hour It was found out by accident about thirty four years ago and hath by degrees come into use and reputation not only among the inhabitants of the Eastriding and the â—own of Hull among whom I lived and managed my profession near eighteen years observing very much the operation and effects of this water but also it hath of late years been well known to the Citizens of York and the Gentry of the County who do constantly frequent it yea and to severall persons of quallity in the Nation who upon the large commendations of such as knew its opperration have made triall of it with whom it hath gained such credit that they come above an hundred miles to drink of it preferring it before all other medicinal waters they had formerly frequented Nay I have met with some that had been at the Germane Spaws both at Sauvenir and Ponhout who prefer this for its speedy passage both by seige and urine before them I having had a large opportunity for twenty 2. years last past to observe the effects of this medicinall spring not onely in my selfe but very many others whom I have known to drink of it in various cases I shall for the further benefit of my Country make out my experience and will therefore first treat concerning its parts and of what Mineralls it doth participate with the nature of them and then descend to its vertues and effects Galen saith there are two things that do necessarily concur to the finding out of Arts and Sciences Lib. 2. de Simp. med fac or any simple Medicine vid. Experience and Reason From whence did arise two Sects of Physicians in his days Empiricks and Methodists The former observed the operation of Medicines not troubling themselves to pry into the nature of them to find out the reason of those operations and were wont to use them promiscuously whom therefore he frequently chides and charges of folly The other though they had found out the virtue of a Medicine yet were not satisfied with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but proceeded to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diving into the nature of it that they might know from whence it had its virtue consequently the reason of its working These he calls the two leggs of a Physician upon which hee ought to walk and further adds that he that would hope to attain to any competent perfection in the Art of Physick must take care to use them both My design shall bee to follow his advice as well as I may and so to let the Reader know that Experience hath found out that this Medicinall Spring doth work exceeding well both by seige and urine and that it is found to bee effectuall in all diseases that require such evacuations But because I would not have the ingenious to Content himself with this experimeÌ„cal notion let him know that this water hath it's virtue from it's participation of Vitriol Iron allome Its. Mineralls Nitre and Salt the natures of which Mineralls I shall enquire into anon It is very transparent to the sight inclining somewhat to a Skey colour As qualities it hath a pleasant acid taste from the Vitriol and an inky smell If an equall quantity of boyling milk be put to it it coagulates it as do the Germane Spaws and makes a very clear Posset-drink If half a grain of the powder of Gal be put into a quart of this water doth immediately turn it into a Clarret colour or like unto sirrup of Violets mixed with water whereto some drops of spirit of Vitriol hath been put which if it be suffered to stand some hours after it is so turned with the Gall a red sand will settle to the bottome and the water will become clear and bright again I took 3. quarts of the Spaw water evaporated it all away upon the sire in a clean Skellet there remained in the bottom a brown saltish biterish sand to the quantity of three drams or near upon but because I thought the sediment might proceed from the mixture of sand arising with the water although I could not discern any with my eye I therefore took three quarts more which I filtrated through a double thick wollen cloth that I might be sure to have no mixture of sand and set it on the fire as before to evaporate all the water which when I had done there remained the same quantity of brackish sediment as before and of the same colour so as it plainly appeared it was not from any mixture of sand in the water Then I set on three quarts filtrated as before in a clean Skellet which after it had boiled a while I discovered a reddish sand at the bottome the very same that falls to the bottome when it hath been colored by the gall so I took it off the fire and powred it into another vessell the sand remaining behind which I found to be about a dram somewhat soft to the touch not sharp as sand which I take to be no other then Rubrick or Mater ferri or as Dr. French calls it Vitriol of Iron separated by the heat whose property it is according to Phylosophers congregare homogenea separare heterogenea it having a kind of Sâ—iptick taste not saltish at all Then I set on the same water thus separated from the Rubrick to evaporate it as before cleansing off the scumme which arose and at the â—ottome there remained a whitish Sediment somewhat bitter and very sharp in tast to the quantity of two Drams which cleaved to the bottome of the Skellet as if it were parched meat not without difficulty to bee scraped off I observed when the water was almost all evâ—porated and spent it rose up in Bullas making a bubbling noyse like the boyling of Allome in the Mines at Whitby within twelve miles of Scarbrough on the Sea câ—st of which Sir Thomas Gower a very ingenious and learned Gentleman much delighted in Chimicall experiments thinks this Spaw doth eminently participate I think also it is from the Allome that it is so fixed and cleaves to the bottom whereas otherwise the nitre would shoot in stirâ—as and the Salt in tesseras as Naturalists observe and I take the greatest part of this sediment to be Nitre and Salt to be least predominant of all the rest of the Mineralls nor yet can they well be separated concerning all which I shall speak more at large in the twelfth Section There may perhaps be some other Mineralls in it but they are not discoverable however these being most eminently conspicuous I shall content my selfe with them and leave it to others to try experiments and make what new discoveries they can Now since Water is the Vetucle of the Vertues of all the aforesaid minerals Of water in general I think it proper for method sake to speak somewhat concerning Water ingeneral together with its severall sorts in particular and the effects thereof being taken inwardly into the bodies
in some places of the World distant from it and many of them placed upon exceeding high Land and Mountains much above the Sea I know some of them for the making out of their opinion will have the Sea to be as high Sea not higher then the earth if not higher them the highest Mountains depressed only upon the shore as saith Aristotle lib. 1. de Meteor because terminated by the dry Land This Doctrine of the Sea's elevation above the Land being also defended by Tully de nat deorum where he saith that the Sea being placed above the Earth yet coveting the place of the Earth is congregated and collected so as it cannot redouned or flow abroad Scripture urged as also by many learned Divines both ancient and moderne who reducing most things to the supernatural and first cause do many times neglect and overlook second causes And they seem to be warranted by some Scriptures Psal 33. vers 7. He gathered the Waters thereof together as an heap Ps 33.7 As also that place in Iob where God himself professeth that he hath bounded the Waters of the Sea in these words Iob 38.11 Hitherto shalt thou go but no further Job 38.11 and there shall thy proud waves be stayed And having thus resolved they fancy a natural motion of the water from the top of the Sea to the tops of the Hills although they are not all of this mind as we shall examine by and by But we must know de caelo l. 2. c. 4. De Geogr. p. 489 the Earth and the Sea according to Aristotle and a concurrence of Freigius and all Geographers make up but one body of a global figures the Sea being a moist fluid body keeps the figure exactly its superficies being alwayes equidistant to the Center of the Earth so as in what part of the Sea soever a man can suppose himself to be he must needs be in the highest part of the Globe whether he be in the middle of the Sea or near the Shore and out of this figure it cannot go without force Whereas the Earth is not so exact in the figure that part of it which appears above the Water of the Sea being extuberant every Mountain and Valley still further breaking the figure Now if the water of the Sea should so pass from the Sea to the tops of the Springs as they affirm it should arise beyond it's level to wit the Natural Sphericall figure which is absurd to be supposed without an extraneous force It is most certain that Ships at Sea will at