum aquâ miscentur; from whence he grounds his Opinion, that the difference of Hot Baths, (viz.) That some are intensly hot, others moderately; some tepid and subtepid, others cold; proceed from these two, (viz.) Paucitas & distantia ignis, The scarcity and distance of the fire.

In answer to which Opinions, I thus return, viz, That although I cannot deny but that there are Sub­terraneal Fires, which being once inkindled, feed upon sulphureous Minerals, witness the Eruptions of Aetna, Vesuvius, Strongilo, and other Vulca­nian Mountains; yet do not I see causes sufficient to convince me, that these give being to all our Hot Baths, or that their Vapours gives faetidness to sul­phurous Waters. That there may be some hot Baths adjacent to those sulphurous burnings, which probably may be heated by passing over those places in cuniculis, under which a bituminous matter burns, I shall not deny; witness that in Apulia, called Tribulus, where is plenty of Ashes and cal­cin'd Stones; and those about the Lake Lucrinus and Avernus; and that in Agro Valaterano, accor­ding to Falopius; Yet we scarce read of any in in Campania, where is the Hill Vesuvius; nor in Sicily, where Mont Gibello belcheth forth flames; nor in other places where these Eruptions are, do Hot Baths more frequently appear, then in those places where there is found not the least suspition of any Forge of Vulcan.

That these Subterranean Fires are not the causes of our hot Mineral Waters, or sulphureous Springs in general, will be evident; if we consider, first, that it's more then probable, that a subterraneal fire is no more naturally implanted in the bowels of the Earth, then the imaginary elementary fire is to be found sub concavo Lunae; which, though it may seem as a Paradox to some, yet duly considered, it will not appear irrational; for the materia substrata of all inflammable concretions, whether in the Ca­vities of the Earth, or upon the supersicies thereof, or in the common expausum of the Air, must be a [Page 92]combustible matter common to them all, and that must be bituminous, unctuous, or sulphureous; al [...] which, whether in Subterraneal Caverns, or upon the Surface of the Earth, or in the Aereal Region, may (I say) take flame, and burn from some one of these three Causes, (viz.) either from Motion, Corruscation, or Lightning; or flamma de flam­mâ, one fire inkindling another; to which we may add a fourth, (which yet may be included in one of the three) (viz.) from some Mineral Marcasites acuated by air and moisture, instance Alom and Coperous Mines, being in parcels broken, exposed and moistned, will gather an actual heat, and pro­duce much more of those Minerals, then else the Mine would yeeld; as the learned Dr. Jorden, in his Discourse of Natural Baths; and the ingenious Dr. Power, in his Micros. obs. Confirmes; yea, and that Brass lumps (which are a sort of Marca­fite) being laid in heaps, and exposed to the moist Air, or sprinkled with Water, will smoke and grow exceeding hot, and sometimes take fire, and burn all that is about it, as the foresaid Dr. Power proves: So the Mines of Tin-Glass, exposed after the same manner, to the moist Air, will become very hot; and Quick-Lime will do the same.

The like Dr. Jorden observes in those Stone Coals called Metal Coals, which are mixed with a Mar­casite, containing some Mineral Juyce, which re­ceiving moisture, doth dilate it self, and grow so hot, as oftentimes great heaps of those Coals are kindled thereby, and burnt before their time, as hath been seen at Puddle-Wharf in London, and at Newcastle: although these last I account do not much differ from the aforesaid Coperas Marca­site.

Now seeing that all combustible Concretes may contract a heat, yea, may actually take flame, and burn from some of the foresaid causes; witness the heating and firing of a Coach-Wheel, by too rapid a motion; the burning of Houses, Trees, Men, &c. by Lightning and Thunder; the taking flame of one combustible matter by another; and lastly, the self-inkindling of a Ryck of Hay or Corn, which hath been laid up too moist; and the taking fire of several Marcasites, by being exposed to the moist Air, as aforesaid: Therefore I see no reason why a Meteor or Comet, which suppose brought to that body of sulphurous Exhalations, and taking flame from its own motion, or from Lightning, or from what other cause, should less be reputed an Ele­mentary Fire, sub Concavo Lunae; then those sub­terraneal fires kindled (according to all probability) occasionally (not to say accidentally, quoad nos) from some of the foresaid causes, should be accoun­ted native to the Earth, or naturally implanted therein, for the production of all Mineral and Me­talline bodies: so that as the one is irrational, and is exploded by our modern Philosophers; so conse­quently the other may seem as irrational, if we do but further consider,

First, How impossible it is for actual fire to be­come the cause of generation of Minerals or Metals, as some suppose, who imagine the Fire as a Native born in the Earth; seeing fire, I mean, flaming or glowing fire, is by the gravest of Philosophers so far rejected from amongst the causes of Generation, as it is rather justly to be reputed mors rerum artifi­ciosa, the death or destroyer of all things, commit­ting actual rapine upon all the Seminary Principles of bodies, which fall under its tyranny, dispersing [Page 94]and dissipating those Concretions suddenly, which Nature (helped by a generative heat working upon imbred Seminals) had taken a long time to com­pile together, making havock of the neat Structures of Bodies.

Secondly, How unlikely it is for Water to be so disposed in the Earth; in what Vessels can it be imagined to lodg? Yea, how these fancied Hydro­phylacia can be so well placed, as they may best be capable to receive the fires, from the as much fanci­ed Pyrophylacia, without danger of the Waters fal­ling upon the fires and quenching them, so as to make the heated Hydrophylacia the cause of Hot Baths; for cannot Water as easily descend or slip down those small Chinks and Cranies, and smother that Demigorgon, as the fire could ascend to heat these Cisterns of Water? unless we imagine the Water included in some vast Kettles, (and so was heated by the playing of the flames about) and then we must be forced to think of a Vulcan to be before his Fires; who must first hammer out these large Caldrons, preparing empty Vessels for us to fill with our watery conceits.

Thirdly, If we should grant the possibility of these actual Subterraneal Fires, as connatural to the Earth, why should we not find Minerals and Me­tals melted instead of being generated? and why we should not, where these fires meet with Vitriol and Nitre, or Vitriol and Salt, find store of Aqua Fortis? and meeting with Sulphur, should not give us plenty of Oil of Sulphur, tanquam per campa­nam, being the winding Crevices of the Earth would do the like as Glass Bells for conden­ [...]ing the Vapours of fired Sulphur into a Liquor, and meeting with Vitriol or Alom-stone, should not [Page 95]calcine them to our hand; so as instead of Vitriol, we should find Colcothar; and instead of Antimo­ny, we should find either stibium or regulus, or the sublim'd flowers; and so I could hold on to number up many more absurdities that would necessarily follow.

Fourthly, If we consider how easily combustible Concrets in the bowels of the Earth, where plenty of bituminous and sulphurous matter is found, may, and probably hath been kindled, either by Light­ning, or by catching flame from some burning body; or lastly, by some of their Marcasites, expos'd to the moist Air, or to whom a moist Air hath had access; for being once fired, vires acquirit eundo, it burns on as long as it finds Fuel; and where store of com­bustible matter is, (as without doubt there is in all the Vulcano's) there cannot but be plenty of Hete­rogeneous mixtures, as of Stone, Gravel, Earth, &c. which together with the combustible matter, is thrown up at the mouths of those subterraneous Fur­naces; which if they (as by continuance of time) may by constant burning so undermine the ground, as at some times a vast quantity of Earth and other Rubbish fall upon it; then being forc't to seek ano­ther passage forth, and cannot suddenly, or at least, not so much as the force of the fire requires, it being obstructed in its passage, causeth Earthquakes; but at last finding vent, makes new Eruptions, thrown forth in such abundance of Stones and Earth, as sometimes is sufficient (if it happen under the Sea) to make a new Island; witness what Kircher reports hapned,Kirch. Mund. Subter. pag. 77. Anno. 1638. ad insulam Sti. Michaelis in Ma­ri Athlantico, Stimulantibus ignibus sub­terraneis tantum lapidum in medio Maris [Page 96]egestum fuit, ut inde insula lapidibus in montes cus­tervatis nata, sese ad quinque milliarium latitudi­nem extenderit: As also in Agro Puteolano, Novus mons ex Mari, unius noctis saevientis naturae subter­raneae violentia protuberans; also, Vulcanus Lipari­tanus (he further adds) Tantum cinerum saxorum. que ante annos circiter sexaginta (speaking from the time his Book was writ) ejecisse fertur; ut juxta sese in medio Mari, quem & ideò vulcanellum, velu­ti filium a patre genitum vocant, produxerit; which he confirms by his own Observation.

And to confirm further what we say concerning the occasional or accidental inkindling of combusti­ble matter, in the intrals of the Earth, I shall call in a Testimonial Instance, out of Mr. Burton's Hi­story of Leicestershire, who saith, ‘That at Coal-Eaton in that County, in the beginning of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, the Coal-Mines there did burn for many years together, and could not be quenched, until the sulphurous and brimstony matter (whereupon it wrought) was utterly exhausted and consumed.’ The like fire in Coal-Mines, was in the year 1622. burning near Willingsworth and Weddesbury, in the County of Stafford; not unlike which was a sudden erupti­on of fire in the Coal-Mines at Sunderland, in the County of Durham, (as I was informed by my learned Friend Mr. J. H. who had it confirmed by a Gentleman of that County, who had been Page to King James) where by a sudden eruption of fire, to the number of about five persons working in the bottom of the Pit, were consumed and destroyed; several of their Members, as Arms, Legs, &c. were found torn from their bodies.

The last instance might be a sulphureous Damp; or arsenical malignant Steam, arising from the com­mixture of heterogeneal mineral Juyces or Spirits, which by the flame of a Candle (which the Miners frequently have to work by day and night) might very probably take fire, and so by its unimagina­ble force, might easily act that Tragical Scene.

The other Instances evidence the possibility of Subterraneal Fires from occasional and accidental Causes, which may, not unlikely, be transferred (I mean from the like causes) to those Ignivomous Mountains, Aetna, Vesuvius, Strongilo, &c. So that as a Subterraneal Fire was inkindled in Coal-Mines, which continued for many years; during which time it was as real subterraneal Fire (and as probable from the same causes) as those fired Moun­tains aforesaid.

Only the main Objection I meet with, is the per­petuation of those bituminous and sulphurous Fires of the flaming Furnaces of Aetna, Vesuvius, &c. which those other fires in coal-mines do not; there­fore, as some suppose, are sed by a large-Central or Abyssal Fire; witness Kircher, Abyssorum omnium pyrophylacticarum maximam sancti patres in centro terrae non incongrue statuerint, eternum improbis ad penam destinatum carcerem: which (as he supposeth) is no less then Hell Fire, and the Confines thereof to be his other Pyrophylacia, which heat the Hy­drophylacia, and gives Original to all Hot Baths: which being a figment from the Center to the Cir­cumference, from the beginning to the end, I shall not take so much liberty now as to insist upon it.

