Part 22

This water is considered a valuable remedy in cases of indigestion, for removing scorbutic humours, and in several other complaints.

290. _EPSOM WATER is saline, and partakes, in some degree, of the nature and qualities of Sedlitz water, but it is by no means so powerful. It is transparent and colourless; and, when first taken into the mouth, has scarcely any taste, but it leaves a decidedly bitter and saltish taste on the palate._

_This water contains sulphat of magnesia, or Epsom salt (199), selenite, and a small portion of chalk._

Although the Epsom waters, on account of their deficiency of strength, are now scarcely ever employed in medicine, yet they were among the first saline cathartic springs which were brought into use in this country. The salt to which they owe their property, and which is known throughout Europe by the name of Epsom salt, was, for many years, prepared almost exclusively from them and from Sedlitz water. But the quantity which they supplied was found so very inadequate to the increasing demands for this salt in medicine, that Epsom Salt has, for some time past, been manufactured from sea water.

Epsom water, if closely corked, may be kept for several months without injury: but, otherwise, it soon becomes putrid. The spring from which it issues is situated about half a mile from the town of Epsom in Surrey, sixteen miles south of London.

There are, in the neighbourhood of London, many springs of similar quality to this of Epsom: of these the principal are at Acton, Kilburne, Bagnigge Wells, and formerly the Dog and Duck in St. George’s Fields; but they are, in general, so weak as to render very large quantities of the water necessary to produce any sufficient medical effect.

7. HIGHLY CARBONATED ALKALINE WATER.

291. _SELTZER WATER is an highly carbonated alkaline water. When fresh, or well preserved, it is perfectly clear, and sparkles much when poured into a glass. It is somewhat pungent, slightly saline, and a little alkaline to the taste._

_It contains chalk, carbonat of magnesia, carbonat of soda (201), and common salt; and more carbonic acid gas, or fixed_

_air (26), than any water hitherto known. It is hard, and curdles with soap._

The spring which supplies this water is situated in Nieder Seltzer, a village in a fine woody country, within the bishopric of Treves; and there are few mineral springs which have acquired so much celebrity for medical virtues as this. The diseases, for the removal of which it has been successfully applied, are too numerous to be here particularized.

To the taste it is very agreeable, and when drunk in moderate quantity, it exhilarates the spirits, increases the appetite, and produces no particular determination to the bowels. It is to the strong impregnation with carbonic acid, and the small proportion of soda which it contains, that its most important benefits are owing.

If it be closely corked and sealed, Seltzer water may be kept without injury, or even alteration, for a very considerable time; but, if exposed to the air, it soon becomes fetid. It is used as a common drink at table in many parts of Germany and Holland, and is even brought into England in stone bottles, each containing about three pints. A large proportion of Seltzer water, either genuine or artificial, is consumed in this country.

8. CHALYBEATE WATERS.

292. Are such as contain a portion of iron. This is easily detected by the property which it has of striking a black colour with tincture of nutgalls.

293. _TUNBRIDGE WATER is a carbonated chalybeate, the small portion of iron which it contains being held in solution by carbonic acid (26). It is, however, neither brisk nor acidulous. To the taste it is simply chalybeate; and that only in a slight degree._

_Its foreign contents are oxide of iron (21), a small portion of common salt, muriat of magnesia, and sulphat of lime (192), carbonic acid gas or fixed air (26), and other gases, but these only in small quantity._

Tunbridge Wells is a populous village, situated in a sandy but romantic valley in the county of Kent, about five miles from the town of Tunbridge, and thirty─six miles south of London. There are, at this place, many chalybeate springs, all of which nearly resemble each other in their chemical properties. Two of them, however, are chiefly used, each of which yields about a gallon of water in a minute.

When first taken from the stone basin into which it flows, the water is perfectly clear and bright, and exhales no particular smell. It does not sparkle in the glass, but a few bubbles slowly separate, and adhere to the sides of the vessel. When it has stood for some hours exposed to the air, it becomes turbid, and otherwise undergoes a very material change. As it does not properly curdle soap, it may be denominated a soft water.

The original discovery of this water, as to its medical properties, is usually considered to have been in the reign of James the First. The season for drinking it commences as early as March or April, and continues till November.

