THE

PREFATORY

INTRODUCTION.

HE nature of Minerals, and the anaTlyfis of their various combinations, belong more properly to another branch of fcience. It would be unneceffary, therefore, to fwell our work, with what will be found elsewhere with greater propriety. This fubject, indeed, might give room for the display of much learning and more conjecture, but inftead of gratifying a vain curiofity, it will be preferable to fupply the reader with useful information. We fhall therefore employ this Introduction in defcribing the various Mineral Waters to be found in England, which have contributed either to medicinal or commercial purposes, relate the chemical trials which have been made to find out their virtues, and the good effects which they have been experienced to produce in the conftitution.

It is ufual to give an account of their contents, after the evaporation of the water; but this is not fufficient in all cafes, because there is often a volatility, when juft taken from the spring, wherein the principal ftrength of the water refides, and which is loft if not immediately drank. Hence it follows, that the nature of the contents will not always afcertain the virtues of the waters. However, in recounting the effects and properties of thefe waters, all the circumftances will be taken notice of, that may tend to give an infight into their operations; and that each spring may be more readily found, I fhall place the counties in which they rife in an alphabetical order. BERK

BERKSHIRE.

IN this county we meet with but two Mineral waters, one at Sunning-hill in Windfor-Foreft, which is of the fame nature as the Tunbridge waters; and the other at Comner, or Cumner, three miles weft of Oxford. This laft water is always of a whitish colour, efpecially in the fummer time when the well is low; the reason of which appearance is faid to be owing to its proceeding from lime-ftone. Oil of Tartar being dropt therein, caufes it to let fall a white fediment; and Spirit of Hartfhorn turns it to a pearl-colour; but with the Solution of Silver it turns to a purplish pearl-colour, and with Syrup of Violets, green. A gallon of this water will yield 296 grains of fediment, whereof 76 grains are lime-stone, and the remainder a calcarious nitre. The fediment is dark brown, with a faltifh and very bitter taste; and will ferment with Vinegar as well as with Oil of Vitriol, and will alfo turn green immediately with Syrup of Violets. The falt itself is of a yellowish brown colour, and has a faltish, naufeous, bitter tafte. It is a kind of calcarious nitre, but inclines more to an alcali than most others of this clafs. It is not much frequented; but it is known that a quart of it will purge a robuft country fellow.

CORNWALL. The mineral fprings in this county, have never been taken notice of 'till very lately, and that is by Mr. Borlace in his furvey of Cornwall. Madern Well is only a fpring of pure water, and it rifes in the parish of Madern, four. miles weft of Penzance. However, it is reforted to by many people that are afflicted with pains, aches, and stiffness of the limbs; and it has done many cures, which may be only owing to the coldness and purity of the spring. Euny Well was fo famous formerly, that there was a chapel erected

clofe

clofe by it, dedicated to St. Eurnus; and it ftill preferves its reputation for drying up humours and healing wounds and fores. However, as this has no evident mineral impregnation, these effects may be owing merely to the coldness of the water, which braces up the nerves and muscles, and ftrengthens the glands. Here is another well of this fort, called the Holy Well, which is about a mile and a half to the north-weft of St. Cuthbert's church, in a cave that lies in a fmall fandy bay. In this cave, there are ftones like ificles, that hang from the roof, and the floor of the rock is covered with the fame fubftance. This water will not change the colour of green tea, nor curdle milk; from whence its concluded, that it has neither alum nor fteel in its compofition. When this water is evaporated, it will depofit a fmall fediment, of the fame colour and fubftance with the incruftations: it will neither melt nor flame, nor has it any particular taste or fmell, and yet for all this, it is in great use for fluxes and disorders of the bowels.

The most remarkable Chalybeate Spring in Cornwall, rifes in the tenement of Golurian, in the parish of Ludgvan. The bed through which this water runs is full of an ochreous, iron mineral, from which its tafte and finell proceeds. It turns to a deep reddifh purple with Galls, and with Oak-leaves it becomes of a bluish black, but has a purplifh caft. When a thimbleful of Oil of Tartar was dropped into this water, it fell immediately to the bottom of the glafs, which held about half a pint: but it precipitated no fediment, nor made any change in the water; only the colour was more inclinable to that of a bright oker, but was fcarcely difcernable. It will not turn filver black, and therefore it is concluded there is no fulphur in it; but in the morning beB 2 fore

4

fore the water is stirred there is a film on the furface with all the colours of the rainbow, fhooting too and fro, which occafions fome to think, there is a naptha in the water. It will mix with milk, and lathers readily with foap; and after it has ftood 24 hours in the open air, it undergoes no alteration from Galls, which is owing to the flying off of the volatile fpirit. The virtues of this water are very great, for perfons have been cured of the King's Evil, by drinking the water and wafhing the parts affected, whom Mr. Borlace knew; and he heard of many others that were cured in the fame manner. It is very diuretick, promotes perfpiration, opens obftructions of the bowels, and reftores a loft appetite. It alfo cures fores of every kind, and is very good to wash the eyes with.

CUMBERLAND. At Stanger in this county, two miles fouth of Cockermouth, and three weft of Kefwick, there is a fpring of clear faltish water, with the taste and fmell of iron; it turns white with Spirit of Hartfhorn; lets fall a great fediment with Oil of Tartar: a gallon of this water will yield 1170 grains of fediment; whereof 1080 are fea-falt, and the reft lime-ftone. It is white, hot on the tongue, and grows very moift in a damp air. There is a little mixture of nitre with the fea-falt, but this laft predominates, and is joined to a confiderable quantity of iron. Four or five pints will purge upwards and downwards; but it is an excellent remedy in furfeits, pains in the ftoinach and breaft, the green-fickness, fcurvy, fores, and breaking out of the skin.

DERBYSHIRE. Buxton Well, lyes át the bottom of a dirty village of the fame name, and there is a large commodious houfe, to which a great deal of good company refort in the fummertime. The water is neither fo hot as that of

Bath,