some leagues distance loose the sight of one another so as they that are upon the deck in the one can make no discovery of the other but if they go up to the shrowds they may discern one another and still the higher they climbe the better discovery they make The reason of this is the Sphericall figure of the Sea which terminates their sight while they are upon the deck untill over-topping the bank by climbing higher they have a clear view And our Seamen observe no difference supposing the same distants from what quarter soever the Ships lie from one another whither towards the Land or off at Sea For exampel Suppose on the Eastern coast of England which stretches North and South three Ships signed A. B. C. of equal size A. lyes under the shore B. lies off at Sea full East from A. towards the Coast of Holland C. rides Southerly from B. towards the Downs and A. and C. at equal distance from B Our best Navigators tell me that f B. lose the sight of C. that she cannot be discerned without climbing into the Shrowds A. shall in like manner lose the sight of B. which should not be so Lib. 1. Mâ—t. Nat. Baths p. 18. if according as Aristotle and Dr. Jordan tells us the Sea were depressed at the shore and elevated at distance but rather B. should appear clearly unto A. as if it were placed on a high Bank at full view They say indeed that B. shall sooner lose the sight of A. because of the dark shore under which A. lyes Now if it be thus as peritis in arte suâ credendum est then is that conceit of the Seas elevation above the highest Land but a fancy Nat. Baths c. 3. p. 18. And that also of Dr. Jordans will hold no water when he saith as in Siphunculis the water being put in at one end will rise up in the other Pipe as high as the level of the water so he will have it to be in the bowels of the earth between the superficies of the Sea and the heads of the Springs Nor is their reason for the depression of the Sea neer the shore of any validity to wit because it is terminated by the dry land the Argument of Demonstration which they use to illustrate the thing being of sufficient validity for confutation of the Position Cap. 3. p. 19 For saith Dr. Jordan if a drop of water be put upon a dry Table you shall lâ—e it depressed on the sides elevated in the middle like an half Gâ—obe but take away the termination by moistening the Table and the drop sinks and he further â—dds if this be evident in so smâ—ll a proportion we may imagine it to be much more in the vast Ocean What! is not the sand of the Sea moistened by every wave as much as the Table which makes the drop fall and run out of its Global figure why doth not then the Sea as well dilate it self as the drop upon the Table and consequently leaving its Spherical Figure drown the world We see the dry Land does not so terminate the Sea but it rises according to the Tides still more and more till the Spring be at the heighth and notwithstanding the moistening of the Shore it returns again to its lowest Ebb Nor do the Scriptures beforecited make out any thing for their purpose Psa 33.7 cleared As for that in Psal 33.7 He gathereth the waters together as an heap The Prophet is speaking of the admirable power and wisdom of GOD in the Creation of the world as is evident in the 6. ver By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth And then follows v. 7. He gathereth c. The best way therefore to interpret this is to have recourse to the story of the Creation and to see there what God did with the waters Gen. 1.7 and 9. Aâ—ter GOD had divided the waters that were under the Firmament from those that were above He said ver 9. Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place and let the dry land appear So that it lows the gathering of the waters together as an heap is no more then the putting them into one place and the words that follow in that 7th verse of the Psalm hint as much which seem to be
And yet in these also regard is to be had of the constitution of the body for some are of such tender slippery bodies especially such as have been subject to frequent abortions that they can endure nothing notwithstanding some causes of abortion may be cured by the Spaw Herein I advise them to consult some prudent Physician before they drink of it But certainly in ordinary bodies if there be a redundancy of Gacochymick humours it is a most proper and safe medicine and may serve either to cure or prevent distempers that proceed from thence in any month of their reckoning And thus not onely the Spaw water but some other purging remedies we find may safely be administred to them in such a case if need be in any month Lib. 4. de morb mul. c. de reggravid as also saith Dr. Primrose yet it must be done by a wise hand although more safely in the middle months for the reasons abovesaid Sect. 14. IT now remains that I give some directions concerning the use of this Spaw water Drections for the use of the Spaw and that in reference to a preparation of the body for it right management during the time of drinking it and what may bee requisite to bee done after it I know many go to Spaws not for necessity but pleasure to withdraw themselves a while from their serious imployments and solace with their friends such are but whets not lets to business Such as â—â—â—in â—â—â—â—th â—â—â—ed no â—â—â—paration and like the whetting of a tool which sharpens it and makes it cut the better If such do drink without any preparation it matters not onely let them not drink too much at the first till it hath found passage which perhaps it may do in an ordinary body within three or four hours it being a sure working water I have often drunk my self not for need but company and â—â—â—â—r took preparatory and yet never failed of working the first day both by seige and urine a touch whereof I have given in the foregoing Section It may do good even to those that find no need in regard there may be some latent obstructions in the body or some lurking humours that may breed distempers afterwards upon the accesse of some procatarctick or externall cause which being taken away by this water may prevent a disease And it is very ordinary in corpulent bodies especially to have such humours and obstructions for whom this water is very proper although they find no sensible need at all for as much as such as are near to a disease or sickness Sect. 1. Aph. 3. as Hippocrates saith and do need purgation But as for such as find some decay of their health by reason of some distemper hanging on them there may be need of preparation and that with reference to the nature of the malady whether simple or complicated the parts principally affected the age and constitution of the Patient the time of the disease whether in its growth height or declination and the time of the year The fickly must take advice all which are considerable My advice is that no man go to the Spaw in such a case but that he first know what be goes for by a right understanding of his condition and a due comparing the disease and the remedy together that he may have some grounds to hope for good and so drink cheerfully and not doubtingly for questionless it is not good for all things some diseases as also some bodies not admitting of such evacuation as they must expect that drink of this water The best is therefore to advise with some learned Physician who understanding the nature of the malady and of the water will bee able throughly to instruct him whether it be a proper remedy or no for his condition For though the water will not probably hurt any man that is in perfect health yet it may do harm to such as are sickly if it be not used aright And its hard nay almost impâ—ssible for me to lay down rules that may sute every mans particular case there being as great variety difference among them almost as there are men Amongst these some perhaps will need no preparation at all before they drink of the Spaw to wit such whose bodies are fluid or humours not many the malady lying perhaps in intemperie Or at least some gentle eccoproticks may serve the turn being given the night before the Patient begin to drink Others whose obstructions are rebellious and humours tenacious or nature dul and slow may need some course of Physick or at the least some strong cattarticks to make way for the water for want of a right understanding whereof some have got more harm then good and have bought repentance at too dear a rate especially such whose bodies have been weak and tender for whom purging was not â—a fit remedy Again whereas I commend this water in severall cases as in diseases of the head brest or lower belly Other medicines needfull I mean not as if it were to bee used alone and nothing else It may be requisite many times to furnish the Patient with some specisick remedies that relate more peculiarly to the partaffected with reference it may be to some complication of maladies which I cannot so perfectly discribe without making this swell into a voluminous