THE IRISH SPAW; With a short Discourse on Mineral Waters in general, &c.

by Peter Belon


HAving been informed that neer unto this City there is a Spring of Mineral Waters, of which divers persons have drank
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with good success, as to the Cure of some particular Dis∣eases; I thought this a fit Subject on which to entertain my thoughts during my stay in this City, in order to dis∣cover its particular Virtues and Use, by the anatomising of its parts, and by a Chymi∣cal examination of those Me∣tals & Minerals, from whence it derived its Virtues.

In this design I transported my self upon the adjacent places to this Spring, and there examin'd the Soil, Situ∣ation, distance from fresh and salt Waters, its Sediment in the Spring, the most proxi∣mate Hills. Next I consider∣ed the Water it self, its Co∣lour,
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Odour, Tast, Brightness, Weight, and Softness; and what Skin, Film or Skum it did afford on the superficies.

Having made some imme∣diate observations on all these circumstantial accidents, I ap∣plied my self unto such per∣sons as might give me, what further observations they could, as to the Strength of the Water, when it was first found, the causes and propor∣tions of its Decay, and its Effects, both internal and ex∣ternal.

To this I added those ob∣servations which I made dur∣ing the divers tryals and exa∣minations, which are usually
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performed with Galls, Oak-leaves, Oaken-vessels, Allum, Spirit of Harts Horn, distill'd Vinager, Oil of Vitriol, Oil of Tartar, mixing, heating, and boyling of it with Milk, and the like; All which tryals standing good (though weak) but having no effect at all on Milk. In the next place I entred upon the more judici∣ous and Philosophical way of examination, by Fire, after a more particular method then is common, whereby the Gass Silvester, or wild volatile Spi∣rits are so preserv'd that Judg∣ment may pass upon them, as well and with as much ad∣vantage as on those more gross and terrene parts, which are rendred visible, not only
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through common Distillation, but by Precipitation also. By these examens I was inform'd of the Minerals with which it was imbued, though not to that degree that I could wish, through its late mixture with common Waters.

Having found that though this Mineral Water is tinged with such Minerals as other efficatious Mineral Waters are, yet in so small a propor∣tion as would not raise any great hopes of success in the Cure of obstinate chronical Diseases, but that like unto other weakly impregnated Mi∣neral Waters in other parts, it would require some Stimu∣lator, to add more virtue un∣to
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its weakness; I thought it convenient to give here a short account of Mineral Wa∣ters in general, to mention the inconveniencies which usually attend weakly imbued Wa∣ters, and to offer at the means to supply those defects, and to render them not only e∣qual to the most powerful na∣tural Mineral Springs, but even to surpass them. Which I will endeavour to perform with the greatest brevity that I can possible, considering the large extant of this Subject; after which I shall fall upon this particular Water, which is the Theme of my Dis∣course.

That there is a universal
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Spirit, or Spiritus mundi, which God hath established for the continuation of the Species, which Spirit gives a life to all beings, is a truth long since agreed upon by the Learned; but how, and through what conveyers, this Spirit is com∣municated, and distributed into every individual being, is that point unto which I would come as neer, as this Subject does require, without amplification.

Springs have been placed and appointed by a Divine Providence, in the Earth, for the same use, as is the Air, on the surface of it, to be the Vehicles by which this uni∣versal Spirit of the World
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should be communicated to all the parts thereof; yet with this difference, that whereas in the Air that un∣controled Spirit acts more in its purity; in the Waters it is attracted by matter, and so becomes adherent to it.

The chief attracting mat∣ter of this Spirit, is by the Philosophers esteemed to be Vitriol, in which is contained that subtle acid Juice of the Earth, the sole cause of that universal Fermentation which precedes all natural producti∣ons; this its external Green and Azurine colours, its inter∣nal acidity and its magnetick property testifies; its Sulphur
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being that which attracts to it self the universal Spirit, that opens, unites, gathers and co∣agulates the subterraneous va∣pours, and forms them into Mineral and Metallick sub∣stances.

Without dispute Venus is most apparent in this Miner∣al; and therefore most inge∣niously feigned (by those Po∣ets that were Philosophers) to be the Principle or Mother of all natural production, which is manifested by its in∣ternal Redness; that genera∣tive Blood of Nature, with which she ferments all her Seeds, and of them produces such varieties of Minerals, Ve∣getables and Animals, accord∣ing
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to the nature of their re∣spective Matrix.

This animated Vitriol is dissolv'd in the Waters as they pass thorough subterraneous concaves, and thence distri∣buted throughout the whole Globe, that from thence, all things might receive their be∣ing, nurture and conservati∣on. But as these Waters in their progress, sometime do run through the veins and o∣ver the beds of Minerals and Metals, so they are more or less impregnated with the Medicinal properties of the said Minerals, according to the time of their stay upon them, and the compactness or flexibility of their Natures,
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whence arising to the surface of the Earth, they flow in con∣tinual streams of Health.