The Reason, I would say, why the Vulcano's are kept burning with a perpetual Fire, is the vast quantities of bituminous and sulphureous matter [Page 98]lodg'd in those great Hills; which having once ta­ken fire, burn on, and then comes about in a great round; and as it hath consumed the combustible matter on one side, it goes further on to consume the other; which whilst it's doing, that vacant part retaining yet (especially in the Earth therea­bouts) the Seeds of those sulphurous mineral Con­cretes, produceth the like de novo, wch becomes fresh Fuel when the Fire wheels about again, still the Mineral Seeds being at work, produceth fresh Mi­nerals in the deserted spaces, where the Earth yet retains the seminal Juyces of those combustible Bo­dies; and thus may the Circle of those Subterra­neal Fires be perpetuated, and not fed from any Central or Hell Fire implanted in the Earth; which may well be confirmed, in as much as it is obser­ved, that Minerals and Metals are generated anew in the same places out of which they have been for­merly digged; witness the profit (Falopius saith) the Duke of Florence hath by it; and what Sandiv. saith, That there have been Metals found in Moun­tains, where formerly there have been none left.

Thus not onely Nitre is afresh to be got out of the same Earth it was formerly extracted from; but the like is observed in the Minerals of Vitriol and Alom; yea, the Generation of Metals, are not ter­minated with one production, it ceaseth not there, but the Mineral Seed gathereth strength by inlar­ging it self, continually proceeds to subjugate more matter under its Government; so as where once a Generation is begun, it continues many Ages, and seldom gives over: Thus Dr. Jordan hath observed from the Tinners in Cornwall, That they have, af­ter thirty years, found Tin generated de novo, where it hath been formerly all digged up and filled with [Page 99]Earth. The like hath been observed of Iron, in the Mines of Ilva, an Island in the Adriatick Sea, un­der the Venetians, where the Iron breeds continu­ally as fast as they can work it, which is confirmed by Agricola and Baccius. The like at Saga in Li­giis, where they (as the same Dr. Jordan observeth) dig again their Iron-Mines every tenth year. Mo­thesius gives examples of almost all sorts of Minerals and Metals, which he hath observed to grow and regenerate. Erastus (as Dr. J. notes) affirms that he saw in S. Joachims Dale, Silver grown upon a Beam of Wood, which was placed in the Pit to support the works. The like of reproductions of Metals, is also observed in the Lead-Mines at Men­dip and the Peak, which do not only stretch fur­ther in extent of ground, then hath been observed heretofore, but also are renewed in the same ground which hath been formerly wrought. But to return.

Now as these Subterraneal Fires are not (for reasons aforesaid) native to the Earth, nor are Ele­mentary in Centro Terrae, more then sub Concavo Lunae; so consequently, neither are they causes in general of our Hot Baths, or sulphureous Springs; for as there are no Subterraneal Fires found either near our Hot Baths, or our Sulphur Waters; wit­ness the digging to the Source of a hot Water, by the charge and industry of M. de Rochas, (which in our Hydrol. Chym. we further insist upon) where the Earth was digged beyond the original of the Waters heating, and yet not the least specimen of any actual or Elementary Fire, being only produced from a vivid nitrous or hermetick Salt, (as he calls it) frequently ingendred de novo, touching upon a Mineral Bed of Sulphur Vive, from whose mutual [Page 100]contact that Hot Bath proceeded: Nay, besides this, suppose we should (for indulgence sake) ad­mit of a Central or Elementary Subterraneal Fire, keept burning by a sulphureous Matter, yet would it not even hence follow that our hot Baths or sul­phureous Matters, should frequently have their o­riginal thence; and that, first, because suppose Sul­phur burning actually, and that whether set on fire by any of the aforesaid causes, or by Central Fire, or as you will, yet shall this Sulphur heat no fur­ther then the inkindled flames reach, no more then Sulphur burning under a Glass Campane, (for the making its Oyl) doth heat further then the Glass it toucheth, so that the actual flame heats, but so doth not the fume thereof; for, suppose that the actual flames of Sulphur should touch upon, and heat the Water; why might we not as easily ima­gine the Water to quench the Fire, as the Fire to heat the Water? Nay further, Suppose we should grant that the flame should not heat Water immedi­ately, but mediately by heating other bodies, as Stones, &c. over which the Water in cuniculis pro­priis passeth, according to Falopius, yet not a few absurdities would hence follow; as how these flames should burn under a Quarry of Stones, when thereby intercepted from Air (the life of Fire) with­out which it exists not? Next, how these hot Baths should then become impregnated with the medici­nal vertues of Sulphur, seeing, by this Supposition, the Water would want both the flame and fume of Sulphur?

My second Reason (why upon admission, that though a flagrable sulphurous matter should be bur­ning in the bowels of the Earth, yet should it not be the cause of hot Baths) is, because then generally [Page 101]all hot Waters would have a strong Brimstone-like smell, like the odor of Wine or Ale matched or fu­med with Brimstone in Bottles, or like the fumes of Sulphur which arise in the distillation of its Oil per campanam, of which smell, amongst all hot Baths, I read of none which yeeld it.

My third Argument is grounded upon matter of fact in this following Experiment, (viz.) Take a mineral Sulphur, whether Vive, or in a Marcasite, (as of Vitriol &c.) put it (in pieces) in an Earthen Retort, and give degrees of fire under it, in a Fur­nace; where, because the fire comes not actually to it, it flames not; urge this so, as all the Fumes (which are dry ones, called Flowers) shall pass through the Neck into a Receiver, fill'd most-what with Water, & so placed, as that these fumes all fall and condense upon the surface of the Water; which they will do in an unctuous substance like Oil of Wax or Amber, congealing by degrees, and beco­ming harder, they fall down to the bottom in bright flakes of Brimstone; by which way I have got a Sulphur out of the Marcasites of Vitriol found in the Bog near the Sulphur-Well. Now the Fire (as I said) drives forth the dry fumes or flowers; these coming in a vapor, condense upon the surface of the Water in the Receiver; and yet (which is what I aim at) this Water hath neither taste nor smell like that of our Sulphur Well at Knarsbrough. So that neither an actual or immediate firing of Sulphur, as is done in the making its Oil, nor a distilling or subliming of it by a Fire ab extra, whereby Sulphur becomes separated from a Vitrioline Marcasite, will give to Water either the like taste or odour with the Sulphur-Well; and therefore we must conclude, that its faetid odour, is not caused from any Va­pors [Page 102]of burning Bitumen or Sulphur, whether ima­gined to be done in open passages, or close Caverns of the Earth.

Having thus far refuted (and that I hope demon­stratively) the Opinions of Hot Baths and Sulphur Waters, taking their Original from imbred subter­raneal Fires; I shall now propound my own Ob­servation, in the fabrick of the like Waters, artifici­ally performed in imitation of the natural. I tryed therefore whether Sal Armoniack, mixed with a Mineral Sulphur, and so dissolv'd together in a di­stilled Water, would at all open the body of Sul­phur; into which, when filtred, I poured some Solution of Alom-stone; but it caused no precipi­tation, nor made any discovery of any dissolv'd Sulphur; also into a little of the clear Solution, I poured some Oil of Tartar per deliquium, and there­by found it raised a volatile Spirit out of the Armo­niack, which would smite the Nose, but perceived not the least odor of Sulphur. So that I observed that neither Sal marine alone, or joyned with Ni­tre, nor Sal Armoniack (compounded of a Sal marine and Volatile Salts) would any of them be sufficient to open the body of Sulphur in its Mineral Marcasites.

At length, after various Experiments, I hit upon that which answered my expectation, and satisfied my curiosity; and for the further improvement of ingenuity, and as a Spur to the greater advance­ment of Mechanical Experiments, shall communi­cate that to the World, which all the Writers of those Sulphurous Waters (which I have yet met with) have been deficient in.

I took therefore a pint of Spring-water, in which I dissolv'd betwixt one and two dragms of Sal ma­rine [Page 103]in frigido; for about that quantity the Sulphur Water contains of common Salt; into which So­lution of Salt, in Water, I added of Calx Vive, and the Marcasites of Vitriol, (found near the Sul­phur-Well) grosly pulverised, about two or three ounces, which presently contracted a considerable heat; I poured off some of the Water, into which, filtred, I poured a little Solution of the simple A­lom-Salt, and it immediately caused a precipitation of a Sulphur, and sent forth the very smell; yea, had the exact taste of the Sulphur-Well.

This Experiment, thus succeeding, gratified me for my pains in others less successful; for that which I long'd to know, was, What that Menstruum should be, which might so open the body of Sulphur in the Marcasites, as might render it capable of a precipitation or coagulation by another second Menstruum or Acid Liquor; seeing we could ima­gine no lixivial Salts could be found in the bowels of the Earth, (which commonly is used for the o­pening the body of Sulphur); Therefore I thought it might possibly be from some natural Calx Vive, seeing there are plenty of Lime-stones upon that Forrest, which at Knarsbrough are burnt in Pits; and so it proved, for the Salt-Water passing through some natural Stone, or soft Marcasite of Calx Vive, becomes acuated thereby; and then running over the Vitrioline Marcasites, or passing through a Sul­phureous Earth, congeneal to those Marcasites, o­pens the body of their Embryonative Sulphur, which it carries along with it, till it come on further to an Alom-Bed (which I observed to be within ten yards of the breaking forth of that Spaw) where the acid Juyce precipitates the Sulphur, and sends [Page 104]forth the odour; which being percolated through a streiner of Sand, comes forth pretty clear.

That this Artificial Water is an exact resemblance and imitation of the natural, is evident, because it answers the natural in every circumstance; for it hath the very smell and taste, undergoes the very same precipitations by lixivial Liquors; yea, and lastly, tingeth Silver yellow, as readily as the Sul­phur-Well; and therefore, without doubt, the O­peration of the Artificial would be found (upon tryal) equivalent to the Natural in other properties also.

The main Objection that offers it self against the identity or similarness of this Artificial, with the Natural Sulphur Water, is by querying how Calx Vive, which is an artificial product of the Fire, actually calcining those Lime-stones, should be ima­gined to be naturally in the Earth, or how Nature should find such a Stone calcined to its hand, in the Entrals of the Earth, as may be sufficient to open the body of these sulphurous Marcasites.

To which I Answer, That it's more then proba­ble there is a natural soft Stone of Calx Vive, where this Marcasite is in succo primitivo, retaining the same Seminals and essential Properties, in a remiss degree, with that Stone brought on to maturity by Air and Fire; for the Air first hardens that Stone, (and makes it unfit to give any Solution in Water) and then the actual Fire loosneth it, and makes it yeeld it self more readily to a Solution by moi­sture.

To illustrate which, we can as easily apprehend that the Air doth harden these natural Lime-stones (which, while succulent, are soft, and in the form of a white Earth or Marl) by its continual access [Page 105]in a long tract of time; as we can imagine the same Air to harden a blew Clay, found upon the Banks in Lincolnshire; which being exposed to the Air, doth, in continuance of time, harden into a sort of Stone like a blew Marble. For Workmen gene­rally observe, that all manner of Stone (yea even Marble it self) which they dig out of the Ground, becomes more and more hard, by being long expo­sed to the Air; which, to me, seems to give no small grounds of reason for the possibility of the Liquor Alkahest, or Universal Solvent; for seeing all bodies are but concretions, and (as I may say) hardnings of their primitive Juyces, under various disguises, generally performed by the efficiency of Air: There­fore to prepare a Menstruum by Art, which may work wonders in this kind, is no more (as I appre­hend) then to make such a one as may soften these Concretions, (made by Air) and by taking away their hardness, may reduce bodies into their first jucy Liquors; for what is the shell of an Egg, but a soft film or membrane, hardned and petrified by the influence of the Air, and as easily reduceable into its first membranous softness, by being boyled a while in Vinegar? What are the Bones of Ani­mals, but Spermatick Juyces hardned and consoli­dated? And were it not for the perpetual circulati­on of the Juyces of the body, constantly transpi­ring through the pores thereof, we should either become petrified, and walk about like so many mo­vable, but sensless Statues; or we should be incircled with a Bark, and appear like so many Plant-Ani­mals, or sensitive Plants. What are all Vegeta­bles from the Hysop or Rosemary of the Wall, to the tallest Cedar, but seminal Juyces congealed in­to those bulky substances which are presented to [Page 106]our eye? Lastly, What are all Mineral and Me­calline Marcasites, Stones, &c. but the primitive liquid succulencies concreted into more solid bodies by a hardning ferment (or what other name we may call it by) aequipollent to the Air?