bulk which I intend not Let blood In some cases also it may bee fit to let blood either before or after some few days drinking especially in plethorical bodies or hot distempers without which many times obstructions will not yield to remedies All these cannot bee so well predetermined but are best judged of by view and conference with the party It wil be sufficient to the wise that I have said so much of the nature and operation of this medicinall water as that Physicians that never saw nor heard of it before may be able well to judge of it and give good advice to such as consult them with reference thereto The due manner of drinking These things being premised let such as drink of the water bergin with it in the morning by six of the Clock or seven at the furthest taking two glasses of halfe a pint a piece intermitting a little space of time betwixt one and the other after which let the Patient walk about upon the sands halfe an hour by degrees or otherwise ride on horseback or in a Coach till he finds his stomack is a little emptier the water being passed down into the bowells then let him drink two glasses more and so walk again which will help to warm the water in the stomack and further both its concoction and descent or let him use some gentle exercise so as he do not provoke sweat because that throws the water into the habit of the body and hinders its passage through the bowells And then after he finds his stomack capable of receiving more let him drink other two glasses as before
of men And hereby the way I intend nothing concerning distilled waters which are make out of green plants nor to dispute whither they have in them the vertue of the plant out of which they are distilled as Fernelius and Quercitanus think De abdit rer caus l. 2. Pharm restituta or whether they partake nothing of their virtue especiaâ—ly such as have nothing of the sinell or taste of the plant but are onely the flegmatick juyce of them and of the same vertue with our common water and to be used indifferently in stead of it as my learned and intimate friend Doctor Primerose thought it sufficeth that wee have them always ready and at hand in our Apothecarys Shops to be a vehicle to others medicines which we have occasion to use for present indications when wholesom common water would many times bee far to seek Nor do I intend to trouble the Reader or my self with a Phylosophicall discourse concerning the Element of water lib. 2. de gen c. 8. which is one of the four principles which Aristotle saith do necessarily concurre to the making up of every compound body and into which it is to be resolved in it's dissolution whether it be animate or inanimate Neither indeed can that be found any where not being obvious to the externall senses or capable of attaining its qualities of cold and moysture without loosing its form Instead of it we have our common water whose proper place is the superficies or convex part of the earth and is encompassed with the air being also very near of kin to the Elementary water although not the same 1 De Element de simpl med fac l. 1. Parac de Elem. ag as Galen and Paracelsus do assert it being of the number of those bodyes which Aristotle calls imperfect mixed bodyes in his book of Meteors It hath also the same qualities of cold and moisture in which yet it is capable of alteration especially in the former from external causes without any formal diminution This is called by Paracelsus the mother of all generations Param l. 3. de pest tract 1. and the matrix of all the creatures without this there would be no procreation of animalls or vegetables above the earth or of mineralls within the bowells of the earth This perhaps made Empedocles be of the opinion that all things were made of water But water is not only necessary by way of principle and so an ingredient in the constitution of our bodyes but also in Order to nourishment for the conservation of them in their being and growth And therefore Plato called it of all liquors the most precious In Euthydemo although it may be had at a cheap rate Lib. 2. Dypnos c. 2. I know Galen Actuarius and other learned men deny any nutritive quality to be in water although Athenaeus is of a contrary judgment because some creatures feed on nothing else as Grashoppers and so we see Horseleaches that are put into water in our Apothecaryes-shops will grow bigger But as for Grashoppers for ought I know they may feed as other insects do of green plants and it 's probable they do and as touching the growing of the Horseleaches I think the water while it 's new and uncorrupt pines them and makes them hungry not affording them any nourishment till it putrefyes which it doth the sooner by their being in it and so they are nourished aswell as bred by putrefaction which the water hath contracted and not by simple and pure water it self Nâ—t nâ—urishing Now the reason why it adds nothing to the â—ourishment of our bodyes I conceive to the this That which is to nourish the body is in proximâ potentiâ to be blood and in remotâ a member whereas water because of it's super-abundant coldness as also because it is a simple body is not capable to become either the one or the other and therefore it cannot have any nourishing vertue Yet necessaâ—y uâ—to nourishment Notwithstanding there is nothing more necessary unto nourishment it being the best vehicle of nourishment without which those gross meats which we daily eat could not be assimilated and turned into our substance For how should that chyle which the stomack makes by concocting the solid meats which we daily feed on be able to pass into those small veins in the mesentery and from thence to the Liver if it had not a moist watery humidity mixed with it for it's vehicle as saith Galen lib 4. de usu part c. 5. Ob. Sol. If any object that Wine or Beer will serve for this end as well as water I answer Wine and Beer do it by their watery and thin substance which they have from their abundant participation of water besides water is more generally used in the World both by men and beasts then either Wine or Beer and doth better serve for other inward common ends And as for Wine Beer or Ale the more they do recede from the nature of Water the worse and more unwholsom are they to be used for ordinary drink The use of watâ—â— By the help of Water or what is made out of it is our natural heat kept in a mean and our radical moisture repaired so as the latter is not exhausted by the excess of the former Also with this nature is satisfyed and refreshed as much when we are thirsty as it is with meat when we are hungry yet without any addition or increase of the substance of our bodyes as I said before The first common drink This was the common drink both of man and beast during the first age of the World from the Creation till the Flood for above 16. hundred years when mens lives were prolonged to almost a thousand years Not that I think the drinking of water was the cause of their so long living but rather the good pleasure of God for the more speedy propagating of mankind upon the earth was the cause and their temperance a great help a vertue almost lost in this declining age of the World yet certâ—inly it was the most proper drink which man could use in order to the lengthening of his dayes and preserving his health otherwise God would have shewn him a better And if circumstances be weighed we shall see that after the invention and use of wine which the Scripture attributes to Noah after the Flood the age of man began to be contracted to near a tenth part Psal 90.10 and yet still became shorter so as in Moses his time it was accounted but threescore and ten Nay long after Wine came to be known I find water was in ordinary use The ancient Romans used it Julius Frontinus saith that the Romans were content with water as their only drink for the space of 440. years from the building of Rome Yea even to this day not only the common sort of Citizens drink nothing else but the wealthier also delight in it