It was some reflections on this which gave occasion to a Philosopher to say, Fontes definire Arduum est, cum prae∣ter aquam quam habent natu∣ralem, & in sitam, Spiritum e∣tiam habeant mundi, ex quo omnia producuntur cujus solius Fontes sunt delatores per univer∣sam Terram, ut hinc omnia desu∣mant & esse suum, & alimentum, & conservationem. It is diffi∣cult, says he, to define Springs, which (beside their natural innated Water) have the Spi∣rit of the world also, of which all things are produced, and preserved; the conducts of
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which Springs are throughout the whole Earth, that from thence all things may receive their being, nurture and pre∣servation.

By what has been said it is easily conceived that Springs are not only of a bare simple Waters, but of such as are impregnated with a Spirit of power to work wonderful ef∣fects.

This Spirit (as we have said) is mixed and incorpo∣rated into every mix, which makes it yield with more fa∣cility to that Water which is impregnated with the same Spirit; so that thereby it at∣tracts the Virtues out of the
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Minerals, and appropriates them to it self, which a simple and unspirited Water could not do, and then it may be thus defined.

A mineral Water is that which has its passages under ground, through the Veins of one or more, of crude, and sometimes digested Minerals or Metals, by which, through the assistance of that acid fer∣ment which it carries along with it, it is first insinuated into, and then impregnated with some proportion of their Salt, Sulphur, or Mercury, in which three, all the qualities and virtues of every mix do reside. But above all they are tinged and imbued with
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the most fix of these three substances (yet of a dissoluble nature) namely the Salt, in which is contained, according to the opinion of the learned, the most essential qualities of every compound.

Mirum est certè amoris Di∣vini symbolum maximum, &c. It is for certain a wonderful argument of the Divine Love (cries out a Philosopher) that in all the parts of the world there should be sound Springs endowed with such signal and admirable Virtues for the Cure of all Diseases! That God of Nature, who to ma∣nifest his infinite Love to∣wards Man, has not only or∣dained an infinite number of
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Animals, Plants, Trees, and Minerals also, not to be reckoned, for the Cure of Diseases, but moreover hath commanded the Springs to pour out continual streams of Health in all parts.

But to give the Reader a farther inspection into the Constitution of a Mineral Wa∣ter, I must say that in the fa∣mily of Minerals, some are of a more easie and yielding na∣ture then others, the more perfect, are the more fix, and not so easie to give their tin∣ctures, such are Metals, a∣mongst which Gold and Sil∣ver are the most compact, and concentred within them∣selves, Copper, Tinn, Lead and
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Mercury, more yielding, and Iron the least locked up of the seven, by reason of its a∣bundance of crude and un∣digested Sulphur, which is not of power to secure the Salt from dissolution in the bare open Air, as the rust which is so constantly annexed to un∣handled Iron doth daily testi∣fie: But Minerals being of a less perfect existance then Me∣tals; are therefore more yield∣ing to any Menstruum or Li∣quor, in which they are im∣merged.

Now since that even from Metals may be expected a yiel∣ding tincture, full of virtue & power to cure some particu∣lar Diseases; Iron being dis∣solved
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with the most ease, though not esteemed by some of so cordial a Virtue as Gold and Silver, yet endowed with divers excellent qualities, it may reasonably be expected to be proper against most Diseases proceeding from ob∣structions, Iron being esteem∣ed by all Authors, without contradiction, to be the most powerful opener of all Ob∣structions, in what part soe∣ver settled; wherefore I do prefer that Water which is im∣pregnated with Iron before any other.

But all Mineral Waters are not impregnated alike, some more, some less, according as they are animated with the
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acid ferment beforemention'd, proportionable to the yielding or compactness of the Mineral they pass over, and answera∣ble to their stay upon them; care must be had of chusing such Waters as are most im∣pregnated, which may be known by these following marks.