And amongst all these, what are the Marcasites of Lime-stone, but a hardned concretion of its first imbred Juyce, or soft marly Earth? whose Minera, whilst thus in solutis principiis, is one of the chiefest Juyces in the Fabrick, both of hot Baths and sulphureous Waters.

That this is the chief cause of hot Baths, is con­firmed by that Experiment made by that Noble Per­son, the Lord Fairfax, of a piece of a white Mar­casite found about the place of those hot Springs in Sommersetshire, which put into Water, gives a heat; not but that there may be other causes of hot Wa­ters, as from the coincidence of two Springs impreg­nated with different Mineral Salts and Juyces, which before union are probably both actually cold, and yet by a fermentation caused by their mutual contact, may cause a considerable heat; which can no better be resembled, then by supposing a current of Water, indued with a lix vial or vola­tile Salt, to meet another saturated with an esurine acid Spirit or Salt; though these before union are both actually cold, yet forthwith, upon their mu­tual contact, they make a strong ebullition and fer­mentation, which produceth a heat sufficient to warm those Liquors, which are, or pass through where the contest is made; not to say that an other cause of some hot Baths, may be from some Marca­sites contracting a heat by moisture, let into their Minera by some crevices of the Earth, which may give heat to some Springs that pass over them, nor [Page 107]to insist upon any other cause (viz.) of some Salts, which in the Minera of Sulphur, may cause such a fermentation, as may cause hot Springs; witness Dr. Rech. his Experiment.

Yea, that this natural Lime-stone may be reckon­ed amongst the chief causes of hot Baths, is further confirmed by a lixivial Salt, (though small in quan­tity) which I have, by evaporation of Buxton hot Water, found left behind: that it is an alkalizate or lixivial Salt, appears both by its salty taste, its easie solution per deliquium; and lastly, The E­bullition it makes with an acid Spirit; all which are demonstrative Arguments of its alkalizate nature: for Buxton Bath consists of Water, which by distil­lation ariseth insipid over the Helm, and therefore contains no volatile Minerals, and of an inconsi­derable quantity of a solution of the Alkali of the natural Lime-stone, (where plenty of the Lime-stone hardned by the Air, is found in the Countrey thereabouts).

And that this Minera of Calx Vive, is the chief (if not the sole) apperient, that opens the body of Sulphur in its Minera, for the making sulphurous Waters, is evident from our lately proposed Experi­ment; for all sulphureous Waters (as I hinted be­fore) are either such as have a sulphureous or bitu­minous matter swimming upon them, (witness the instance aforesaid) or they are such whose bodies being opened by proper Solvents, do then easily give forth their volatile odors and sapors to Water, which may be made evident by the addition of acid Salt or Liquor.

And now that we have found out what the first Menstruum is, which opens the body of Sulphur in the Marcasites found near the Sulphur Well; Let [Page 108]us now consider what these Marcasites are, I find them to be a spongy or porous Stone, hard, and wrought with a kind of Net-work, which in it self contains both Vitriol and Sulphur, besides a body of Colcothar; and that it doth so, appears by exposing some of these Marcasites to the Air, till they be covered with a hoary sweet vitrioline Flos­cule, which then being washed, gives a vitrioline Solution, that being filtred and evaporated to a cu­ticle, shoots into a green Vitriol.

These Marcasites, thus washed, we set before the fire to dry so long, till they began to send forth a sulphurous fume; then being pounded grosly, we distilled, or rather sublimed them in an Earthen Retort; what would arise by degrees of fire, we so placed a Receiver, with Water in it, as that the fumes were thrown upon the surface thereof, which first swam like Oil upon the Water, then by degrees hardening, fell down to the bottom; which when the sublimation was over, we washed, dryed, and then melted it, and in small lead Pipes cast it into Magdaleons; in colour and inflammabity, exactly resembling the common Sulphur, of which at one distillation I got near half a pound.

That they contain a Colcothar or Metalline Cro­cus, is evident, by burning the Sulphur of one of these Stones in the fire; and when cold, it will be red just like the Colcothar of the Vitriol of I­ron.

The Caput Mortuum, left after the sublimation of the Sulphur from the Marcasites, is very like those Cinders, or Scoria of Iron, which is melted from the Iron-Mass in the Forge, where Iron is made out of its Minera.

From what hath been already said, there seems to be no small incouragement towards prosecuting a further discovery of the nature of this Water, by digging the Spring, and following it to the fource, or original, where it receives the first impregnation with Sulphur; for I see nothing yet to the contra­ry, that may perswade, why it should not be found to be a hot Spring at that place where the first im­bibition of Sulphur is, especially if the succus La­ [...]is calcari, or Minera of Calx Vive be found with it, which (for ought I know) might be found quivalent in vertue to the Aqua Aponensis, that [...]m [...]d hot Bath near Padua, so much discoursed by [...]lopius, whom I find to enumerate the very same mineral Ingredients, in that which I find by Expe­riment aforesaid to be in ours, before its precipitati­on by an aluminous acid Juyce; for he saith, Certò tellegi illa tantum tria (i. e) Sal copiosum, succum lapidis calcarii, & vaporem sulphureum in illâ Apo­unsi aquâ conteneri; and saith further, Est aqua ferventissima, & dum calida est, sapit sulphur & [...]itumen, refrigerata neutrum per se fert; and spea­king on of hot Waters, saith, Aquae Thermales quae actu frigidae scatent, in suâ origine esse ferventes; and that onely happens from the distance of space betwixt the impregnation of Waters first with their Minerals, and their place of breaking forth.

And as Dr. Jordan saith, That all hot Waters are not Sulphurous, witness the Baths of Caldenella and Avenian, &c. which are all hot, and yet give no sign of Sulphur, proceeding rather from the Mi­nera of Calx Vive, or from other the like causes of hot Waters, as aforesaid; nor are all sulphurous Waters hot, and that because of the distance of the [Page 110] Minera, where the Water first receives heat from the eruption of the Spring-head.

Amongst these sulphurous Springs, as some are replenished with a common Fossil Salt; witness the Sulphur-Well we discourse of: So there are found others no less sulphurous in taste and smell, which yet have not the least specimen of any such Salt; for instance, One of the Springs which is in the black Bog, where the Marcasites are got; and one at Braughton, not far from Skipton in Craven; as also one I found in Ferndale upon Blacomore; all which are caused by a combination of a mineral Sulphur and a natural Lime-stone, the one open­ing the body of the other, without the addition of any common Salt; onely these Springs having im­bibed these Minerals, meeting afterwards with an acid Juyce of the Alom-Salt, make a precipitati­on of the body of Sulphur, and onely leaves the Water perfumed with the odor thereof.

That this Sulphur Water should coagulate Milk, if boyled therewith, proceeds from a sleight touch of the acid Juyce of Alom; which although in the coagulation of the Sulphur, it also precipitates a great part of its own body, yet so much thereof remains, as doth make it capable of curdling Milk; for the Sulphur doth not, in as much as it retains that coagulating property, after the sulphurous o­dour being evaporated; yea, the very Salt left after distillation or evaporation will do the same; nor may the common Salt, (the chief Ingredient of that Water) do it, because we see the contrary in putting Salt to Water and Milk, which doth not curdle it; therefore it must be from some small im­bibition of the Alom-Salt, which yet is so little in [Page 111]quantity, as doth not alter the cubical figure of the common Salt.

And to try whether we could separate the com­mon Salt, from the body of the Sulphur Water, and the Water only to retain the odour thereof; I took of the sandy Earth, which lies upon the Bank opposite to the Well; wherewith I caused a tap'd Vessel to be filled, upon which I ordered the Sulphur Water to be poured; and about two hours and a half after, (during which time I was digging in the Bog above) I caused some of it to be let forth at the Tap into a Glass, and found its brack­ishness not only much diminished, but that also it lost its sulphurous odor quite, having not the least smell or taste thereof.

From which experiment may probably be con­firmed these two Suppositions; first, That the breaking forth of this Spring, is not far from the place of its imbibed Minerals; for although it be so far, as the first contracted heat is lost in its passage, yet it's not so far, but that it retains its odor after the precipitation of the most part of the Sulphur, by the acid aluminous Juyce. Next, That if this Sulphur Water had been carried through a longer tract of a supposed Strainer, before its eruption, it would not only have been diminished in its Salt, but also its sulphurous odor would have been very weak, if not wholly spent.

That the Earth, about the Sulphur Well, is re­plenished with variety of Mineral Glebes, is evident from the diversity of Waters found thereabouts; for near the Sulphur-Well, there is not more then ten or twelve yeards distant, (upon the Banck on the other side of the current of Water) a Spring which drills out of a small Alom Rock, which [Page 112]leaves a red Sediment behind it, and runs forth with so great a disadvantage, as to the saving any of it clear, that I could not (that little time I had to stay) procure any clear Water to make tryal there­of, but it promiseth much for an Alom Spaw.

And in the black Bog, about two hundred and forty yards above the head of this Well, where the Marcasites are chiefly found, are several slow Springs, all which I have caused to be digged fur­ther; that which lies on the North side of the Bog, is that which the Water-women call (improperly) an Alom-Water; this, with a little Gall, strikes a deep purple, and in taste is very strong of the Vitrio­line Marcasites; yea, the most of the Earth digged up, is Vitrioline.

That Spring towards the West, hath a both sul­phurous odor and taste also, but not very brackish; this I caused to be digged a little depth, to find out the Marcasites; where we found many little metal­line Stones, perforated and corroded into Shells or Scales, and worn (as I may say) into Sceletons: I found in the Earth, lying along the current of the Spring, a bright Floscule, which runs in streaks very thin, and almost impalpable; which lay much in Veins; I look upon it as a crude mercurial Juyce, which with its connate embryonative Sul­phur, was as a Seed, laying a foundation for a mi­neral or metalline production; the Spring, by dig­ging, proved more large and fluent; the Earth a­bout it, was a black soft marly Ground, very un­ctuous, and appeared as if it were much impregna­ted with Mineral Juyces; the Earth grained, dry­ed, and burnt, gives a Brimstone-like smell. Those Marcasites we found, were below the current of [Page 113]the Spring; and therefore it's likely that Water had not penetrated them, for it gave no tincture with Galls.

The Spring towards the South, had plenty of a black spongy Marcasite, out of which we took seve­ral pieces; yea, all about that place is full thereof round about the sides, and in one place, where the Air had wrought upon the Marcasite, it did shoot, by the heat of the Sun, into green Chrystals like Vi­triol; as indeed being nothing but Vitriol it self, of which I have some by me: The Water that stag­nates there (for it hath no current) will with Galls give a deep purple tincture, being very acid in taste, and so undergoes the other mutation of colours like other Vitrioline Waters.