exegeticall and interpretative to the former to wit He layeth up the deep in store-houses Unless they will have the Prophet to hint also at the Spherical Figure of the Sea to which I can easily assent Besides the words themselves are worthy our considering he doth not say on an heap but as an heap 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 congregans sicut acervum aquas maris Whereas in the story of the Israelites passing over Jordan when the waters were divided before them stood up in an heap the same word in Hebrew for a heap is used to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iosh 3 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 steterunt acervo uno The Septuagint Translating that in the Psalm according to this sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gathering as in a vessel the water of the Sea Job 38.11 clâ—aâ—â—d As touching that place in Iob I conceive it makes nothing for their opinion of the Seas elevation above the earth I deny not Gods miraculous and extraordinary working in some things to manifest the glory of his wisdom power yet I suppose the Sea to be confined by his providence within the ordinary bounds of nature for it were very strange to imagine that God in the first institution of nature should impose a perpetual violence upon nature seeing we see the Creator in other things to use nature as his ordinary servant to administer the regiments of matters by second causes I conceive no more is meant in that Scripture but that Almighty God hath set certain limits bounds which the waters should not pass these bounds and limits I take not to be supernatural as if the water restrain'd by a miraculous word of coÌ„mand should be forced to contain it self within its circuit prescribed to it but natural as cliffs hils within which the water seems to be intrenched for we may see there is no such force put upon it but if the natural bounds of the Sea to wit the cliffs be removed the Sea overruns the Land and turns all into it self But the Authors of this opinion urge further Object that according to the order of the Elements among themselves the earth should be lowest and the water above it I Answer if we consider these Elements among themselves Sol. we must give the height to the water for as much as the greatest part by far of the Earth lyes drowned for that which is above bears no sensible proportion with that which lyes under the water But here we are not comparing the two Elements intirely betwixt themselves but the superficies of the water with the parts of the earth that are uncovered and are habitable which supersicies of the Earth notwithstanding this reason may be higher then the water But they object further because Marriners coming from the main Ocean to the Land Object seem to see the Land far lower then the water This may easily be made out of Opticall principles Sol. that it must appear so by reason that the Sphericall sigure and convexity of the Sea interposed betwixt our sight and the lower part of the Land doth hide some parts from our sight whence it must needs appear lower being couched almost under water The like is discernable in another Ship at Sea which seems to be depressed underwater at som Leagues distance so as nothing appears but her top Sails Besides at distance all things seem lower even upon a levell at Land which when we draw nigh unto do better discover their height I read that in Noahs Flood God brake open the springs of the deep and opened the Cataracts of heaven to pour down rain continually many days together upon the Earth of which there had been no necessity at all had the Sea been heaped up in such sort as they imagine for the only withdrawing of his hand and letting loose the reins that the water might have run to an evenness would have been sufficient to have overwhelmed the whole earth Again we find by experience and our Mariners do all agree in it that a like gale of Wind will serve to carry a Ship out of the Port to the open Sea as from the Sea into the Port which could not be if the Sea were higher then the Land for they would need a great and stiffe gale to carry them up the bank of the Sea and none at all to run into the Land And thus I conceive wee are free'd from that absurd consequence which their Doctrine of the Seas Elevation at distance and depression on the shore doth necessarily infer to wit that the water which runs out of Rivers in the ebbe as soon as it reaches to the Sea must run up the hill in its own naturall motion which is against the nature of heavy bodies whose motion is ever downward to the Center of the Earth as also Aristotle's own Doctrine else where Lib. c. de coelo c. 4. Besides as Dr. French well observes a man would think so many great Rivers terminated in the Sea might be a sufficient moysture for the taking away of the termination made by the dryness of the Earth and to make the Globus Sea sink to an evenness Moreover tht manner of conveyance of the Sea water to the heads of Springs fancied by Dr. Jordan through the secret channells of the Earth requires a man of much credulity to believe him to wit that the water in those his subterraneall crannyes should without any force upon it leave its naturall figure and correspond with its levell and yet the same water being exposed to the open air near the shore should both make and abide in a valley It further implies much easiness of peâ—swasion in him that can believe that those Springs which are two or three hundred miles from the Sea as some are in great continents must yet be supplyed with water from the Sea by Channells of that length Besides if there were such Channells from the Sea to the Springs as he fancyes that are hollow like pipes the water of the Springs would certainly be brackish according to the nature of the Sea water which in such length of time would have tainted the Channells through which it passes Nat. Hist cent 9. exp 882. as the Lord Bacon observes that although pits digged near the Sea will bee found in time to have fresh water in them yet afterwards they will become salt the sand through which the water is transcolated coÌ„tracting saltness so as new ones must be made and so I think of Dr. Jordan's subterraneall Channells As for Divines who are of the opinion of the Seas height above the Land I desire them to consider of that place in Psal 107. ver 23. where it is called going down to the Sea in Ships the words being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 descendentes ad mare Psal 107.23 coming from the same root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 descendit with that word which is used Micha 1.4 〈◊〉
dig mines in all Countries sometime two or three hundred fathom deep do find no such thing but a solid body all along Secondly this implyes such an expense of air as the whole Element of air would not suffice to feed that gulfe Bodinus saith it would not be sufficient for one day and therefore he laughs at the Philosopher Lib. 2. The. at nat But certainly it had been long since extinct out of the mess of Elements if Aristotle had been in the right in this contrversie Thirdly for a continuall supply of so much air as is requisite to bee converted into water to supply all the Springs there should bee found in severall parts of the earth great and constant in draughts and sucktion of air into the Caverns with exceeding great celerity and violence which no man ever did find nor any Geographer make mention of Fourthly how comes it to passe that any winds break out of the earth as Aristotle teaches in his book de mundo which he terms by the names of Apogei and Encolpiae de mund c. 6. and and that all the air is not rather turned into water to supply his constant generation of Spring water And how can two such violent motions of the air stand together especially seeing he tells us elsewhere that it is contrary to the nature of the wind which is nothing but Aer moius to blow contrary ways at once L. 2. meteor c. 12. I shall therefore passe over this Originall also as not soundly principled and proceed to examine the last opinion Sect. 9. The third and last opinion that I meet withall in the controversie about the Originall of Springs and Fountains is that they are caused by Rain and Snow of which I find Albertus Magnus 〈…〉 and Georgius Agricola the most eminent Patrons The sum of what they say is thus The Snow and rain falling from the clouds in great abundancy upon the earth Lib. 2. de ort cause subter c. 3. do by moistning the superficies cause it to bring forth vegetables whereas otherwise it would be barren through dryness The 3. Originall and consequently not habitable The remaining part except what suddenly runs into Rivers sinks down by secret passages into the earth with which the superficies doth abound which are like unto small sibres of veins not discernable by the eye Rain and Snow the true originall of Springs terminating in the skin in all the parts of our bodies and in rocky ground it runsthrough the clefts and by them is conveighed to the subterraneall channells more or less deep in the earth where it is concocted by the earth and moves as blood in the veins receiving many times a tincture according to the nature of earth and the Mineralls or Metalls by which it passes helping forward also their generation What a Spring is This water at length in its passage through the veins of the earth finds vent and runs forth which place of eruption we call a Spring or Fountain Whence its ebullition And this springing forth or eruption of the water I conceive to bee made not by any forcible Agitation compuâ—sion or violence that is put upon it ab extra within the earth or by suction from the Sun and the heavenly bodies or by heat which which may be in the earth or by any spirits that are in the water it selfe but from its own naturall inclination and tendency towards its proper place assigned to it by the Creator which