Contrary to the best qua∣lity of common Waters, which consists in their lightness, the most heavy and ponderous, the most clear, of a dark greenish Colour, of an acid and brackish Taste, of a sul∣phureous Smell, and which is the easiest evaporated, is the best. For its weight denotes a good proportion in it of
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that which only gives weight to all things, namely Salts in general. Its clearness shews it free from heterogenious parts, except such as are annexed to all Waters, which in the Eva∣poration of them is found in the bottom of the vessel, not much unlike a slimy mudd, in looks, smell, and taste, as well as in consistency, in which (though of such a contempti∣ble aspect) lurks the essential Salt. But how to order that Earth either before, during the Evaporations, and after, so as to extract that Salt with∣out any detriment of its qua∣lities, Hic Labor, hoc Opus. However I have found these terrestrial particles divested of the Salt, to be of a stiptick
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and astringent nature, which could not but retard the Vir∣tue of the essential Salt, and sometimes create new Disea∣ses in lieu of curing those al∣ready contracted, when the Water is overcharged with them, which does frequently happen when they are drank too soon after great showers of Rain, before they are per∣fectly settled and clear. Its dark Colour shews its Im∣pregnation with a Vitriolick or Martial Salt, mixed with some Sulphur, which Sulphur is also denoted by its Odour. By its activity and aptness to be evaporated is more at large manifested the consi∣derable proportion of the said essential Salt; which by his
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native heat, joined with that of the culinary Fire, the Hu∣midity or Flegm is therewith the easier rarified. Besides these the dark green Colour which it receives from a com∣petency of this Vitriolick Salt of Iron, is an infallible sign of a Water apt to yield a good proportion of that essential Salt, and consequently very medicinal.

Moreover, that Water which is rough to the Palate, which at the first relish discovers some acid, that terminates in∣to a kind of an austere Bitter∣ness of a bituminous Odour, that dyes the Excrements black, and sometimes the U∣rines of a greenish Colour, of
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an easie digestion, quick con∣veyance through the smallest vessels, though taken in a small quantity, is to be pre∣ferred.

But a Mineral Water so qualified in all respects, is not to be found in all places, in this our age, whither through that general decay of Nature, (which in the opinion of some is very remarkable) I shall not now insist upon; but thus much I here assert, that for want of such Waters, the sick are frequently obliged to make use of such as are less impregnated, which being not powerful to cure and eradi∣cate formed Diseases, yet are generally known, and used
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with some success in the re∣moving of recent Obstructi∣ons, and in preparing the Bo∣dy for the reception of speci∣fick Medicines, ordained by skilful Physicians, according to the nature of the Diseases. Which Waters might also be happily us'd in confirmed Dis∣eases, were they not to be ta∣ken then in such large quan∣tities (for want of sufficient Impregnation) to make them pass by the pressure of their own weight, from which there frequently follows an unusual extension of the Tunicles of the Stomach, and an extincti∣on of its natural heat, from which two accidents do com∣monly proceed Hysterical Passions, Convulsions, Cramps,
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Palsies, Apoplexies, and the like, and sometimes imme∣diate Suffocations, which In∣conveniences by taking too large quantities of weakly im∣pregnated Waters, I shall fur∣ther insist upon from these four particulars, Quantity, Quality, Time and Place.

First as to Quantity. A Gallon of Water is the usual height, to attain unto any benefit by them, though some∣times six Quarts, nay two Gallons, have been devoured, which Quantities are usually taken within the space of an hour, or two, at the most; the half of this vast quantity to be contained at once, some∣times in a Stomach which has
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been debilitated, either by the violence or duration of the morbifick matter, the tedious persistance in a fruitless course of Physick, or both; disen∣abled from digesting and di∣stributing a small proportion of a good Nutriment, much more incapable of dealing with such a large quantity of a crude Liquor, so that it fre∣quently happens that the Wa∣ters remain in the Stomach, not passing at every fourth or fifth Glass, as might be expe∣cted, and consequently not to be voyded again but by Vomit, except (as I have al∣ready said) they be pressed down by their own burden (a very dangerous thing to trust to): For when they
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chance to go off so on a sud∣dain, it is with such an impe∣tuous course, that the weight and quantity meeting with some obstructions in the smal∣ler vessels and passages, there∣by are caused great Inflama∣tions in the Meseraick Veins, Kidnies, Uriteries, Bladder, &c. with so great a dilatation of the Vessels, to force it self out, that Swounding Fits, Cold Sweats, and sometimes, without a singular suppliment of Nature, sudden Death has followed, notwithstanding the use of common Salt, carmina∣tive Seeds, mixtures of other Liquors with the Waters, tak∣ing of them in Bed, laying of warm Clothes and Down Pil∣lows over their Stomachs, the
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use of Cream of Tartar, the heating of the Waters, and the like; which last renders them less, powerful, by the loss of their most subtle parts, which are thereby evaporated; the Waters remaining more crude and indigestible then before.

Secondly, if the Quantity is so nocent, well may the Quality. To have at once, in a weakned Stomach, the forementioned quantity of Water, in which the virtual substance doth not exceed the weight of six or eight grains, (all the rest being of a cold, raw, and undigestible nature) must needs be a wrack to our Nature, who is contented with a little.

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Thirdly, the Sick are limit∣ed to such particular seasons of the year, wherein as the Proverb says, they must make Hey while the Sun shines, and frequently in the midst of their course, are impeded by some great fall of Rain, which mixing with the alrea∣dy too crude Waters, does in∣stantly extinguish that small portion of Virtue which they had, and so are deprived for that time from all kind of Operation, by which acci∣dent the poor Patient is whol∣ly disappointed of his hopes, and abandoned to the cruel tyranny of a conquering and merciless enemy.