And now I have shown, how Mineral Juyces, by their coincidence and mutual contact, with their various fermentations, become the original effici­ents of Hot Baths and Sulphurous Waters, in the secret Meanders of the Earth, where Metals and Minerals are in solutis principiis, in their primi­tive spermatick Juyces, from whence proceeds the great variety of tastes, smells, alterations of colours, fermentations, and different operations of all Mi­neral Waters; and as these are the true causes, from whence the most natural Phaenomena of Concrets, peculiarly belonging to the Mineral Kingdom, are deducible; so in like manner, the various fermen­tal Juyces, which circulate in the Channels of the bodies of Animals and Vegetables, are the causes of those manifold Phaenomena, proper and incident to all Concrets belonging thereto.

For what is Heat, Fermentation, Motion, Nutri­tion, &c. with all the concomitants thereof, but products from the coincidence and combination of [Page 114]Seminal, with adventitious Juyces of the bodies of Animals? What are the Juyces of the Body, un­dergoing various fermentations, but such as thereby are made capable (by a natural symetry) of per­forming the functions of Life? And what are the acid Juyces, scituate in their proper places, but actu­al Ferments, which macerate, prepare, dissolve, and digest the food we take in; which being altered by its passage through other subsequent ferments, under­goes various transmutations and diversifications, which succeeding in a constant circulation, upholds the fabrick of the body? Doth not the natural heat of the body, proceed from a due fermentation of the Juyces? as when the nutritive Juyce undergoes such alterations, by praevious preparations; as when in the form of a milky Liquor, it coincides with the blood in the subclavial Vessels; and both carri­ed by the Vaena Cava into the Heart, doth there strike up a vital heat in the taper of life, (the vital Spirits) but if it come raw, for want of a due preparation, by a defect of previous ferments, then it produceth a spurious febrile heat, which rather dissipates the natural heat, and destroyes (then binds up) the right tone and texture of the parts. And lastly, Doth not the acid Juyce of the first di­gession of the Stomach, dissolve (loosening the Vinculum of) our nutritive Juyce, and so open the body thereof, as to make it become one similar milky Cremer? and doth not this dissolv'd and o­pened Chyle, receive a second Menstruum coming from the Gaul (that Balsam of the Body) by the ductus communis, inserted into the duodenum, and there (besides the peristaltick motion it gives to the intestines) in part precipitates the opened body of the Sulphur of the nutritive Juyce, and causeth a [Page 115]volatile faetid flatus peculiar to those parts, which not finding vent per inferiora, sometimes works into the Stomach, and (by the mediation of the Nerves of the sixth conjugation) into the Head, and other parts; is not this faetid flatus (native to the inte­stines) caused by a commixture of a saline Ferment dismis'd (I say) from the Gaul, which precipitates the opened body of the Sulphur in our nutritive Juyce, which before such precipitation, is a similar Cremor?

And to conclude; is not the growth, budding, hearing, and specifical endowments of Vegetables, the product of fermenting Juyces? And is not the changing of Fruits by grafting and inoculating one sort into another (as that a pleasant Apple should grow from a Crab-stock, and a Pear from a Thorn) caused otherwise then by different fermentations, and specifications of the nutritive Juyce, which no sooner undergoes any different ferments, or passeth various Strainers, but forthwith becomes metamor­phosed thereby; so that the metastasis of all bodies in the whole triplicity of nature, depends upon the variety of fermenting Juyces, and their mutual com­plications, implanted in the Seminal Principles of all Concretes.

But to return, to treat a little of another Ingredi­ent of this Well, and that is Sal marine, or Fossil Salt, both are one, that of the Sea having its ori­ginal (according to all probability) from Fossil Salt; concerning which, I find my Antagonist, p. 119.122. of his Mimick, about to impeach me of two Contradictions; the first is, in that I say, The salt­ness of the Sea proceeds from Fossil Salt, which be­ing dissolv'd in Water, is carried into the Ocean, and yet maintains a circulation of the Sea-Water, [Page 116]from the Sea, to the heads of Springs by Subterra­neal Channels: Now the force of the Contradicti­on, as he supposeth, lieth in this; that he imagi­neth, that I would assert that the same Channels should convey a Salt into the Sea, and also convey the Sea-Water to the Springs, two contrary Cur­rents in the same Channels.

To which I answer, That there is no need (in that Hypothesis of the Springs, having their origi­nal from the Sea, and the Sea's having its saltness from the Earth) to assert two contrary Currents in the same Channels; and that, first, because of some Rocks and Bodies of Salt which are often found in the Sea; and next, because of the saltness, dispersed throughout the whole body of the Earth, easily im­bibed by Waters, (as the Learned Dr. Highmore notes upon the Controversie, Philosophical Trans­actions, Numb. 56. P. 1129, &c.) and may as easily be conveighed into the Sea by Subterraneal Channels, passing through Salt Beds, in their pas­sage from one Sea to another; which Subterraneal Channels (by which Seas communicate) we have demonstratively illustrated in the Appendix to our Hydrol. Chym. p. 307, &c.

But I find my Antagonist taking sanctuary at his wonted Asylum of Putationary Philosophy, com­ming in with his, I do verily think that all the Fos­sil Salt in the body of the Earth, (which we see is very rarely found) if it were dissolved, would not serve to supply a twentieth part of the Salt that is in the Sea; whom I answer, That surely he is ei­ther ignorant, or at least oblivious of what is writ concerning Rocks of Salt in Bohemia, in Monte Carpato, in Polonia, within two miles of Cracovia, in Helvetia and Rhetia, where they have no other [Page 117]Salt but from the Rock; as also by the Caspian Straights are great Rocks of Salt; there are al­so many Rivers of Salt Water by the Caspian Straights, and in Spain, and Caria, and in Bactria, Ochus and Oxius; also there are Salt Lakes, as the Tarentine Lakes in Italy, the Lake between Strapela and Seburg; in Germany three Lakes; in Sicily, (and besides an infinite number in other Countries) the Lake of Lakes, the Sea, all which (as Dr. Jor­den saith) receive their saltness from Mines of Salt in the Earth, which are very frequent and huge in bigness, as may appear by the foresaid Rocks of Salt; Yea, Marcus Paulus Venetus tells of a Rock or Mountain of Salt in Thaican, able to furnish all the World with Salt: So that it is no marvel (saith the ingenious Dr. Jorden) that the Sea is salt seeing it pierceth into the bowels of the Earth, and disco­vereth many great Rocks of Salt which dissolve in it; and this is the true cause (saith he) of the salt­ness of the Sea. What is premised, will be suffici­ent (without any more adoe) to take off his accu­sation of a second Contradiction, (p. 122.) in that I say, in one place the Sulphur-Well at Knarsbrough is saturated from Fossil Salt; and in another place, that Sal marine is the cause of that Sulphureous Spring, seeing it is evident (as also witnesseth the learned Dr. Highmore) that the Salt of Sea-Water and Salt-Springs are the same with Fossil Salt; his ob­jection against the Seas having its saltness from Fossil Salt, is frivolous, (viz.) That it should (if made by Fossil Salt) kill all Fish, as well Sea-Fish as Fresh-Fish; for so (saith he) Salt put to fresh Water doth; which is even as true, as that Fish should, be­ing kept over-night in a clean Copper Vessel with the Water they swim in, be found dead the next [Page 118]morning, by the mortal Steam or Vapour of the Copper; both which are found false by matter of fact, the one by that Experiment I made of Fish, which not only out-lived one, but two nights in a Brass Pan; the other by that Experiment of Oysters made by Dr. Highmore.

I shall now conclude with the addition of a few Mechanical Experiments made upon this Sulphur-Water, thus:

First, It takes no purple or red tincture from in­fused Galls, as having nothing of the praecipitable parts of Vitriol or Alom; Oil of Tartar being ad­ded, it becomes muddied into a white curdled Li­quor; and with Oil of Vitriol, or Oil of Sulphur, it becomes clear again; but with fresh Oil of Tar­tar, it is presently turn'd to a colour inclining to a red; and with the addition of more Oil of Vitriol, or such like, it becomes transparent, and of the co­lour of Sack, or English Beer.

If upon fresh Sulphur-Water, Oil of Vitriol be poured, it makes neither a precipitation, nor any other alteration, and that because of a praevious sa­turation with an aluminous acidity; but by adding Oil of Tartar thereunto, and after that Galls, then follows an effervescence, and it becomes of a reddish colour.

Lastly, By the addition of Oil of Tartar, this Sulphur-Water turns white, and that because it is impregnated with a small quantity of the simple na­tural Alom-Salt.

THE Ingenious Publisher of the Philosophi­cal Transactions, in his enlarged account of my Antagonists Answer, hath these words, viz. That these (meaning Scar­brough) Waters lose all their Vertues, yea, their quantity and bulk also, though in Glasses, and under the Hermetick Seal, if removed from the Fountain Head; and then they become suddenly putrid, ill-coloured, losing their reste and scent, &c. doubtless through the loss of the Volatile Spi­rits: What ever (saith he further) these Sprits be, that will neither indure to travel from the place, nor will be confined in any Bottle, nor under any Seal, &c.

So that the sum of his conjucture (as the Doctor concludes, p. 1051.) is, That this loss consists in [Page 120]the avolation of some most subtil and p [...]trating spirituous parts, not to be imprisoned by any inclo­sure imaginable, but will find their way out, and leave the Waters bereast of vertue, and decreased in quantity too; and (what is more) perhaps of their weight also, especially if they lose of their quan­tity.

Now to evince whether this be a conjecture, or no, and to clear up this point of Philosophy, in the Mineral Hydrologia, which hath gravelled many Writers, yea, made them run ashore, or to cast Anchor in shallow Fords, for want of a depth in Mechanical Experiments. This ingenious Doctor hath proposed these following Queries.

First, Whether by Chymical Researchers, it was ever yet, or can be found, that such Waters, as the above­said, ever yeelded a vinous or an acid, or any other sort of Spirits, that was either inflammable or unin­flammable, or flying over the Helm from the fire?

Secondly, Whether all those sorts of Water, when they are most closely stopt up, and so let stand, or con­veyed to some distance, do not let fall a Sediment (most commonly) yellowish, or of some such colour, when they are become effaete in their Vertues?

Thirdly, Whether when they are let stand onely, and not moved by carriage, they do not sooner becomes castrated, and sooner precipitate an Ocre to the bottom?

Fourthly, Whether such an Ocre is not found in all their Spring-heads and Strenms also, but more in the Head than in the Streams, especially if issued there­from to a good distance?

Fifthly, Whether it may not be found upon due observation, that two Bottles of the said Waters, whereof the one being industriously stopped, the other left unstopt, and both equally permitted to stand still, [Page 121]or equaly moved, will not easily [...]ose their [...] Medical, in the same space of time, and have the same precipitated Sediment, and be of the same taste, colour, and a like diminished in quantity, with divers such like Circumstances?

Sixthly, Whether two Vessels diversified in their matter, &c. filled with such Waters, will not yeeld the like Phaenomena in all circumstances, as in the fifth Query are mentioned?

Seventhly, Whether it may be devised, how to pre­vent all precipitation of a Sediment in the Waters vessell'd up? and then to observe thereupon whether their Vertues would not be kept entire during such a prevention?

Eighthly, Whether any Observer ever found the Waters enervated, but found withal an Ocre let fall to the bottom, or sides of the containing Vessel?