_294. SPA WATER, the celebrity of which has given a general appellation to most other mineral springs, is a highly carbonated chalybeate water, which contains a great proportion of carbonic acid (26). It has an agreeable acidulous taste, mixed with a strong impression of chalybeate, which remains on the palate for a considerable time after it has been drunk._

_It contains oxide of iron (21), chalk, carbonat of magnesia, carbonat of soda (201), and common salt, together with about forty─five parts in a hundred of carbonic acid gas or fixed air (26); and is sufficiently soft to mix both with milk and soap without curdling._

Spa is a small but celebrated town in the Netherlands. It is situated on the little river Weze, about twenty miles south─east of Liege, and seven miles south─west of Linsburg; and is surrounded by rude and uncultivated mountains, many of which are covered with wood, and others with heath or morasses. In its neighbourhood there are no fewer than sixteen mineral springs, five of which are more celebrated than the others. The most copious and most frequented of the whole is the _Pouhon spring_, in the market─place of Spa. This is a large, slow, and deep spring, the descent to which is by several steps. In cold dry weather the water, when first taken up, appears colourless and perfectly transparent: it scarcely sparkles, but it soon covers the inside of the glass with small air─bubbles, which it also emits very copiously when shaken. During moist weather the surface of the well appears somewhat turbid: and, on the approach of rain, a whistling or humming noise is heard, which is called by the country people the music of the spring.

If this water be bottled, and then set in a warm place, it will generally force out the cork, with a loud explosive noise. In preserving it for exportation, it is consequently necessary to wire the corks firmly down. In this state, if well cemented, it may be kept perfectly good for more than two years.

It is somewhat remarkable, respecting this water, that if it be taken in a full draught, particularly in hot weather, or upon an empty stomach, it produces a swimming in the head, and a degree of intoxication, which frequently continues for half an hour or upwards, and is very similar to that which arises from the drinking of spirituous liquor, but it does not leave the same debility.

295. _PYRMONT WATER is a highly carbonated chalybeate. When recently taken from the spring, it is clear and pellucid, and sends forth a copious stream of bubbles for a considerable time. In this respect it far exceeds any of the mineral waters with which we are acquainted. Its taste is pleasant, being strongly acidulated, and having a pungency not unlike that of brisk Champagne wine; but it is at the same time strongly chalybeate, and a little bitterish._

_It chiefly contains oxide of iron (21), chalk, carbonat of magnesia, Epsom salt (199), sulphat of lime (193), and common salt, and a great proportion of carbonic acid gas, or fixed air. It is very hard._

Pyrmont is a town of Westphalia, and about thirty─eight miles south─west of Hanover. It is the capital of a county, has a strong fort, and is well known on account of its mineral springs.

The water which issues from these springs constantly emits so large a quantity of gas as to have a sensible pungency of smell to those who stand around, and even to make the water─servers giddy. It forms an atmosphere over the surface of the well which proves fatal to ducks and small birds that attempt to swim across. The gas contained in the water is estimated to be nearly equal in bulk to the water. It is owing to this, that Pyrmont water, if bottled and well corked, and afterwards removed into a warm place, will frequently burst the bottles.

When drawn fresh from the spring and drunk copiously, it produces a temporary kind of intoxication. It also enlivens the spirits and increases the appetite. This water is sent in bottles, by the Weser, to Bremen, whence it is exported to various parts of the world.

296. _CHELTENHAM WATER is a saline, carbonated, chalybeate, which has a slight sulphureous smell, and a brackish, somewhat bitter, and chalybeate taste, but no briskness nor pungency._

_Its foreign contents are Glauber’s salts (203), muriat and carbonat of magnesia, common salt, and oxide of iron, together with a portion of carbonic acid gas, and some other kinds of gas._

The original discovery of the mineral spring at Cheltenham was about the year 1716. The water of this spring issues slowly, and in a scanty stream of not more than 35 pints in an hour, from a bed of sand intermixed with blue clay. The well is sunk to the depth of six feet, and is excluded from communication with the external air. This spring is denominated the _Old Spa_.

In the year 1788, on digging a well for a private house, another spring was accidentally discovered, which is of nearly the same nature as this, and produces a much more abundant supply of water. It is about a hundred yards distant from it, is upwards of forty feet deep, and is drawn by a pump.

When Cheltenham water is fresh drawn, it appears tolerably clear, though not perfectly transparent. After standing some time, it becomes more turbid, and air─bubbles, in small quantity, rise from it. It contains more salt than perhaps any other waters, except those of the sea and some brine springs; and by far the greatest part of the salts are of a purgative kind. It is also a very strong chalybeate, and has a slight impregnation of sulphur.

This water cannot long be kept, nor can it be transported to any distance without being materially altered. In order, however, to reduce its valuable parts to a more convenient form, for carriage and keeping, the salts are extracted from it on the spot, by evaporation, and crystallizing the residuum. These salts are much used, in addition to the fresh water, for the purpose of increasing its operation on the bowels.

