CHAPTER VIII.

_HEALING WATERS._

Sanitary guardians of water—Balneotherapy and Hydrotherapy not unknown in Talmudic times—Indian wells and tanks renowned for medicinal properties—A milk-bestowing well in Lonavla—The leper cured by the Lake of Immortality at Amritsar—Virtue of the confervæ on the surface of the Lalitpur tank—Famous hot springs—The Devki-Unai—The springs of Vajrabai or the Lady of the Thunderbolt—The _Vali_ who makes the fire and keeps it burning at the hot springs at Terka Main—The madness-curing pool at Hamath—Mad men tumbled headlong in the Altarnum well—The virtues of St. Tecla’s well—Holywell, the Lourdes of Wales—The Story of St. Winefride—Recent Holywell cures—The calamity that befell Holywell—Other healing wells of Great Britain—The dance round the sacred springs of Enmore Green—St. Conan’s well—Bishop Hall’s testimony—Sacred springs in Macedonia—Festival at Kaisariani—A suppressed miracle—Pilgrimage described by Miss Hamilton—Scenes in Emile Zola’s novel recalled 54-65