Ninthly, Whether the Phaenomenon of loss of ver­tues in such Waters may by an Hypothesis of an in­testine precipitation of their parts, wherein those Ver­tues, consisted, be as well (if not better) explicated, than by the Hypothesis of an avolation of spirituous parts through all Vessels and Closures whatsoever?

These Queries I shall (by the help of a few Ex­periments) indeavour to resolve. As to the first therefore I conclude in the Negative, for I have distilled the Spaw-Waters of Scarbrough and Mal­ton; the Sweet as well as the Sulphur-Water at Knarsbrough, &c. none of which ever did yeeld either a vinous or acid, or any other sort of Spirits that are either inflammable or uninflammable.

To the second I answer in the Assirmative, as to the first part thereof; to confirm which, and to il­lustrate the rest of the Queries with the light of truth, I shall propound two or three considerable Experiments.

First, Therefore I advised my ingenious Friend to set by a certain quantity of Scarbrough-Spaw-Water, in an open Vessel, and found thereby that it did precipitate its Earth or Sediment in about forty eight hours, so that it would not give a tincture with Galls.

Secondly, Another quantity of Spaw-Water be­ing set by at the same time with the former, but in a Glass Bottle so close stopt, that neitheir Air could come in, nor ought evaporate; and being opened, when the other ceased to give a tincture, this did yet strike a tincture, but within less then twelve hours after, it also would give none.

Thirdly, A Glass Bottle, and an Egg-Glass, be­ing filled with the Spaw-Water, the first exactly stopt, the other hermetically sealed, being both ex­actly weighed and set by, with an other Glass fil­led and weighed, but unstopt, at the end of six weeks, the stopt Bottle could not be discerned to be heavier or lighter, being weighed again after the foresaid time; nor could it be perceived that any Sediment was fallen, because it gave as perfect a tincture with Galls, as Water fresh from the Spaw.

By which it appears, that the second Query is thus far true, viz. That these Mineral Waters, when most closely stopt, and so let stand, do not let fall a Sediment; but if they do let fall their Ocre to the bottom, (as in open Glasses we find they do) then is this Sediment most-what of a yellow colour, and the Waters become effaete, as to their solutive Operations.

The third is answered in the Negative; for being let stand, and not moved by carriage, they do not (supposing they be stopt) sooner precipitate an Ocre [Page 123]to the bottom, nor sooner become castrated thereby; witness the third Experiment, where, in a stopt Glass, after six weeks time, no Sediment was fallen.

The fourth Query is found true in the Affirma­tive, by the common Observations of those who view varieties of Spaws, for they precipitate their Ocre both at the Spring-head, as also in their Cur­rent (for some distance) sub dio, but chiefly at the Spring-head; for whilst they are kept from the open Air, though their Channels under-ground should be stretched out much longer, yet would they not let fall their Sediment; by which it appears how great an influence the open Air hath upon the tex­ture of Mineral-Waters, as well as upon other Bo­dies.

The fifth Query is solv'd by our Experiments thus, viz. That two Bottles of the said Water, whereof the one being industriously stopped, the other left unstopt, and both equally permitted to stand still, do not equally lose their vertues medical, in the same space of time, nor have the same precipitated Sediment, and consequently are not of the same taste, colour, nor alike diminisht in quantity.

The sixth Query is involv'd in the fifth, only pre­supposing that the stopt Vessel be of such a figurati­on or texture of parts, as may exclude the ambient Air, and then all succeeds as in the fifth.

The seventh is solv'd thus, viz. That these Waters being closed up either in Glasses exactly stopt, or hermetically sealed, and kept from motion, do prevent all precipitation of a Sediment in the Wa­ter; and this is confirmed by the third Experiment, where the Water was kept, hermetically sealed, for six weeks, without any precipitation; yea, the same is confirmed not onely in these Mineral Medicinal [Page 124]Waters, but even in more ordinary Spring-Waters, whose Sediments, or what else they have imbibed of Mineral Earth, will easily precipitate, by being exposed in open Vessels to the Air, or by being di­stilled, will leave behind their Sediments; whereas I found the very same, taken fresh from the Foun­tain, which I have kept hermetically sealed for a­bove three months, not to give any the least precipi­tation or alteration of colour, which (for ought I know) may not only keep so unaltered for months, but also for years; which very experiment is not in­considerable towards a further improvement of Philosophy, and amongst other Phaenomena, which I shall not now take time to insist upon; that of blood extravasated by Phlebotomy, and a while ex­posed in open Vessels to the Air, doth receive no smal alteration therefrom, making it separate into such heterogenious parts, as are not pre-existent in it, whilst running in the Vessels, and therefore doth not a little deceive those Physitians who judge of the temperature of the Blood, and of the pre­dominancy of this or the other Humour, from a prospect of the extravasated Blood, separated by an exotick ferment of the Air, into Water, Phlegm, or white Gelly, or black congealed Blood; when (perhaps) that Blood, whilst in the Body, and (as I may say) hermetically sealed up in the natural Vessels, was similar in its parts; which (if enliven­ed with due fermentations and separations in the Organical Parts) would throw off all Scorbutick, Venereal, or other Miasms and Impurities, and cir­culate in the form of a pure homogenial rubicund Juyce: to confirm which, I would propound one or two Queries, the resolution of which will infalli­bly put the matter beyond dispute, viz. Whether [Page 125]suppose some few ounces of blood should be taken from a found (or if you will, from an unhealthful) Person, and by a Silver Syphon be conveyed part into a clean Glass, first warmed, and whilst warm, be sealed up hermetically, and so set in a continued gentle heat; whilst presently an other part of the same is conveyed, in like manner, into a cold Glass, and so presently sealed up as aforesaid, but set by in a cold place; whether, I say, hereby it will be found, that the blood (in one, or both, or neither) will keep its pristine form it had, whilst circulating in the Vessels, or whilst transmitted from one Ves­sel to the other? and whether hereby it may not be preserved in its entire form, not onely for one, or two, but for many months, yea perhaps year; and whether it will keep its form better in that Glass exposed to the cold, or set in a gentle (as it were an) animal warmth? and lastly, whether that set in heat may not, by continuance of time, be gradu­ated to so high an elixerated Liquor, as that hereby it may be made capable, not onely of preserving it self alterwards from the injury of a separating fer­ment in the Air, but also may become as a fermen­tal Balsam, able, if given inwardly (or at least out­wardly applyed) to preserve the similar Blood it meets with, from all inse [...]tious Diseases? yea, it would be worth inquiry, [...] [...]ether it may not make the blood, by his imbred exalted ferment, reject all those impurities contracted by the Scorbute, Lues Venerea, Feavers, and other Diseases, even to the performing those cures in the Blood as may probably tender it worthy (if any be) of the name of a Panacea? which Experiments I think to prosecute e're long, and shall then (Deo juvante) give a fur­ther account thereof.

The eighth Query I thus solve, (viz.) That in my Tryals and Observations of Mineral Waters, I always found that no sooner was the Ocre or Sedi­ment precipitated, but they both lose their tinging property with Galls, as also their purging faculty; and that though the Salts which had dissolv'd these ramenta ferrea, were left yet dissolv'd in the Wa­ter, (after the separation of the Ocre by motion, heat, or air) notwithstanding which, the Waters are found to have no force in their purging Opera­tion; and by how much the more this is precipita­ted, (even till it be all fallen) by so much the Wa­ters are weaker and weaker in their Operation.

To the ninth, or last Query, I thus answer, (viz.) That by what is premised, it must necessarily fol­low, that the Phenomenon of loss of Vertues in such Waters, may by an Hypothesis of an intestine precipitation of their parts wherein those vertues consisted, be much better, and more truly explicated, then by the Hypothesis of an avolation of spiritu­ous parts, through all Vessels and Closures what­soever.

By this time, these things duly weighed, in the opinion of all judicious Persons, (who ground Sci­ence upon the infallible Criterion of Luciferous Ex­periments) I may well suppose the Spirits in the Scarbrough and Kuar [...]ugh Spaw-Waters, have no existence; and that notwithstanding what ever Falopius, Dr. Heers, Dr. French, or my Antagonist have said to the contrary.

And hence it is evident why Dr. French came to be mistaken, who supposing Volatile Mineral Spi­rits to be in the Knarsbrough Spaw-Water, and in­deavouring by distiliation (in a Glass-Still, whose Joynts were luted and closed up carefully) to get [Page 127]their Spirits, failed not onely in his expectation of catching them, but also found that the first two spoonfuls which were distilled; yea, and the rest undistilled that remained, utterly lost both the taste and odour which they had before; neither would they become any otherwise tinged with Galls, then common Spring-Water: who not easily conscious of his Error, imputes the loss of those Spirits to their subtilty, imagining them so volatile, as to penetrate even the Glass it self, or the Lute, neither of which (he judgeth) could hold them; not recollecting, that no sooner doth heat work upon Mineral Waters, but presently it causeth such an al­teration in the texture of their parts, as that forth­with the Mineral Ocre precipitates to the bottom, leaving both what is distilled, and what is undistil­led void of tincture, and most-what effaete in ver­tues, and that not from the avolation of Spirits, but from an intestine precipitation of parts, as is evinced beyond dispute by our former Experi­ments.

Lastly, These Waters do not only (being her­metically sealed) keep their vertues and tinging qualities, but also are not impaired in their quanti­ty and weight, being found (after six weeks inclo­sure under the hermetick Seal) neither heavier nor lighter; and now I give room for the World to judge, Whether the authority of my Antagonist be Authentick, and whether or no he hath done well to impose both upon himself and others in the delivery of these words, (viz.) That the Sear­brough Waters lose all their vertue, yea, their quantity and bulk also, though in Glasses, and un­der the hermetick Seal, if removed from the Foun­tain-head, and then they become suddenly pu­trid, [Page 128] &c. doubtless through the loss of Volatile Spirits: he speaks this so confidently, as if he had had it from the Oracle of Experience, whereas he never took the pains to make any satisfactory Essayes therein.

From what is premised, may naturally arise these following short Corolaries.

First, That Mineral. Waters operate and give their usual Phaenomena, by a due contemperature of their Mineral Ingredients.

Secondly, That amongst these, (if especially the Mineral Ocre becomes once precipitated) the Wa­ters lose their purging Vertues and tinging Pro­perties.

Thirdly, So long as these can (either by Nature or Art) be kept from precipitation, so long these Waters retain their proper Vertues.

Fourthly, That to facilitate (or indeed cause) that these Waters should precipitate their Mineral Ocre, is required one of these three, (viz.) Mo­tion, Heat, or Air; by Motion, I mean that ab extra, for otherwise what Heat and Air perform, is by the medium of Motion; for Heat, or an ex­posing to the open Air, or a quassation of parts by motion, doth make such an alteration in the texture of these Mineral Waters, as they presently thereby let fall their contained Mineral Earth.

Fifthly, These three being secluded from having any power over them, they (viz. the Waters) may continue their Vertues, Weight, tinging Qualities, Colours, and other consequent Phaenomena, for some months (yea probably for years) unalterd.

Sixthly, That to have recourse to a sort of Spirits (which are not inrerum naturâ) for solving those Phaenomena, better (and perhaps onely) solvable [Page 129]by an intestine alteration and precipitation of Mi­neral Ingredients, will argue no less then an impo­sing upon our imaginations, by a kind of customa­ry fascination.