Lastly. And here I must
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except these Waters, near so great a place of all manner of Accommodation, as is this Ci∣ty of Dublin, as well as others so advantagiously situated. I say, that there are no per∣sons who have seen the great Inconveniencies which attend most of the places of drink∣ing the Mineral Waters, but are already convinced of the great want of better Accom∣modations, I mean in refe∣rence to the poor, weak, lan∣guishing, sick Creatures, which Inconveniencies most chiefly happen by the great con∣course of people where there is such a scarcity of Conveni∣encies. For sick persons be∣ing, at the best, fitted, not as their nice and peevish Hu∣mours
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would require, but as well as they can, though when in their own habitati∣ons, being transported to those cold and bleek, places, in danger of having added to their other Distempers, Colds, Coughs, Agues; in a word, exposed to all the injuries of a piercing Air, besides the stirring up of Humours, rai∣sing of Vapours, there con∣fined into some scanted Cot∣tage, streightned of such ne∣cessary Refreshments as are requisite for them, must of ne∣cessity prove, if well examin∣ed, more prejudicial in gene∣ral, then those Mineral Wa∣ters can do good. I speak not of such whose plentiful For∣tunes can render all places a∣like
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commodious to them, but of the generality.

Thus much as to Mineral Waters in general, and the many Inconveniencies which attend the taking of weak impregnated Waters. Now if such accidents do usually attend the use of weakly im∣pregnated Waters, is it not a charitable act to endeavour the removing of all these fore∣mentioned impediments? It is well known that this has been already done in England and elsewhere; and no question but that it may be also per∣formed in this Kingdom, in supplying the Weakness of these Waters, by joining un∣to a small proportion of them,
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the essential Salt extracted out of others more strongly impregnated Waters, of the same nature & operation with these. Whereby they will be rendred more powerful in their Operations, enabled to carry themselves through all Obstructions, and that, not by the violence of their own weight, but by gently insinu∣ating themselves, and by their penetrating qualities, piercing through the most remote opi∣lated and obstructed parts of the Body.

This, I humbly offer for the publick Good of this Na∣tion, unto which I have been lately called, until I find some opportunity of being more
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serviceable. Namely, an es∣sential Vitriolick Salt of Mars, extracted out of Mineral Wa∣ters, so far to be prefer'd be∣fore most of Mineral Waters, as a strong rectified pure Spi∣rit of Wine before a weak flegmatick Brandy, or a Chy∣mical Extraction before a meer Galenick Potage. For any person that is not pre∣possessed with prejudicate Opinions, against the scien∣tifick Art of Chymistry, or too much byassed with his own Interest, but will confess upon tryal that this essential Salt, in which the Virtues of the Waters reside, being-first disengaged from that large proportion of Flegm, in which it lay drowned, and after
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mixed with a less proportion of the same or with some o∣ther idoneous Vehicle, will thereby be rendred, more con∣venient and easie to be taken, and received in the Stomach, and there once received, more powerful and active both in it self, and its commixture, to operate upon the peccant Fer∣ment, to mix with the Chyle, and to be convey'd with more facility and quick dispatch, e∣ven to the most remote Di∣gestions.

For this essential Salt is hot, piercing, searching, open∣ing, and driving from the cen∣ter to the circumference, by which Qualities it doth pow∣erfully resist all putrid and in∣digested
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Humours, the results of evil Fermentations, which produce such a variety of Ob∣structions, in all parts of the Body, by attenuating with its piercing heat their viscous and tenacious parts, which choak up the small passages of the Veins, Arteries, and Nerves, by which the free and natural Circulation of the natural, animal and vital Spirits is impeded. By its dissolving quality liquifying and mixing it self with the crude Humours, and by its dilating faculty insinuating it self into the most remote and last Digestions, there aiding Nature to overcome whatso∣ever is offensive to her; nay, if timely taken, preventing
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all Obstructions, first caused by ill Digestions in the Sto∣mach, which at such a time produces a viscous Flegm, in lieu of a laudible Chyle; for Errors in the first Digestion, are not rectified in the second or third. Thus Waters so qualified either in themselves, or through the addition and assistance of such a Salt, mix themselves with the natural ferment, aid and enable it to oppose, combat and suppress, all preternatural Fermentati∣ons, disingage the Stomach from all Crudities, cause the generation of a good Chyle, attend it to a perfect Sanqui∣fication, circulate with the Blood, and driving forth all serossities, and other impuri∣ties
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they are instrumental in the creation of quick and active Spirits; so that by these means they may with Justice deserve the glorious title of universal Restorers and Pre∣servers, by cleansing, correct∣ing and strengthening all the natural Faculties, which be∣ing vitiated are the Causes of all Diseases. And Natura corroborata est omnium Morbo∣rum medicatrix.