as I said in the second Section is the convex part of the earth it not resting till it meets with its naturall correspondent the Air. And this I think to be the naturall reason of its ebullition out of the earth and I find scaliger in his subtilities of the same judgement Exere 100. it freeing nature from a violent force which the working fancies of men would put upon it who yet cannot agree among themselves Subterraneall lakes contribute nothing But as for subterraneal lakes that are found in the bottome of great Caverns of the Earth they are standing waters oftentimes of poysonous quality as I hinted in the 6th Section which having room enough and supplyed with air above them I think they incline not to motion and do contribute nothing to Springs nor can any subterraneal heat which Dr. French supposes to be in these Caverns extract a wholesome water out of them And this Rain or Snow water in the Channells where-ever it finds vent it continues to flow so long as the Channells by which such a Spring is fed have any water to supply it and that is more or less according to the wideness or length of the Channells or otherwise according to the number that meet together it not resting till it meets with the air And therefore it is observable in pipes that convey water from one vessell to another the water will flow till all its store bee spent whether the motion bee upward or transverse till it meet with air and then it ceases to flow for if one bore a hole in the pipe and let in air the motion is done These Channells also are furnished according to the quantity of Rain that falls and the advantages they have of receiving it by the small and secret passages that come from the superficies of the earth which concenter in those Channells Now this opinion of Rain and Snow water to bee the Originall of Springs ArgumeÌ„ts to prove is illustrated with many arguments of demonstration by the Authors before mentioned and others of this judgement the principall whereof are these First Because it is found by experience that fountains and consequently rivers are greater and do abound more with water in Winter and moyst weather then in Summer Secondly in those years when great Rain do falls in Summer and great store of Snow in Winter wee find Springs durable whereas in droughty seasons when there is but little or no Rain or snow the Springs dry up A sure proof whereof we had in England in the years 1654 55 and 56. when our climate was dryer then ever any storyes mention so as we had very little Rain in Summer or Snow in Winter most of our Springs were dryed up even such as in the memory of the Eldest men living had never wanted water but were of those sorts Springs which we call fontes perennes or at least were esteemed so which if they had received their supply of water from the Sea or from the air in the earth converted into water they could not have failed of water A third reason which perswades to this Originall is because in those Climates and Countries where little Rain falls few or no Springs and Rivers are seen As in the deserts Aethiopia and in most parts of Africa neer the equinoctial they have little water and many times in two or three days journey can hardly find enough to quench their thirst and their Camells as Historians
distinguish the one from the other Besides that exâ—er identity of the water of ever flowing Springs and of the Gypsies I mentioned before which break out in the Wolds in York-shire and else where after a great inundation of Rain which if they proceeded from several causes must probably differ in their qualities and effects Lastly the two rarities I mentioned in the beginning that are to be found upon the Castle hill in Scarbrough to wit the deep Well that reaches to the bottom of the Rock which hath no water the Spring Well which is within half a yard of the edg of the Rock towards the Sea which never wants water do somewhat illustrate the point in hand For the deep Well being so neer the Sea should probably have water in it if there were any such percolation as is spoken of or if air were so plentifully transmuted in water it should not be dry which yet it is there being no Channells that empty themselves into it while the other which is upon the top of the Rock not many yards deep and also upon the very edge of the cliffe is supplyed which doubtless is done by secret Channells within the ground that convey the Rain and showers into it being placed on a dependant part of the Rock near unto which there are also Cellars under an old ruinated Chappell which after a great rain are full of water but are dryed up in a long drought I now proceed to confider of the nature of Spring water The nature of Spring water De simpl med fac c. 4. which doubtless is the best of all others for general use eminently excelling in the essentiall parts of water viz. cold and moysture as Galen saith Nevertheless some Springs are better then others Hyppocrates prefers such as flow out of Rocksand Hils of gravell or stone as more clear and white then what coms out of other soyls as also such Springs as are cold in summer and warm in Winter which is assuredly sound in them if their fountains be deep in the Rock and this is a sure token whereby wee may distinguish of Well water also And to this of Hyppocrates I might join the whole suffrage of all Philosophers and Physicians that may have writ upon this Subject To sum up all in a word besides what was said in the second Section The principall token of good and wholesome water is that it be simple or unmixed and then it loads not the stomach and easily passes through the Hypechondres being also soon hot and soon cold I find some of the Ancients were wont to weigh their water and accounted that the best which was the lightest and for this cause it seems it was that the Persian Kings would drink of no water but of the River Eulaeus an Attick saucer whereof weighed lesse by a Dram then other waters as Strabo saith Now Pliny tells that an Attick saucer was a measure of fifteen drams Lib 15. Geograph c. ult Lib. 21. c. ult so then it was a fifteenth part lighter then the other waters of Persia And the Parthian Kings on the same account drank of the Rivers Choaspes and Eulaeus as the same Pliny witnesses And thus Athenaeus commends a Spring neer Corinth Lib. 31. N. Hist cap. 3. which he calls Pirenes for its levity above all the waters of Greece Lib. 2. dup c. 2. And there seems to be good reason for it because its levity is a token of its purity and simplicity and that it bath no earthy parts and consequently is easier of concoction Now among the severall sorts of fountains Hyppocrates commends most those that open towards the East Aph. 26. Sect 5. as the lightest and fittest for all ages and constitutions and next to them such as run towards the West but as for those that open towards the North he thinks them to be cold and hard of digestion in that they want the heat of the Sun and he accounts those the worst that run southerly because their thin parts are exhaled by the heat de aquis and so the water becomes grosse But we need not fear that in this our Climate where the Sun is not so hot nor need those that are healthfull bee so scrupulous concerning their water if it bee Spring water espeâ—ially nor whether it runs East West North or South they being all indifferently good and wholesome Now sometimes it happens that Springs break out where there was never any before The Reasons of the breaking forth of new springs as in great floods of Rain and Snow which the subterraneall channells canâ—ot receive but these are but of short continuance Lib. 3. Nat. qu. c. 11. So after Earthquakes as Seneca mentions and so Theophrastus that in the mountain Corycus after an Earthquake many Springs broke out And thus after the cutting down of Woods and Groves as Pliny tells us in his Nat. Hist Spadac p. 1â— And H. ab Heer 's cites a passage to this purpose out of Ambrosius Perez who writes that in the City Baja a great Tree being torn up to make room for the building of a Colledge for the Jesuites there brake out a Spring of good and wholesome water a channell of water running under it was it seems broken up So also the stopping of the mouth of a Spring in one place may cause it to break out in another as wee see by ordinary experience Of like nature with Springs is Well water onely not so good and among these such as are open to the air are better then those that are shut whose water is fetched up by pumping and the more they are drawn the better and more wholesome is the water Many â—ratities in Springâ— There are also many rarities to be discovered in Springs both in their operations on those that drink them as Dr. French hath observed and I might multiply out of good Authors as also in their motions in ebbing and flowing concerning all which its very hard to give a reason There is a fountain in Idumaea called Job which is every three months of a severall colour to wit duskie red green and clear Another among the Troglodites which is three times a day bitter sweet again The Fountain Silva that flowes out of the foot of Mount Sion runs not continually but on certain days and hours A like to which we have at Giggleswick near a Market Town called Settle in York-shire which I mentioned before that ebbs and flowes many times a day whether such as these proceed from a spongious earth which resists it a while being but a slow Spring till it rally new force and break through the obstruction or it bee from a Spirit in the water whose impulse puts it forward but being a penurious Spring it settles again as Saxo Grammaticus thinks In praefat Daâ—iae suae I will not undertake to drtermine having not seen it till when I will bee content to admire it as a secret