But here I am to advertise my Reader, That since I committed these Papers to the Press, I op­portunely had some discourse with the aforesaid Dr. Foot, concerning his Queries afore-mentioned. Whereupon we mutually agreed, That my Return to the Queries, together with the Experiments, confirming as well as elucidating the same, do chief­ly relate to the Mineral Medical Waters, which are of that Class or sort, which do purge by Stool mostly, and also by Urine; such are the Scar­brough-Spaw, Barnet and Epsham-Waters, and divers others the like, which are Aluminous, and work by Siedge. But that the Tunbridge-Waters, (concerning which he principally proposed his Que­ries) and also (perhaps) the Astrap, and Stall­bridge-Waters, together with all such as work most­what by Urine, ought to have a somewhat different consideration; especially in the point of losing their Medical Vertues, though they be vessell'd up with all due and needful circumstances, and closed and sealed up with all imaginable Art, care, and indu­stry; yea, although they are not in the least after­wards moved, heated, or exposed to the Air; and consequently, that these close Circumstances, in vesselling up, and stopping in the Tunbridg-Waters, and such like, will not prevent this depauperation or amission of their Medical Vertues; as otherwise may be done with the Scarbrough, and all such like Spaws: but as to all the other matters almost, both in the Queries, and this Answer to them, they seem to be applicable indifferently enough to both [Page 130]the sorts of the fore-cited Medicinal Waters. Fi­nally, Reader, The Doctor did thank me for my Return to his Queries, though he (frankly) ac­knowledged to me, he supposed my Answer to be inapposite only to that point afore-noted, by reason of my being (at the writing my Return) a perfect stranger to the Tunbridge, or any other Waters of the like properties: but further added, That he hoped my Example would be a motive to others, (whose abilities and opportunities amply capacitate them thereunto) both from Reason and Experiment conjoyntly, to acquaint the World with the know­ledge and usefulness of all sorts of Medical Waters, which Nature hath prepared by her Chymistry, or rather the God of Nature hath bountifully bestow­ed on Mankind for its relief and comfort.

BY that time I had finished the fore-going Sheets of this second Piece, I met with a Book written upon the same Subject, by an other Chymical Physitian; which coming so opportunely to my hand, before the conclusion of the whole, I could not let slip some reflections up­on the most remarkable passages thereof; and that, first, because I find him in his Chymical Analysis of this Water, to joyn issue with me in the main, by finding out and asserting the same true essential constitutive Principles thereof; next, because I per­ceive him impeaching this Spaw-Water of the grand crime of Petrifaction, and thereby of being guilty of causing the Stone, Gout, and Jaundice, to per­sons inclinable thereto; and for want of due order­ing at the Spaw, in danger thereof.

As to the first, (he saith) it consists of three Ingredients, (viz.) the Nitroaluminous Salt; se­condly, the Raments of Stone; and lastly, the Glebe of Alom; all which coincide with what we assert as the Principles thereof, as may be further seen, both in our Hydrol. Chym. and in this its Vindication; save that what he calls the Glebe, or blew Clay of Alom, I have described as the Parti­cles of the Minera of Iron.

Which difficulty will be easily taken away by solving this Query, (viz.) Whether indeed those Particles inclosed in that Alom Glebe, be not Iron, in succo soluto, or in minimis particulis, Atomes, or at least somewhat equivalent thereto, bearing an analogical proportion of texture of parts to each other; which will not be a little facilitated, if we consider, that as in the Vegetable Family, not only Galls will strike a purple tincture with the Alom Salt (got before the addition Kelp and Urine) dissolv'd in distilled, or fresh Spring-Water, but also the same may be done by other bodies, whose texture of parts are congeneal; as for example, the inner Bark of the Oak, the Roots of Tormentile, Avens, Bistort, Clove-gilly flowers, and the Flow­ers called Balaustia; all which, like Galls, will strike a purple with Water wherein the Alom Salt is dissolved; yea, and will also become clear again by the instilling a few drops of Oil of Vitriol, and with the Oil of Tartar, will become turbid and muddied, &c.

So in like manner, in the Mineral Family, are found several Stones, even in that heap which is fal­len off the Scarbrough Bank; which would, with Water acidulated with Oil of Sulphur, (as upon [...]al I found) strike a tincture with Galls, and yet [Page 133]all those stony Concretions, which gave the Ph [...] ­menon, could not precisely be determined to be either Alom Glebe, or Iron Stone, (though both would do it) but were such as consisted of similar parts with both.

The tincture from the Galls in Scarbrough Water, he saith, is from unburnt Alom-stone: which sup­pose we grant, yet I see no reason why my ingeni­ous Friend should conclude, that what is precipi­tated without the addition of Galls, should not be any thing of Chalybs, or the Minera of Iron; not­withstanding his two Reasons, the first of which is, because the Vitrioline Spirit and Iron are too great Friends (being once met together) to be so easily separated; any that hath (saith he) prepa­red the Vitriolum Martis hath learned.

Why? what difficulty is there in their separati­on? seeing the Ocre, as well in Acid as Nitro-alu­minous Spaws, doth so easily precipitate, either by being exposed to the Air, (witness the yellow Sedi­ment at the Fountain-head of all such Spaws) or by heat, (as for instance) any of these Mineral Wa­ters being heated, boyled, or distilled, will precipi­rate their hidden Ocre; yea, the Solution of a Vi­triol of Iron, or of any common Vitriol will in heat (as I have found by tryal) do the same; or lastly, by motion, ab extra, whereby also a precipition of the same mineral body happens.

His second reason is, When the Vitrioline Wa­ter, by passing in the open Air, doth settle its Col­cothar at the bottom, without any mixture of Galls, it is alwayes of a yellow colour; which is also an­swered in my Return to the first Reason: for the Sediment of all Spaws, whether Vitrioline from Sowes, or aluminous, are alwayes yellow; witness [Page 134]both that at Scarbrough, and that in Bransdals, Knarsbrough, and the Spring that runs through an Alom-Work near the Sulphur-Well at Knarsbrough, &c.

His last Argument against any thing of the Mi­nora of Iron in the Spaw, is, That whereas in the taking all Chalybeat Medicines, the Excrements are tinged black; but by drinking this Water, he saith, they become blew; to which I answer, That blew, or purple, is black in a remiss degree; to­wards which difference, the crudity of the Mine­ra may probably not a little contribute. But had I now the opportunity of prosecuting one Experiment, I question not but to put the matter beyond dispute; I will now onely propound it, and (as I have lea­sure) shall afterwards try it, and that is this, (viz.) To take a good quantity of the succulent Alom­stone, &c. dissolve as much thereof, as will, in a competent quantity of fresh Spring Water, when (for tryal sake) it will tinge with Galls readily; pour it off clear, or filter it, let it stand in open Glasses, or glased earthen Basons, when it hath pre­cipitated what it will of a Sediment, which will be done in two or three dayes time; then pour off the Water gently, and dry it up slowly by the heat of the Sun, and compare that and the yellow Ocre precipitated from Vitrioline Waters together, and that either with a Microscope, or melt them down severally with a blast, to try if the result of both will not be the same.

His proportions of the Ingredients are thus, viz. Stone-pouder one ounce three dragms, of Nitro­aluminous Salt one ounce six dragms, of the blew Clay, which is (as he supposeth) the Glebe of [Page 135]Alom three dragms; the active Principles, and the Caput Mortuum, are equal.

He Queries hence, from what cause it is, that af­ter you have drunk a month of the Water, then, if not before, it takes a resty fit, will neither go for­ward or backward; upon which my Antagonist adviseth, p. 211. that if the Appetite or Concocti­on decay, and the Water pass not so well as for­merly, but cause distention either in the Belly or Veins, and so bring on a difficulty of breathing, or pain in the Head, or the like, it is then time (he ad­viseth) to desist and proceed no further.

Is there not therefore, saith Dr. T. a sting in the tail of Scarbrough Water? Is not the Stone Feces plaistered upon the inner coat of the Bowels, di­sturbing their peristaltick motion, and obstructing the attraction of the lacteal Veins.

His conclusion therefore is, That Scarbrough-Water is petrifying; which he endeavours to con­firm with four Reasons?

First, By Authority, as that of Kircher, Que­ritur quid propriè sit succus lapidificus dico, esse sax­um introrsum aquâ eliquatum.

Secondly, By Experiment, in that the Spaw is mostly a nitrous Stone, melted in Water, besides the Alom stone imbibed in it.

Thirdly, By the Apporrheâ Spiritûs Lapidisici; there are found on the Cl [...]ff near the Spaw, Mus­cle-shels, and such like things, petrified.

Fourthly, By the effects the Spaw produceth primarily on those inclinable to the Stone; he in­stanceth himself, and my Antagonist acknowledgeth it, p. 150. concerning which the Reader may please to consult what I have said in the Epilogue of my [Page 136] Hydrol. Chym. p. 360, 361, &c. which in effect amounts to little less then a concurrence with this ingenious Physitians Observations.

As to the difference betwixt Scarbrough and Knarsbrough Spaws in this particular of the petri­fying property, he urgeth the instance of Mr. Hen. Proctor of Fernly, who was brought very low with a Hectick Feaver, and Asthma, who by drinking of Knarsbrough Water, (after a due preparati­on of his body by Dr. N.) coughed up several Stones daily, till he was perfectly cured: the ac­count of which he had from Dr. N. By what is premised it appears, that as the one Water layes a stony Foundation for a Fabrick of Sabulous Dis­eases, to such as take the Water incautiously, and without circumspection of the Nature and Symp­toms of their Diseases, by the advice of a judici­ous Physitian: So the other Water of Knarsbrough, being devoyd of all those stony Concretions, and indued with a deopilative, and (if I may so say) antipetrifick property, is more proper for such per­sons inclinable to such Diseases, unless diligent care be taken, by the advice of the Physitian, to remove, and at due seasons, carry off those sabulous products.

And as the Stone, so the Jaundice, and the Gout (saith he) hath their [...] from a petrifying Spirit; he instanceth the Lord Erwin's case, who dyed of the Jaundice, whereby (as he supposeth) the Scarbrough Water did petrifie the Sulphur-Saline humour in the Vesicâ Biliariâ into Stones, too great to pass through the common ductus.

That this Lord did die of the Jaundice, toge­ther probably with a complication of some other [Page 137]Diseases, might be true; but that the liquid Balsa­mick Juyce of the Gaul was petrified, was but on­ly conjectural, although (I confess) the conjecture is not irrational, but may give some ground of pro­bability, and that because (as he further saith) that Stones are as usually concreted in the Gaul, as in the Kidneys, in Men as well as in Beasts; where­upon he citeth the Professor at a Physick Lecture, in a discovery of the Jaundice, who brought forth three or four little Stones of the Gaul, separated from a Gentlewoman (afflicted with that Disease) by a Dose of sharp working Physick, by which she was cured: Which he further confirms by the opinion of Helmont and Silvius, (viz.) That the second fermentation made by the Succus Pancreaticus, and the Gaul, is as necessary for the preservation of life, as the first fermentation in the Stomach; for according to the eucrasy & fluidness, or the contra­ry (I mean obstructions in the Vessels) of this bal­samick ferment of the Gaul, depends not onely the Regiment of the second digestion, and the fluidness and obdurateness of the Excrements, within the peculiar peristaltick conatus of the Intestines, but also of all the Diseases thence resulting, (viz.) the Jaundice, Diarrhaeas, Dysenteries, Cholick, Iliack Passions, Tenasmus, &c. in as much as, by its Sul­phuro-saline Balsam, it doth not only (in a regular course of Nature) become as a ferment to prepare the saline milky Juyce, before it be conveighed a­way by the lacteal Vessels; but also it promotes a separation by a kind of precipitation of the faecu­lencies of the nutritive Juyce; in which precipita­tion, the most exuberant and untamed sulphurous parts of the alimentary Juyce, first opened and prepared by the stomachial ferment, go off in a [Page 138]saetid Flatus, peculiar to the Intestines, (which is that which Helmont otherwise calls a Stercorary Ferment) and that it is so, appears hence, because the posterior flatus or crepitus, will take flame of a Candle, and blaze like an Occidental Meteor; the obstruction, and consequently the regurgitation of which flatus upon the stomach, and other parts, causeth many disturbances of Nature, which now I shall not take time to discourse upon.