In the just Commendations of arightly impregnated Mi∣neral Waters, I could enlarge my self at pleasure on every particular; but my intention being more to inform in the matter of fact, then to amuse with multiplicity of Notions,
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I shall conclude this part of my discourse, and proceed to the other, which has respect to the ways and methods of using them both, as to the prevention and the extirpati∣on of Diseases.

I have said that all Diseases proceed at first from a devia∣tion of the Functions of the Stomach: If therefore any persons are sensible of sick in∣tervals, Weakness, Oppressi∣ons, Rawness, Gnawings, Burning in the Stomach, a dog-like Appetite, or a nau∣seating of Food, and the like; to intercept all Diseases that would follow, let them by way of prevention, suppress those evils in their buds with
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the use of Mineral Waters, in this following method.

First let them apply them∣selves to some learned able Physician, to have the Hu∣mours well prepared, accord∣ing to the Constitutions of the Bodies; for that maxim Proemisis universalibus is al∣ways to be regarded. From the omission of this caution do ordinarily proceed all the errors, and ill consequences, which follow the unruly tak∣ing of any Mineral Water, though never so good, if you will add the faults of the Pa∣tients, and ill Diets, which is the bane of all the ill be∣gun, and worse prosecuted, Cures.

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According to the natural strength and vigour of the Waters you drink, or the pro∣portion of essential Salt you add to them, so must your Doses be; and this learned by experience the first day.

Never begin to drink till the Sun be a little high, after the drinking of each Glass of half a pint, walk or ride moderately, till the Liquor begins to pass, either by stool or by urine; but those that are not able to perform ei∣ther of those two exercises, are to be easily agitated in a Coach.

Increase daily by one Glass, till you come to two quarts,
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for strong and vigorous Bo∣dies, which is the most that any must ascend to. When you are come to the tolerable quantity, stay in it during 8 or 10 days, according as you find your self able. When you are near bidding the Wa∣ters farewel, decrease for four or five days, till you come to your first proportion.

All that is to be drunk e∣very day, must be done at the furthest within an hour.

When you walk or other∣wise exercise, let it be mode∣rately, resting by intervals, and use not a superfluous toil, which doth not awa∣ken, but rather choak up
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Nature, and hinders the free Expulsion.

Put off your Dinner till you find that the best part of the Water is past, and to that purpose, when the Wa∣ters work only by Urines, as those of Tunbridge, you must measure your Urine in Glasses of equal dimensions to the former; but where the Wa∣ters work both ways, a sign that the most are passed, is when the Urine doth come again to its natural yellow Colour.

Let your Dinner be light, and your Supper lighter, of one or two sorts of Meats, at the most, young, tender,
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of easie Digestion, and good juicy substance, roasted, and not boiled. No Fruit, no Milk nor Cheese: no Vene∣son, Tarts nor Spices; no Fish. Use well baked White Bread, good middling Beer or Ale, clear, ripe, and well settled, and good French White Wine, or small Rhe∣nish, as Baccarach. All mix∣tures of Drinks, and adulte∣rated Wines are most dan∣gerous.

You will do well to weigh your selves every morning before you drink, and after, to know what alteration there is made by Stools and Sweats, if you have any.

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I forbear mentioning here any digestive Powders, Cor∣dials, or the like, to fortifie the Stomach, because that having a Water sufficiently strong of it self, or made so by the addition of the essen∣tial Salt, it has heat sufficient in it self, to assist the Stomach withal.

Now a word to those that use weakly impregnated Wa∣ters (for want of better, or not having the essential Martial Salt) for the opening of slight Obstructions, and new found Distempers.

Let them consult their Phy∣sicians in order to have such digestive Powders and Cor∣dials,
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in readiness, as will best suit with their Constitutions, to prevent all inconvenien∣cies.

The ordinary Remedies are the use of Mace, Carda∣mome, Anise, Foenel and Ca∣raway Seeds grosly beaten to powder, and mixed with four times as much of Loaf-sugar in powder, of which, they take half a spoonful after Meal; this for the digesting Powder. Their Cordials made of cold Mint and Balm-water, with a little Wormwood, Carda∣mome, Hot Waters, and sweetened with Syrup of Clove-July-flowers. They use also to take betwixt each Pinte Glasses some Anise or
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Caraway Comfits, Candied Orange-peels and the like.