I read also of a Fountain in Judaea which flowes six dayes and rests on the Sabbath and is therefore called fons Sâ—bbâ—ticus Also of a Fountain in Epyrus which will quench a lighted torch and light one whose flame is out So among the Garamantes there is a Spring which is so cold in the day time that one cannot drink of it and in the night so hot that it cannot bee touched Catal glâ—r mund p. 12 In inst rei pub l. 7. tit 9. These and many more of like natâ—te I meet withall in good Authors especially in Cassanaeus and Patricius where the learned Reader may abundantly satisfie his curiosity like wise in D. Fulks book of Meteors concerning which no reason can be given so as I think it better silently to admire the power and wisedome of Almighty God in them then too curiously to pry into the causes of these deep mysteries in nature which are wrought in the lower parts of the earth It being the Prophe Dâ—vids expression in his contemplation upon the secret mystery of his forming in the womb Psal 139.15 Sect. 11. Of River Waters The next sort of water which falâ—under our consideration is River water First therefore concerning the Originall of Rivers and then of the nature of that sort of water In Original The Scripture tells us that all Rivers come from the Sea Eccles 17. so as we need not go further to search out their Original nevertheless they consisting of two sorts of water to wit salt and fresh we may distinguish and call the Sea the original of the Salt water and trace the fresh up to its Springs and Fountains and determine that the fresh water in Rivers comes from the Springs and in this we are not without a president in Scripture Gen. 2.10 Where it s said a River went out of Eden which divided it selfe into four streams which intimates that the Spring from whence those sour Rivers had their Original was in Eden Notwithstanding Rivers have also an additional supply from Rain and Snow which falling from higher places do carry down with them the water that is in Lakes Ponds and Ditches and fills their Danks Hippocrates will have River water to be altogether unwholsom It s natuâ—â— being made up of so many several sorts of water and most of them bad as also mixt with mud dirt and slime De aquis locis breeding diseases of various kinds according to the nature of the waters and therefore it is very observable that those Cities and Towns that are forced to drink of the water of Rivers are more pestered with Epidemical sickness then others that have better water which Valleriola observed at the City of Arles in France Lib 2. loc com c. 7. which stands in a low and Fenny soyl having no Springs at all but the inhabitants are forced to drink the water of Rhone Notwithstanding I finde some Rivers commended to have wholsom water as Eulaeus and Choaspes which I mentioned before which the Kings of Persia and Parthia preferred before any other sort whatsoever But above all other the water of Nilus is commended by Aetius Tetrab 1. c. 165. as having all the properties of the best sort of water And hence it was that Philadelphus the second King of Egypt having married his daughter Berenice to Antiochus King of Assyria caused the water of Nilus to be carried to her into Assyria that she might drink of no other water but that Lib. 2. dypn cap. 2. as Athenaeus saith out of Polybius Yea the water of Nilus seems to be equalized with wine if not preferred before it for Scaliger relates out of Spartianus that when the Egyptian Army was ready to mutiny because they had no Wine De subt exerc 48. Pescenninae Niger their General appeased them with this answer what do you grumble for wine and have the River Nilus at hand But I must not wade too far into this stream least I lose my self and my Subject especially since River water contributes nothing to the Spaw at Scarborough there being none acer it Nor have we the water of Nilus here our Rivers in England are compounded of several sorts of waters and therefore not so wholsom and yet it is the best or only water that some Towne have for their ordinary use the water of Owse being also most commonly used by this City of York for whose cause especially I will say something more concerning it River water is not so good as Rain or Spring Water the Sun having exhaled the thin parts it is become more gross yet it will keep longer then either of the other and will make stronger Bear then either of them it being more easily impregnated with the strength of the Malt by reason of its gross parts but it is not so good for Medicines as the other Now the reason why it will keep longer then Rain or Spring water is because it hath passed already some degrees of fermentation by the heat of the Sun yet the water of some Rivers will keep longer then other Baccius saith the water of Tiber wil keep an hundred years and not corrupt Lib. 1. de ag teber c. 2. the reason is because it is grosse and thick like Oyle on which account its unwholesome to be drunk River water is not to be used after rain till it hath purged it selfe and doth become clear and its the best when it is taken out of the middle of the River which if that cannot bee done then let it be taken out of some deep place and not where it is shallow also above the Cities and Towns before the filth of the channels run into it Great care likewise should be taken by the Governours of Cities that no Carrion be cast into Rivers both because it corrupts the water and destroyes the fishes likewise that no cloaths be washed or boyes bathe or horses be watered above those places where the water is taken up especially in times of common contagion and pestilential diseases In which particulars the Antient Law-makers were exceeding carefull appointing certain Officers for the preserving of their waters whom they called Hydrophylaces which were persons of the best quality and had great immunities conferred on them and were to see to the putting of the Laws in execution concerning waters Cat. glor muud par 12. p. 259. as Cassanaeus relates out of Franciscus de Ripa This water being taken up should be kept in large Stone Cesterns not leaden which are apt to breed dysenterie fluxes and those very clean into which if some gravell stones gathered out of a fresh River were put it would preserve it longer and cooler Lib. 2. loc com c. 7. Valleriola would have also some little fishes put in to keep in motion and when it is first put in the Cesterns it should be poured through a thick woollen cloth that no sandy or slimy substance may pass through River water being very
subject to have sediment more then other sorts Paulus Zachias a famous Roman Physician tells of a pretty device which was used by Cardinall Francisco Maria de Monte L. 5. quaest med leg tit 4. q. 2. one much delighted in Chymicall experiments whereby he puryfied the water of Tyber and made it wholesome to be drunk He had two large Cesterns of an Hollands sort of Stone that was of a porous substance which would hold fifteen gallons a piece these were so placed that the water that was put into the one might in some convenient space of time distil through the stone into the other under which he had a third which received what dropped through the second Neither of the uppermost was perforated at all but the water passed through the pores of them in the bottoms of both which there was ever found such sediment This water so transcolated was so pure and thin that it would easily passe through the Hypochondres and the Cardinall told my Author that he found much benefit in it against the stone and that it provoked urine quickly I conceive this to be very rationall and a neat way easie to be experimented and very proper for such as have weak bodies and yet are forced to make use of some of the grosser sorts of water whereby they may so purifie them as they may become much more wholsome for whose sakes I have thought fit to insert the experiment Sect. 12. Of Minerall waters HAving thus as briefly as I could run through the severall sorts of ordinary waters with theiâ— Originall causes natures and effâ—cts being taking inwardly which may serve as Polycletus his rule the better to judge of Minerall waters this being as Mathematicians say