So that indeed, amongst the efficient causes of the Jaundice, a petrification of part of that Juyce, or a plaistering the intestines over with a tartarous or sandy matter, where the ductus communis is in­serted, may most frequently happen; whereby this Sulphuro-saline Juyce, destined for uses aforesaid, may preposterously be carried (extra lares pro­prios) into the Mass of Blood, or rather indeed the blood, not undergoing that due separation by the ferment of the Gaul, from causes aforesaid, retains yet in its bosom that which should be separated; which circulating along with it in the habit of the body, vitiates the last ferment, or assimulative dige­stion, whereby the skin becomes tinged yellow, and shines forth in a Saffron colour.

That the Water may sometimes happen (through the incautiousness of the Patient) to cause this Dis­ease; my ingenious Friend instanceth in the case of an Alderman of Newcastle, and a Merchants Wife, who after their return from the Scarbrough Spaw, were both afflicted with the Jaundice; as also Sir. John Anderson and his Lady, who both drinking the Water at home, were afterwards troubled with the Jaundice; all which might indeed very pro­bably happen to these, who without due caution had dranke liberally of the Scarbrough Water, [Page 139]and that either at two great a distance from the Fountain, or did not at least use such skilful means, as at due seasons might carry off the gritty sabulous residence of the Water; concerning which ere long we shall prescribe a Remedy.

That the Gout also may be promoted by the Scarbrough Water, (arising from a petrifying pro­perty of its acid Spirit) he instanceth in himself, who never had the least touch thereof, before he drank that Water; the which also my Antagonist acknowledgeth, p. 149. Others (saith he) drinking without due preparation, as was necessary, have fallen into the Gout, the Water contracting heat for want of speedy passage, being thrown by nature upon the weak Joynts, and have hence inferred, that these Waters cause the Gout.

That the drinking of this Water may to some Patients, at some times, occasionally cause the Gout, through the debilitude of the separating Emuncto­ries, carrying the sabulous matter along with the nutritive Juyce, through the Lacteal, into the Ve­nal and Atterial Vessels, in the liquamen of the La­tex, where, in the habit of the body, this sabulous matter may be precipitated into a tophus-like, or nodus-kind of petrifaction, in the Synovia of the Joynts, transmitting along with it a spurious acid Ferment, hostile to those tender parts: I shall not (I say) deny, if we together take into our conside­ration other concomitant, and perhaps no less essen­tial circumstances, of irregularity in Diet, sharp­ness and hardness of Drink, in Exercise and pertur­bations of the Mind, &c. which we find often suf­ficient alone to bring on that Disease, yea, and to exasperate it in a high measure to those who never drank of this or any other Spaw Water; yea, and [Page 140]that to many too, upon whose seminal Principles the morbid Character of the Gout was never im­pressed.

Now I shall proceed first, to examine the reason he gives why the Scarbrough Water is not of so pe­trifying a nature as the Knarsbrough dropping Well, (which he supposeth to come from a nitrous Rock) and next I shall prescribe a Remedy how to prevent petrifaction, and also how to carry off what is al­ready contracted; where I shall answer (I hope to the Patients satisfaction) his three Ingredients.

As to the first, the Reason he gives is this, (viz.) That the Alkali of the Alom in Scarbrough Water, hath in part imbibed the acidity of the Nitre, and therefore it cannot so penetrate the Wood put in it, as to leave a Crust of Stone upon it, which the other Water having (as he saith) Nitre alone, will do; And here I must crave pardon, if for truths sake I dissent from my ingenious Friend; for the ground­work of his reason is laid upon a wrong supposition, (viz.) That the Salt of Alom is an Alkali, whereas in the current of my whole discourse upon this Spaw, I have laid it down as an acid Salt, which are so contrary, as they are never reconciled (upon their mutual contact) till each destroy other, and a third neutral result therefrom. The ground of his Reason, why he reputes Alom to contain an Alkali, is from its saponary property. That Alom (saith he) is an Alkali, is plain from its saponary property, for the Dyers scour their Cloth from all filth, by boyling it in Alom Water; which is no less then a palpable mistake, for the Dyers use it not for scouring their Cloth, but for laying a ground for other Colours; as for instance, If three pieces of Cloth be put into the Dyers Woad or Glastum, [Page 141]one White, another Yellow, the third Red; the White, without any previous preparation by Alom, shall be Blew; the Yellow, by being first a few hours in Alom-Water, shall be Green; and the Red, by being also boyled in Alom-Water, shall be Tauny. So that if they should generally use Alom Water for scouring their Cloth, they would there­by be prevented either of making Yellows or Blacks; to both which, Alom makes Cloth incapa­ble, and therefore they onely use it in order to a Ground, fitting it to take other colours afterwards; it wholly destroys all Blacks, yea, it is so far from being lixivial, as it leaves a harshness upon Cloth, whereby it's made capable of striking other Co­lours.

Now that Alom consists chiefly of an acid Salt, is further evident by mixing a lixivium of Salt of Tar­tar, or of any Vegetable fixt Salt, which the Solu­tion of simple Alom Salt, the mixture presently coagulates or curdles into a white Gelly; whereas if it was of the same nature, they would mix, as Spirit of Vitriol with Spirit of Vitriol, Lixivium with Lixivium, Water with Water, like with like.

Besides, he is incautious of what he elsewhere as­serts, viz. where he saith, That the Scarbrough-Water curdles Milk, not by any Vitriol, but by A­lom; Who Questions (saith he) that Alom will curdle Milk as well as Vitriol? the more subtil any acid Liquor, put to the Milk is, the more perfectly doth it separate the thick parts from the thin; here he acknowledgeth the Alom to consist of an acid Juyce, which is quite contrary to a Lixivial, for what the one makes, the other destroys.

Now that the Alkali of the Alom should imbibe the acidity of Nitre; this latter assertion is no more true then the former: for as the Alom contains no Alkali, so neither the Nitre, as Nitre, any acidi­ty; for if you put a little Nitre into boyled Milk, it will coagulate it no more, then if so much Fos­sil Salt was put in, neither of which two Salts are acid, until by force of fire in close Vessels; they are brought over in a fluid form, in statu Fluoris; in close Vessels, (I said) because in open Vessels, Ni­tre will by force of fire, with a little addition of Sulphur, or Charcoal, become an Alkali or fixt Salt; which is quite contrary to its acid Spirit, got by distillation; yea, that it is not acid, is further e­vident, in that it will cause no ebullition with a Lixivium, which all acids certainly do: So that hence we may certainly conclude, first, That the acidity of Nitre is not a cause of petrifaction; and that's evident, because it hath no acidity, till it be raised by the fire; next, That the cause of petrifa­ction in the Scarbrough Spaw, (compared with Knarsbrough dropping Well) is not to be computed from an imbibition of the acidity of Nitre, by the Alkali of Alom, neither of which, as such, are in rerum naturâ: So that (notwithstanding all this) we are yet to cast about for the finding out a more probable cause of petrifaction. In order to which, I would first inquire, How many sorts of Mineral Waters will coagulate Milk? and amongst them, which are the most likely to contribute to petrifa­ction?

All Waters therefore which coagulate Milk, are either such as are strongly Vitrioline; witness the German Spaws, or such as are aluminous; as for instance, Scarbrough, Epsham, the Sulphur-Well [Page 143]at Knarsbrough, (which hath an occult aluminous acidity therein contained) &c. Or lastly, Such as contain a Saxum Nitrosum, or Raments of Stone with a nitrous Juyce, which becomes as a Cement, and knits the sabulous matter (where the place and other circumstances concur) into stony Concreti­ons; of this sort is the dropping or petrifying Well at Knarsbrough, also at Bruncton near Northaller­ton, and in many places more, which will coagulate Milk, and in evaporation leave Raments of a bright nitrous Stone.

Now the subject matter of all stony Concretions, are either a sabulous Earth, glewed together by the efficiency of a salty Liquor, either of Alom, Nitre, Salt Fossil, &c. easily coagulable by a spontaneous exiccation of the succulent parts, by being long ex­posed to the Air, or else it consists in a peculiar pe­trifying seminal Juyce, implanted in stony Con­cretions, whereby they have their growth, and in­crease.

Thus all the Rocks in the Sea, have had their be­ginning and growth, from a petrifying Seed, which hath transmuted the Lympha, or common subject matter of all concrete bodies, into such stony Con­cretions, Calx in Mediis Aquis sensim petrescit: Thus Coral, White and Red, by an innate petri­fying Seed, springs out of Rocks, and other Stones in the Sea, which grow from the very same Juyce, the Stone (it vegetates from) had its nourishment; only it is determined into that form, by the imbred plastick power of that stony Plant, and becomes like (if I may so say) a Misletoe of the Rock; Yea, and from one or both causes aforesaid, hath (for ought we know) all the rocky and stony pro­ductions in the bowels of the Earth, had their ori­ginal.

But to be short, Petrifaction, as to the Duelech, or Calculus humanus, (the subject we chiefly now have in hand) I see no reason to the contrary, but look upon it as chiefly seminaly; else how comes it, that little Children are sometimes grievously tor­mented with fits, and die of the Stone; As I have seen a young Child, after death, opened, whose Reins contained one large Stones, besides divers o­ther lesser ones; by which it should appear, that the inclinatio petrifica, which is the same with a pe­trifying Seed, was at first impressed upon the Semi­nals of its constitution; and in such, where the petrifying Seed is at work, the nutritive Juyce can never be so pure, nor the Steinors or Colanders of the Vessels be so accurate in their functions, but the Stone and Gravel will be increased, the Spirit of Urine will coagulate it self upon its innate Earth, and so cause a concretion of a sabulous matter; al­though much more from some sorts of Meats and Drinks, then from others; amongst ordinary Drinks, Ale that is hard, blenk'd, or new, thick and unwrought, or Wine which is not depurated from its Tartar by due fermentation, are very prejudi­cial somenters of the Stone; so is Bread not well baked, Meat not well cooked and prepared; and in fine, what ever contributes to the Fabrick of the nutritive Juyce, when through the weakness or er­ror of the ferments, reluctancy of that which is taken, or injustice of the distributive powers, a fe­culent tartarous or sabulous matter is sequestred, and either thrown upon the Vessels, or transmitted by the current of the Latex, into other more fine Col­landers and Streinors of the Body.

Then the Stone, Gout, Jaundice, Diarrhaeas, Dy­senteries, Feavers; &c. are in time brought forth, [Page 145]especially to such persons whose constitutions, or peculiar fabrick of their constituent parts (whether Liquid in Vessels, or Solids) are most inclina­ble, and consequently most susceptable of such Dis­eases.