The best way of mixtures or heating of the Waters is thus. First to mingle with the first and second Glass, one or two spoonful in each of pure rich Canary, secondly to have hard by the Well a Kettle full of Water with Fire under, to heat it, in which Kettle put divers Stone Bot∣tles full of the Mineral Wa∣ters taken within the Well, very well stopped, and when the Water is moderately warm; take out of one quart Bottle but two Glasses at the most, leaving the sediment behind. Thirdly, they may be taken in bed, a little warm,
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bearing upon the Region of the Stomach a Down Pillow; when the whole quantity hath been taken, and by the warmth of the Bed, the Wa∣ter begins to pass, then the Patient must go to his mode∣rate exercise, of walking, rid∣ing on Horseback or in a Coach, according to the strength of the Body and his conveniency.

These and the like mise∣rable shifts are such glad to use, which drink too weakly impregnated Waters.

To drink but few days the Waters of any sort, is to no purpose, the shortest time, if nothing intervenes is one
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month, if the Waters pass currantly, and the Patient find a good effect towards the romoval of some old chro∣nical Disease, he may go fur∣ther. By all means if Rainy weather comes forcibly leave off drinking, except you have at hand some of the essential Salt, to revive the Waters. And from the beginning after three or four days tryal, if the Waters remain in the Bo∣dy, and are not voided, leave off.

Some persons are costive during the drinking of such Waters, as only purge by U∣rines; those, if they refuse Clysters, may take every third or fourth day Stomachal pur∣ging
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Pills, a quarter of an hour before Supper, as those de Am∣moniaco, Mastichinae Fernel∣lii, Stomachicarum cum Gum mis, de Hyera, or the like.

When arriv'd to the end of this task, to draw out of the Body all that might be lodg'd in the Veins, or elsewhere, one, two, or three Purgations, if needs be, are not to be o∣mitted, which done, nothing remains, but every one to make much of himself, return∣ing little by little to his ordi∣nary manner of life, within the Rules of Art and Medi∣ocrity.

Now to come to this par∣ticular Mineral Water, near
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to Chappel-Izard; I say in the first place, that as it is now situated, it is impossible to preserve it long in its puris naturalibus, and without some mixtures of common Waters by all the means imaginable. But with care and industry it may be traced unto the foot of the neighbouring Hill, some two or three yards high, from whence undoubtedly it pro∣ceeds, and there guarding it round with good strong Clay, then walling it in, and fixing a Bason over its rise, there it may be kept from all dangers, but a suddain fall of Waters, unto which inconveniences all Mineral Waters are liable. But so long as it remains on such a flat bottom, so near to
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a running stream, liable to be overwhelmed upon every glut of Rain, it will never be of any significant use, for the Cure of any chronicall Diseases, though it may succeed with some in the opening of slite recent Obstructions.

For though I deny not but that in divers places Mineral Springs have been overflowed through their proximity to Rivers, & low situations; and yet presently upon the retreat of the flouds have remained as strong and vigorous as be∣fore, by reason that the strong∣ly impregnated Waters have kept them stations, by the weight which they received from their own Salts, not ad¦mitting,
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but of a very slight and superficial mixture, with the intruding Liquor; yet when other Waters break un∣der ground in to the course of the Mineral Waters, and so roll together for some space, they are so mixed per minima, and so wholly enervated that no good can be expected from them.

Though I am not of a hu∣mour to content my self with Pythagoras his Scholars bare Ipse dixit, yet here I have been forced to take divers things upon trust, through the late accidental weakness of the Mineral Waters near Chappel-Izard. But as to what has fallen under my inspecti∣on,
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upon those tryals which I have made, thus much I can say, that when I mixed some Powder of Galls with it in a Glass, it turned purple; ad∣ding a little Alum, it turned blackish: Oak-leaves in pow∣der have made it of a subrufus brown, which has turned blackish with a little distill'd Vinagre. With Spirit of Harts horn, I caus'd a white separation to be made with some little sulphurious or bi∣tuminous Odour, which was reduc'd again to its natural clearness, with some few drops of Oyle of Tartar. With Oak-leaves, or Galls be∣ing tinged, some few drops of Oyl of Vitriol have caused a separation of a black sediment.
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This Sediment being exa∣mined, proves to contain a Vitriolick Salt of Mars. Its being mixed with equall parts and boyled with Milk makes no alteration.

In the precipitation of it I have found a subtle Gass or sharp fume to arise somewhat sulphurious, which speaks it to partake also of Sulphur.

In the Distillation in close Glass vessels, it has afforded a small proportion of this acid wild Spirit, which has been turned red with powder of Galls that were placed in the Receiver.

In the bottom of the Glass∣vessel
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I found a black sedi∣ment, not much unlike mudd, out of which I have extracted some few grains of a Vitrio∣lick Salt of Mars.

All which examinations and tryals make me con∣clude that this Mineral Wa∣ter is imbewed with a slender proportion of Iron, Vitriol, Sulphur and Alum; which answers very properly to its effects, and to the Soil adja∣cent to it; and it is my opi∣nion that it partakes of Nitre also, though I found none.