of linea recta index sui obliqui I must again resume the subject which is the principall occasion of this discourse viz. The Spaw at Scarbrough which though it be a quick Spring or Fountain yet differs in quality and operation from our ordinary springs in regard it hath imbibed the vertues of certain Mineralls through which it passes as I hinted in the first Section to wit Vitriol Iron Allome Nitre and Salt Concerning the nature of which Mineralls I shall say something and then proceed to the nature and vertures of the Spaw it selfe Agricola De re metall 2. a learned Germane and very judicious in the nature of Mineralls and Metalls reckons up six sorts of simple Minerall waters to wit Salt Nitrous Aluminous Atramentarious Sulphureous and Bituminous this which we treat of is mixed or compound partaking of severall of these together Water may imbibe the nature of Mineralls Now there are severall wayes whereby water may imbibe the nature and vertue of a Minerall or Metall First by receiving its vapour and thus let water stand some while in a brasse skellet or some other Metall as Iron and it will taste of brass or Iron and the sooner if it bee warm when yet the skellet hath lost nothing of its substance and that water would all evaporate into Air. Secondly when some of their juyce is dissolved in the water and that is while the Mineralls are but yet young in fieri or as Chymists speak in solutis principiis for at that time their concrete juyces are dissoluble in water In syntag p. 221. as Libavius saith Thirdly another way is by Corrosion of the substance of the Mineralls mentioned by Galen Lib. 1 de simpl med fac and this is performed by the help of the concrete juyces we now mentioned dissolved in the water which corrode and extract Mineral substances And this commonly is done by such waters as have imbibed Vitrioll at the first for they do thereby become hungry and corrosive and so the fitter to take in to them any other Minerall that lyes in their way an example whereof we see in aqua fortis which will corrode the substance of another Metall and convert it into its own nature the difference only lyes in a magis and minus The like we see in vegetable acide juyces as vinegar as juice of Lemmons which will corrode Iron and cause a rustinses to grow upon it which will soon wast its substance at least make it more easie to dissolve Fourthly and lastly by confusion changing the substance of the Minerall into water and this is when the Minerall is of such a nature and that it is capable of being converted into water as Salt and Nitre will both so perfectly turn into water and Allom also although it s not so fusible as the other a little being put to them as if they were nothing else And this they wil do the more quickly if the water hath imbibed a vitrioline juyce but then take the water and evaporate it away and the Mineralls will be found remaining in the bottome An example whereof we have in this our Spaw water three quarts whereof being evaporated over the fire there will be found in the bottome three Drams of a brown brackish sediment which being separated as was said in the first Section two Drams will be found to be Allome Nitre and Salt the rest the substance of an Iron Minerall But because I spake now of Minerall juyces while the Mineralls are but young and in fieri its requisite I say something concerning their production Some have imagined that Mineralls and Metalls were created perfect at the first Fallop de met c. 11. seeing there appears not any seed of them manifestly as there doth of animalls and vegetables Libâ—v de nat met c. 12 and because their substances are not so fluxible but firm and permanent But as they are subject to corruption in time by reason of many impurities and differing parts in them besides other accidentall decays so they have need to be repaired and preserved by generation as learned Dr. Jordan observes Nat. 〈◊〉 It appears in Genesis that plants were not created perfect at first but onely in their seminaries for in the 2. of Gen. 5. Moses gives a reason why plants were not come forth of the earth to wit because as Tremelius translates it there had as yet neither any rain fallen nor any dew ascended from the earth whereby they might be produced The like we may judge of Minerals that they were not at first created perfect but in their Seminaries also for the same reason moysture being as necessary for the production of Mineralls within the earth as of vegetables above as I said in the second Section Deort subt 5. c. 1. l. ib. and to this do consent Agricola and Dr. Jordan And therefofe it hath been always a received maxime among Philosophers that Mineralls are generated and our own daily experience confirms it Our Salt Petermen when they have extracted Salt Peter out of a floor of earth one year within three or four years after do find more generated there and do work it over again The like is observed of Allome
distempers of the Nerves as the Palsie and Convulsion and is good to be put into the Bread of such as are troubled with the Palsie of the tongue If any require further satisfaction concerning the vertue of Nitre let them consult Galen Dioscorides P. Aegineta Oribasius Aetius and Serapio Salt or Melch as the Arabians call it is of two sorts â—alt viz. Fossile such as is digged out of Mines and Marine such as is made of the Sea-water or other brackish water the former is of a more gross earthy and compact substance then the latter yet they are both of one nature of a detersive cleansing resolving purging quality drying up superfluous humours and preserving from putrefaction kills all manner of worms and being heated becomes bitter in taste Many other vertues are reckoned up by Galen Serapio Dioscorides and others to be in Salt to whom I will rather â—efer the learned Reader then trouble him with a large recital at present because there is not much Salt in our Spring yet some there is which I think it receives from the Sea rather then from any salt Mineral It sufficeth to have said somwhat concerning the nature of these Minerals severally doubtless there must some qualities arise from their mixture and that with water which was not before in any one particular I shall now therefore hasten to Treat concerning the nature effects of this most excellent compound Mineral water and then say something concerning preparation to it and right ordering of the body in drinking and so conclude Sect. 13. Of the Spaw THe Spaw water according to its manifest qualities is cold moist and being drunk doth immediatly cool and moysten the body and quench thirst having those qualities which simple water hath as I have reckoned up at large in the second Section may indifferently be used for it Although having imbibed the aforesaid Minerals of Vitriol Iron Alom Nitre Salt it is impregnated with the qualities natures of the said Minerals consequently is hot and dry in operation being found by due and daily use thereof to correct cold moist bodies and cure such diseases as proceed from the excess of cold and moysture It s nature Nor let any startle at this assertion that I affirm this Spaw water to be cold and moist and also hot dry which are contrary qualities since it is cold moist actually in the instantaneous use of it but doth heat and dry virtually in process of time Who knows not that wine though it be cold moist actually yet is potentially hot dry the ordinary use whereof doth heat dry the body Now as all bodies incline to a preedominancy of these four qualities and most diseases consist in the excess of some one or more of them each quality so exceeding is tempered by its contrary in the water so as nature which is ever sollicitous for its own preservation closes with those qualities in the water as also in all other remedies which correct its own excess and arms it self unless it be very feeble against those other qualities that might increase its malady hence it is as D. French well observes that a distemper will rather be altered by its contrary then increased by its like But because these four first qualities are found in this water but in a remiss degree the heat and dryness being so corrected with cold moisture and the contrary that a forcible operation in respect of any of them cannot be expected from it I think sitter means may be found out for those intentions As if a man would only cool and moysten it may be better done with simple water which has no potential heat or dryness in it and may be found in every village or if he would only heat and dry up humors it may better be performed by other Medicines that are more eminently hot and dry then by this cold moyst water so as no man need goto Scarbrough for these intentions I therefore pass on to the other qualities of this water in which it doth eminently excell through its participation of the aforesaid Minerals An operation It is of thin parts peircing into the most narrow and secret passages of the body is excellent in