Therefore respect must primarily be had to the inclinatio petrifica & podagrica, or natural incli­nation to the Stone or Gout; for to such, not only the Waters which contain a sabulous matter, but also the common nutritive Juyce made from our or­dinary food, may singly or conjoyntly bring forth, or else exasperate the fits of the Stone, Gout, &c. for the sabulous matter of the Waters, as well as the tartarous recrements of our food, being imbibed by the Latex of the Blood, doth (the one as well as the other) by its various filtratures and percola­tions, leave its precipitate upon the Streinors, Bow­els, and Membranous Parts, causing the foresaid Diseases in Bodies inclinable thereunto.

Now in what my Antagonist glorieth, this our Author and Friend accounts no less then the shame of the Scarbrough Water, (viz.) That it contains such a large quantity of the Minerals (as he calls them) including together with the noble Salt, also the dirty faeces and stony matter, which without doubt (if any thing) is its greatest disparagement: But here, as we shall accuse the one of vanity, and to have done it, not for want of ignorance in the critical Analysis of that Water; So the other we shall no less impeach of too tart a reflection upon the same, and of raising a theoretick Fabrick from too sandy a foundation.

But before we prescribe our Remedy to prevent petrifaction, &c. I shall first bring the matter in controversie to the test, by propounding onely this fol­lowing [Page 146]Experiment, which I have not yet, but may (God willing) take the opportunity of trying at this Spaw-time, which will certaiuly answer this querie, viz. whether the Scarborew water doth leave any considerable quantity of its sabulous mat­ter in the body, whereby it may give just cause of suspition of furthering or increasing the Stone, Gout, Jaundice, &c. the Experiment is this, viz. To save the Urin of a calculous, gouty, or other such like Patient, after he hath drank plentifully of the Spaw, which is onely to be saved after the Urin comes un­tinged from him, to the quantity of two or three quarts, and to distil that in a Glass Body or Re­tort, or barely to evaporate it in a Jar Glass, and so to try whether indeed it hath or no, left any con­siderable quantity of its sabulous matter in the bo­dy; which may truly be computed from the more or less quantity of the stony matter left behind af­ter evaporation or distillation, compared with the residence of the same quantity of the Spaw Water, distilled or evaporated fresh from the Fountain.

NOW come I to give my Receipt how to pre­vent petrifaction, by propounding a Me­thod for the right use and improvement of the Water; where, first, I advise all Pa­tients, who would take this Water for their best advantage and help, for the prevention or cure of the Stone, Gout, Scurvy, Jaundice, Palsies, Epilep­sies, Asthma, or other chronical Diseases; to begin with a gentle Vitrioline Vomit, the Dose to be or­dered according to the discretion of the advising Physitian, which may be done, although the Pati­ent hath for some time drunk of the Water; for this sort of Vonrit (which is surely the safest in the World) doth not onely carry off plenty of a depra­ved matter, involved in the Tunicles of the Sto­mach, the fomenter of most Diseases, whether Acute or Chronical, but also strengthens the Fibres of the Stomach, and other Membranes, through the whole body, reducing them to their proper Tone; which the generality of Solutions, yea, the too fre­quent use of this Spaw Water, is apt to relax, and to make them flag and hang; the depravation of whose oeconomy, makes them forgetful of their offices, and renders them susceptible of a stony in­crustation, [Page 148]from the sabulum of the Water; and hereby they become the cause of all those Diseases, which happen upon those who incautiously drink, and that long and plentifully of this Spaw Water: and hence it is, that after a months drinking of the Water, it sometimes happens that the Appetite or Concoction decayes, (which my Antagonist ac­know ledgeth) or the Waters pass not so well, but cause distention in the Belly or Veins, and so brings on a difficulty of breathing, pain in the head, &c.

All which may be now remedyed, by the method we are now propounding; for this kind of Vomit (which may, as occasion shall require, be safely re­peated) doth fortifie the membranous parts notably, and makes them mindful of their duties; after which the Patient may, for two or three mornings, drink pretty freely of the Waters, using moderate exercise after, as walking upon the Sands, or in their Chamber; and about two hours after the last Glass of Water, let them drink a Glass or two of the best White Wine, (well refined from its Tartar) and about one hour after that, take some warm Broth; then to eat of a few Dishes of Meat, and those to be as well ordered as may be: nor is it a little respect that is to be had to the Drink at Meats, viz. that it neither be new, thick, or unwrought, nor that it be hard or tart.

So that four things are to be regarded in the drinking of the Waters.

First, Moderate exercise after drinking the Wa­ter.

Secondly, To drink a Glass or two of Wine, two hours after the Water, to help the passage thereof.

Thirdly, Not to eat too soon after the Waters; for either by too immoderat exercise, that which should pass away by Urine, (by the short way) is preposterously carried into the habit of the body, or by eating too suddenly before the Waters have pas­sed; the like disorder may happen, (viz.) That the Latax wherein the sabulous matter is dissolved, is thereby in danger to be carried by the Thoracical Vessels, into the fourth digestion of the heart, and thence into the habit of the body, where it may lay a foundation for the Gout, Stone, Scurvy, Fea­vers, &c.

Fourthly, A moderation in Dyet, having good Meat well ordered, and to keep a restraint upon the Stomach, not overcharging it with too much, nor with too great variety of food, for sometimes what the Water builds, in order to health, the ir­regularity of dyet in some persons pulls down.

Fifthly, Good wholsome Drink is to be chosen at Meats, which should neither be very small, nor hard or tart, nor, lastly, new, thick, or unwrought, but should be soft, clear, and healing Ale; or a mid­dle sort of Beer, fresh and lively; all botled Ale (especially that which flies) is to be avoided; in short, it should be kindly Ale, such as may well dilute our other solid Food, and be a sutable Vehi­cle of our nutritive Juyce; for from a due contem­perature of our Drink and Meat (by the efficiency of the ferments) ariseth the wholsomness of our nou­rishment.

When the Patient hath drank for two or three dayes of the Spaw Water, after the former directi­ons, then is he to take a Dose of Solutive Pills, viz. one over-night, and two the next morning; obser­ving [Page 150]much what the former instructions, and to omit taking any Water for that day.

These Pills ought to be so contrived by the Phy­sitian, as to contain in them such Ingredients as may chiefly respect the Scurvy, and that because the Scurvy is most-what the ground to other Diseases; and next, that they may be such as may give the Patient four or five stools, (without griping) as his strength, and the indications of his Disease may require; not neglecting, in the interim, other speci­ficks seasonably to be exhibited, as the Physitian shall think meet, from the indications of the Dis­ease.

Then (if the Physitian think fit) is the Patient to rest a day or two from taking the Spaw-Water, and that to prevent a sudden precipitation of the stony matter upon the Tunicles of the Intestines, af­ter their abstersion or cleansing by the former Solu­tive; and after that to begin again, observing the former instructions, and so on in a round, with such diversifications as the Physitian, from a critical ob­servation of the Symptoms and Indications, shall judge requisite, until the Patient be cured, at least in so hopeful a way towards it, as that Nature may, without much stress, tug through the rest.

And by this means, will all the inconveniencies which happen, as afore-said, to incautious Spaw-Drinkers, be prevented; hereby Patients will not miss of their aim, viz. their desired health, &c. This course being taken, I see no cause of suspition of any harm from the Waters; for supposing (at the worst) a precipitation should happen, which cannot be much; the next Dose of Antiscorbutick Pills, together with a good Diuretick, and a glass or [Page 151]two of Wine, will absterge it off, and carry it c [...] verly away.

Nor need we be altogether so fearful of harm from the stony Concretions in the Water, if we con­fider, That Physicians often prescribe Coral, Crabs­eyes, Pearl, Crabs-claws, Hyacinth, Smaragde, Saphire, Bezoar, &c. which are the Ingredients of several compound Species, as of Pulv. è chel. can­crorum, species Cordiales, &c. frequently ordered by them for the cure of Diseases; which sometimes dulcifie the Blood, and other essential Juyces of the body, by coagulating their acidities, which other­wise cause obstructions in the bowels, and give be­ginning to Apostemations, &c. being frequently carried off by Siedge.

Yea, I know a Gentlewoman, who being trou­bled with a spurious (and therefore superfluous) acidity upon her Stomach, amongst the hundred of Remedies she hath used, finds nothing comparable to the eating plenty of Chalk, which is a stony Con­cretion: This more powerfully, then any other thing she has yet met with, dints the overflowing acidity, sweetens it, which otherwise, with an acid flatus, afflicts her Intestines, causing unufual tormina, or griping of the Guts; Of this she has eaten (as I remember she told me) some pecks in some late years, and yet is no more afflicted with the Stone or Gout, then she was before the taking thereof.

So that all those who are not originally inclined to the Stone or Gout, may very safely drink of the Waters, and that with very good success, for the cure of most other inflrmities, by the due manage­ment of the Spaw, according to our prescribed Me­thod, where we are not so magisterial in our advi­ces, but do leave the judicious Physitian to vary, as [Page 152]he seeth cause, I giving only hints, and opening a Case­ment for more light, for the better discovery of the improvement of this Noble Spaw, in order to the cure of many Diseases; for Art is not only to imi­tate Nature, but also help and supply its deficien­cies, separating what is superfluous, and adding what is necessary.

But if any, who are inclined originally to the Stone or Gout, shall upon the consideration that the Scarbrough-Water is so esurine or acid, by its imbibed Nitro-aluminous, or duplicate Salt, as to dissolve and carry along in its bowels the several Raiments of Stone, shall, I say, thereupon become jealous of drinking the Water:

To those I shall first advise, the drinking the Wa­ter according to our prescribed Method; which if it do not answer their expectation upon tryal, at least doth not satisfie, then would I thus farther add, viz. That doubtless when these stony Concretions are separated by Art or Nature, the foresaid Salt being dissolved in fresh Water, (which upon evaporation yeelds no sabulous Sediment) must needs, I say, become very powerful against all those Diseases, whose seminaries consist in a sabulous petrifying pro­perty, as the Stone, Gout, Jaundice, &c. especially if dissolved with the addition of Salt of Steel, and drunk with great plenty of Spring-Water so acu­ated.

And therefore, lastly, would I propound to all those who are afflicted with these Diseases, upon not being satsfied with the former Method, or being at too great a distance, to take it accordingly, either (by procuring this duplicate Salt of the Spaw) to dissolve it in some pure Spring Water, as aforesaid, with the addition of Salt of Steel, and so to drink [Page 153]it (according to the advise of their Physitians) at home; or else, to dissolve the same Salt in some Vi­trioline Water, as that of Kuarsbrough, Rotheram, Olton, &c. and to drink as large quantities thereof, as their Physitian, by the indications of their Dis­eases, shall advise.

Thus, from what is premised, the three Indicati­ons (propounded by my candid Friend) for the right improvement of the Water, are readily, and without much ado, answered: for, first, by a right management of the Waters, according to our Me­thod, the suspitious petrifying property of the Scar­brough Waters may very probably be prevented, yea and though already begun, may as likely be carri­ed off; And, secondly, by the same process, the Stone-pouder, and faeces of the Alom, may be hin­dred from fixing upon the Bowels; and, lastly, to prevent (in tender constitutions) that the duplica­ted Salt corrode not the Entrals, may easily be done, either by our former Method, or by diluting the essential Salt thereof in great plenty of fresh Spring Water, or by dissolving it in Vitrioline Spaws, as aforesaid.