I have been credibly in∣formed, that when it was first found out, it had over it a ve∣ry thick scum of Rust, which
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denoted its passage through some Iron Mine, how remote from its rise, it matters not. It had under that scum, a thin skin or film, Cauda Pavonis, or Rainbow commonly called, for the variety of its Colours, which it borrowed either from the Sulphur of Mars, or of common Brimstone, which last I am more apt to believe, because that then it had a strong bituminous odour and taste.

No great observations can be made upon the Soil through which it passes; it is like unto most of the Earth about this place mix'd with small pieces of a glittering Stone, which, by chewing in
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my mouth I scaled so thin, that no Talk could be more finely split, nor yield a more glorious lustre and whiteness; this, and some small particu∣lars of a kind of courser Talk, call'd Lapis Entalis, which Schroder mentions, to∣gether with a common gray∣ish Sand, and a Dust of the same colour, is the compound of that Earth nearest to it, which would give me occasi∣on not to despair of finding some Aluminous Mine, or Talk Veins in the neighbour∣ing Hills, if some pains were taken about it.

The Qualities and Virtues of the Minerals wherewith this Water is impregnated, are these.

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Mars, or Iron, is hot, dry, internally red, it consists of a double Mercury, burning and black, of a red Sulphur and an impure Earth. It is piercing, opening and corro∣borating; good against all Obstructions, debility of the Stomach, all Fluxes: it is an Alkali, therefore a great dul∣cifier of the Blood, &c.

Vitriol, there are divers sorts, and of various colours; it is commonly white, blue, and green; I have seen some in Poland that was yellow, and some red. It abounds in a combustible Sulphur, and a corrosive acid; it contains a sweet anodine Oyl, difficult to be had; it is internally
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red. It is stiptick, emetick, detersive, hot and drying: it partakes of the virtues of Mars and Venus; it is good against all Inflamations, espe∣cially of the Eyes.

Alum, of Alum there are divers sorts also, and divers comprehend Vitriol under the nature of Alum, of which it only differs in a metallick Sulphur; it is void of Tin∣cture. Paracelsus does attri∣bute the Names of Salts unto external Ulcers, according to the diversity of the congela∣tions of Salts; if it is a red Ulcer, he calls it Vitriolick: if without redness, aluminous; and because there are divers sorts of Alum in respects of
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Tasts, and some that are wholly insipid, as the Alumen Entalis, plumosum, &c. There are likewise insipid tuberous Ulcers. It is stiptick, drying, cooling, coagulating, and dis∣solving; it most powerfully resists putrefactions, precipi∣tates evil Ferments, allays the Inflamations of the Bow∣els, and stops a Gangraine.

Sulphur, it is called the Rosin, the Lungs of the Earth, the second acting principle, existant in mixt bodies: from it whatsoever is combustible either liquid or solid is called Sulphur, or sulphurious. There are two sorts, one that is combustible, and another that is incombustible. The com∣bustible
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is that which is burnt, and yields no smoke, but is inflamable: The incombusti∣ble yields no flame, but re∣mains fix and permanent: Sulphur is found either coa∣gulated, or liquid, in the form of a Bitumen; as it is found in the Mines before it is sepa∣rated by fusion from its earth it is called, Living. It differs from Vitriol only in the exter∣nal form, and each may easily be transform'd into the other; therefore they have much the same qualities and virtues, on∣ly this last is more inflamable, and a particular friend to the Lungs.

Thus much as to the Na∣ture of those Minerals that
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have embued these Waters, from whence may be gather∣ed the reasons why it cures recent Obstructions, cleanseth the Reins, Uriters, and Blad∣der: aids Dropsical persons, cases the pains of the Gout and Rhumatisms, procures an Appetite, fortifies the tone of the Stomach, and corrobo∣rates the Visceras.