opening obstructions which are the causes of most diseases It doth attenuate cut and dissolve viscous lentous clammy flegm in the stomack bowells mesentery reins and bladder and is also cleansing and deterging casting them forth both by siege and urine as it findes them by their position most to encline For such humours as are in primis viis in the bowells it purges out by siege and such as lye in the mesentery veins or venae lacteae porta liver reins or bladder it cleanses by urine and both ways so plentifully as if all the humours went but one way for it purges so well as if it would leave nothing to pass by urine and yet passes so plentifully by the bladder as if it found no vent by stool performing these two operations the more plentifully by reason of the quantity that is to be drunk And of such working it doth very rarely fail nor scarce ever unless in exceedingly constipated bodies although it be taken without any preparation as very many do though not so safely as shall be said in the next Section and this it doth without any griping at all casting forth plentifully both it selfe and the excrementitious humours wch I have often experimented both in my self and others An inâ—â—ance I drank one morning without taking any preparative at all three quarts of the water factâ prius retrogradatione matutinâ pro solito having also weighed my self before I drank that I might discern what alteration it would make in my weight I drunk a pint every halfe hour walking about betwixt one draught and another till I had taken all the three quarts After I had taken three pints it began to work and so continued an evacuation both ways viz. seven times by siege liberally within eight hours I also measured the quantity of Urine which I had kept by it self so as within the space of five hours I had made a pottle of Urine within less then halfe a gill as clear as the Spaw Water it selfe having neither smel nor tast like Urine I took the Urine and evaporated it all away that I might try whether it had yet remaining in it any of the substance of the Minerals but it afforded nothing but a filthy slimy Sediment of a sandy colour Hence it may appear how diuretick this water is when two third parts or near hand should in so short a space passe through those secret crannyes of nature by Urine and yet at the same time work by siege so freely as I could not have expected from Pil. Coch. dram one Herein exceeding if I mistake not most of the waters of Europe not excepting the German Spaws some of which passe very well and
not exceeding a pottle or five pints the first day in ordinary bodies nor yet so much in weak bodies unless they shall find it to passe freely as usually it begins to do within two or three hours and then such as have strong bodies capacious stomacks may go a littlefurther Not good to take too fast I cannot approve of taking the waters too fast least the coldness thereof enfeeble the naturall heat of the stomack and provoke vomit which otherwise it is not apt to do unless the stomack be prone thereto or full of flegmatick humours and then though one do vomit it doth no harm at all but good in cleansing the stomack The next day the Patient may go higher to two or three pints more he having found a free passage the first day both by siege and urine so as he finds no distention in the hypochondres Onely it will be needfull to have some stomachicall Lozenges or powder to correct the winâ—iness of the water and preserve the naturall heat of the stomack or at least some Caraway Comfirs which he may take some quantity of betwixt every two glasses Have done by 9. or 10 I would also have every one to take his full dose of water by nine or ten of the Clock at furthest that it may have time to pass down before dinner least if the meat mix with the water it do float in the stomack and be washed down into the bowells unconcocted Now it s a token that the water hath passed through when the urine which was pale and clear as the Spaw water it self begins to look with a higher colour which will usually be within 2 or 3 hours at most after the last dose at least it will have done its work in the stomack so as the whole company may go to dinner by twelve of the Clock But if any have such feeble stomacks that they cannot fast so long they may take a messe of warm broth which is ever ready in the Innes Feeble stomacks And if any have such feeble bodies that they cannot walk to the Spaw being about a quarter of a mile from the Town such may drink it in their Chambers And those whose stomacks are not able to take it cold may air it a little observing the directions already laid down It is good to eat somewhat sparingly at dinner and not too freely at supper also let the meat bee of easie gidestion and not too many dishes which are apt to breed an heterogeneous juyce not so fit for nourishment and also makes nature toyle too much to concoct them Salt meat not so good I cannot approve of salt meats either beef or fish although I discommend not that which is a little powdered especially for such as have strong stomacks are healthfull who need not be criticall But as for such as are sickly they must be more wary especially such whose stomacks are feeble in the concoctive faculty since they are like here to fal into large temptation of great varieties of Sea-fish new and very well dressed Vaâ—iety to be avoyded as Tucbut Codde Conger Soles Plaice Whiting Skate Herring Mackeâ—ill Lobster Crab c. which are brought in by the Fisher men two or three times a week only let such drink a glasse or two of Sack or Clarret to further concoction which I cannot but commend to all such as drink of these waters to preserve the naturall heat of the Stomack unless it be those that labour under a hot distemper of the Liver for whom dry medicines in form of an Electuary or Lozenges are more proper which do moderately warm the stomack and not at all inflame the Liver Sallets not good I altogether disallow of Sallets of cold herbs in regard they are hard of digestion and are apt to float in the stomack with the water and passe down unconcocted and breed many diseases Rasis saith that a long use of water after the eating of Sallets and pot herbs Cap. 70. l. ult for such as are not accustomed to it breeds the Scab Itch Morphew Erisipelas and other diseases of the Skin Neither can I like of SuÌ„me fruits to be eaten after dinner as Cherries Nor summer fruit Plums Rasberries Apples Pears c. they are best to be eaten after compleat concoction or an hour or two before Supper yet the more sparingly the better Not good to drink in the afternoon Nor do I approve of drinking at all of the Spaw in the afternoon both because it usually works sufficiently with what was drunk in the morning moving the body even all the day as also because it doth precipitate the meat out of the stomach too soon before compleat concoction be made wil not be cast off the stomack before supper as also disturb the Patient in the night or fly into the habit of the body breed the Gout or som other moist disease of the joints on which account I cannot allow it to be drunk at bed time Pag. 104. although Dr. French commends a glass of the Spaw at Knaresbrough to be taken then to close the stomack and suppress fumes which I think are rather raised by it I would have the afternoon spent either in some pleasant discourse or walking about or riding or some innocent recreation and sleep to be avoyded since through sleep it must of necessity lie the longer in the stomack and gathering heat send up vapours which will oppress the brain If at any time it shall so happen that the water doth not find a free passage so as it causes distention pain in the belly dâ—fficulty of breathing or gidiness in the head it may be helped by a carminative clyster made of the Spaw water in which may be decocted or infused some Hydragogue or some Species may be dissolved in it which we use for purging of watery humours according as the greatness and urgency of the Symptome or the strength of the patient shall admit Or if some Physician bee present he may administer some Pills or other purging medicine that may answer the indication How long it is fit to drink As for the time how long it may be convenient to drink that must be suted according to the greatness of the malady and the strength of the Patient Such as have cacochymick bodies which are full of bad humours or melancholick or others whose obstructions are great and humours tenacious may stay longer then others that have thin bodies and which are easily moved I have somtimes drunk of it not for necessiry but company or to make some little evacuation from flegmatick humours being of an athletick constitution when within three days I found so great an agility and cheerfulness of body and mind more then I had before as I have wondred at it that if I had stayed a fortnight I could not have expected more benefit I know the Germane Spaws are wont to be drunk for many weeks