Now as to this essential Vitriolick Salt of Mars which I have mentioned, to be used to add strength and energy to those Waters that are but superficially embued with Mi∣neral tinctures; it may seem strange to some persons, and I expect that some will be sound amongst the ignorant
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mobile, that will deride my Proposition; but Hos obla∣trantes caniculos cum contemptu praetereo. I address my self to the learned only, and to them I further add, that be∣sides the Extraction of this essential Salt from Mineral Waters, and the rejoyning of it to others of the same na∣ture, or to its former Vehicle, in a larger proportion then before. I say, that of late days all Mineral Waters, ei∣ther for drinking or bathing, have been by some ingenious Artists so exactly imitated, af∣ter some Philosophical Specu∣lations used on the Natures of the natural Springs; nay, I may say, outdone, that by those factitious Mineral Wa∣ters,
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as great Cures have been performed in the Patients par∣ticular habitations, as any have been by the natural Springs upon the place; and what is more, the Artificial Baths brought to those several de∣grees of heat, as the natural ones have at the Baths, with∣out the aid or assistance of any culinary fire; to which have been added all the o∣ther accidents, of Odours, Tasts, Colours, and of Ting∣ing Silver into a curious Solar tincture. All which things were once pretended to, at the place which goes under the notion of the Dukes Bal∣neo in Longaore, London: But how performed, I leave to all ingenious persons to judge,
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that have used those Baths, and drank of that Water. The Art of Chymy has a multitude of Well-wishers, as many pretenders to, and more that court her designedly: But ex quovis Ligno, non fit Mercurius. There are but few that make use of those two things which Galen rec∣kons as necessary concurrants to the attaining the perfect Knowledge of Arts and Sci∣ences, or the nature of any simple Medicine, viz. Expe∣rience and Reason, from which there arose in his time two Sects of Physicians, the one called Empiricks, the o∣thers Methodists. The Em∣pirick did only observe the Operations and Effects of
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Medicines, and never trou∣bled themselves concerning their Natures, or the reasons of those effects, but used all Medicaments promiscuously, to the prejudice of many. The Methodists were not sa∣tisfied with the bare finding out of the Virtues of Medi∣caments, but added to the OTI the ALOTI, diving into the Nature of the same. These he termed the two Legs of a true Physician, upon which he would have him to stand and walk.

It is an easie matter to pre∣tend to things, and after the picking here and there some mouldy Receipts, and Terms of Art, to cant, especially in
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Chymy, before the unthinking multitude, but first to entertain Philosophical Notions, and then to reduce them unto Mechanical real Demonstra∣tions, belongs but to a few. And now that my Reader may not put me in the number of the great Talkers and lit∣le Doers, as to what I have in this Discourse proposed, I offer to produce, after a month or six weeks time, sufficient quantity of the Es∣sential Vitriolick Salt of Mars, extracted from Mineral Wa∣ters, to supply this City, eve∣ry season of drinking the Wa∣ters, or all the year long, at the same reasonable Rates that any true and genuine Essential Salt of Mars can be prepared.
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I could make larger prof∣fers yet; but I forbear, lest it should be thought I were by∣assed by Interest, or blown up with Ostentation. The curi∣ous learned I shall ever be ready to serve, in giving them all the satisfactory Demon∣strations that I can possible, in every particular which I have mentioned in this Dis∣course, or in any thing else that I am capable. Mean time, if they please to spend som hours in the Tryals of such Chymical Preparations as I have faithfully delivered to the publick in my Intru∣duction to the French Author, in a Treatise, called, A new Mystery in Physick, discovered by Curing of Feavers and A∣gues
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with the Jesuits Powder, printed for William Crook, at the Green Dragon without Temple-Bar, 1681. There they will find, wherewith to satisfie their Curiosity, till they command me further.

In meliorem partem interpre∣tari debemus quae nobis du∣bia sunt.

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POSTSCRIPT.
I Had but just ended this precedent Dis∣course, when word was brought me, of a new Mineral Spring found, in the Road that leads to the first, near the Gate; I immedi∣ately went to examine it upon the place, and caused some of the Wa∣ter to be brought home to me for further inspe∣ction. But after all sorts
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of Examens, I found these last much less im∣pregnated then the o∣thers, though they par∣ticipate of the same Minerals with the first.

In both a Vitriolick Salt of Mars predomi∣nates; they have so weake a tincture of A∣lum, that neither of them has the power to turn Milk, though for a long time boyled together in equal proportions, which speaks these Wa∣ters
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to be Alkalies, and consequently dulcifiers of Acids.

This last found Spring has, within less then a foot of it, another of fresh common Water, which peradventure does commix with it, and may be the cause of its weakness; and in my opinion, neither of these Waters can last long untainted, except care be taken to trace them, on some more
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eminent ground, where they may be secured from the insultations of violent Rains, Flouds, and Springs of common Waters.

To conclude, consi∣dering the visible decay of either of these Wa∣ters, though removed but to the City from their Springs, especial∣ly the last, which would scarce afford any Tin∣cture at all with Galls, it were very requisite that
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these Waters should be drank upon the place. To which purpose I could wish there were better Accomodations and Conveniencies, sut∣able to the occasions of the more modest of the modest Sex.

To this purpose, if Rows of Tents were pitched on each side of the Green, proportion∣able to the concourse of people, and a large Walk left between, it
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would supply in some measure the natural conveniences, which a multitude of Shrubs & Bushes, besides some winding Dales betwixt close Hills, in other pla∣ces of the like resort, do afford.

To which might be added, according to the laudable custom of Fo∣reign Nations (which has been taken up of late in some parts of England also) the diver∣tisement
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of Musick, Bowling, Pins, Lotte∣ries, Shooting, or any other pastimes, to disin∣gage the Mind from too serious or melancholick thoughts.

Ut sit Mens sana in Cor∣pore sano.
FINIS.