Cheltenham is a small town in the county of Gloucester. It is about ninety─five miles north─west of London, situated in a sandy vale, surrounded with hills of moderate height, and in the midst of a fertile and well cultivated country.

297. _BRIGHTON CHALYBEATE WATER is a vitriolated chalybeate, which, when fresh, has a peculiar and faint smell not uncommon in ferruginous waters, and a strong though not unpleasant chalybeate taste._

_It contains sulphat of iron or vitriol (208), sulphat of lime (182), common salt, muriat of magnesia, siliceous earth, and a certain portion of carbonic acid gas (26)._

Brighton is a well─known market─town, situated on the coast of Sussex, and about fifty─four miles south of London. The chalybeate spring is at Wick, on the declivity of a small eminence nearly a mile west of the town, and a quarter of a mile from the sea. A small but neat building has been erected immediately over the spot from which the water issues, and where it is received, a few feet under ground, into a basin of Portland stone. This reservoir contains only a few gallons of water, but it fills again almost as soon as it is emptied.

The water is so hard as instantly to curdle soap. It is considered useful in cases of debility, indigestion, and such diseases for which chalybeate and tonic remedies are required. The sea─bathing at Brighton is, in many cases, an additional and important advantage to those persons who use the chalybeate water.

9. COLD SULPHUREOUS WATERS.

298. HEPATIC, or SULPHUREOUS WATERS, are so strongly impregnated with sulphur, united either to hydrogen (45), or to an alkali, or both, as thereby to acquire a very sensible smell and taste. They have the property of blacking silver and lead; and are immediately known by the smell, which is very fetid, and like that which arises from the scouring of a foul gun─barrel, or, as some persons suppose, like the smell of rotten eggs.

The taste of these waters is peculiar, and rather sweetish. They constitute a drink which, at first, is very unpalatable, but which, by habit, is soon reconciled to the drinker. None of them will bear carriage to any distance.

299. _HARROWGATE WATER is a cold sulphureous water, which has a very strong and fetid smell, like that of a damp rusty gun─barrel. To the taste it is bitter, nauseous, and strongly saline._

_Its foreign contents are common salt, muriat of lime, muriat of magnesia, chalk, carbonat of magnesia, Epsom salt (199), carbonic acid gas, or fixed air (26), azotic gas, and sulphureted hydrogen gas._

There are, at Harrowgate, four distinct sulphureous springs, which appear to have their rise in a large bog, at a small distance from the wells. The water of all these springs is similar in its properties and its distinguishing characters, but as one of them is more strongly impregnated with sulphur than the others, this alone is used for drinking, whilst the other three are employed to supply the baths.

When the water of the former of these springs is first taken up, it is perfectly clear and transparent; and sends forth a few air─bubbles. Notwithstanding both its nauseous smell and taste, such is the power of habit in reconciling it to the palate, that, after a little while, nearly all persons who drink this water do it without disgust.

When exposed to the air it loses its transparency, and assumes a somewhat greenish colour: the sulphureous odour abates; and, at last, the sulphur is deposited on the bottom and sides of the vessel in which it is kept.

Such is the nature of Harrowgate water that a secret correspondence has often been carried on by means of it. A letter written with solution of sugar of lead is illegible; but if dipped into this water the writing will not merely become visible, but, in a short time, will appear almost black. Hydrogen has the property of reviving the metallic oxides: hence also it is that ladies who have used metallic cosmetics have become of a dark tawny colour by bathing in these waters.

Harrowgate has long been celebrated for its sulphureous waters. It has also two very valuable chalybeate springs, called the _Old Spa_, and the _Tewit Well_, the water of which was formerly used internally, whilst the other water was confined to external use. But, at present, the latter is employed to very great extent as an internal medicine.

The two villages of High and Low Harrowgate are situated in a pleasant open country, in the centre of the county of York, near the town of Knaresborough, and about 212 miles north of London.

300. _MOFFAT WATER is a cold sulphureous water, the smell of which is precisely similar to that of Harrowgate water, and the taste simply saline, and without any bitterness._

_Its foreign contents are common salt, together with carbonic acid gas, azotic gas, and sulphureted hydrogen gas. It is consequently very simple in its composition._

Moffat is a village situated, at the head of a valley, on the banks of the river Annan, and about fifty─six miles south─west of Edinburgh. It is surrounded by hills, some of which are very lofty. This village has obtained so much celebrity, on account of its waters, as to be considered the Harrowgate of North Britain. These issue from a rock which is at a little distance below a bog, whence, probably, they derive their sulphureous ingredients. The principal spring is contained within a stone building, and affords a sufficient quantity of water to supply every demand. It is drawn by a pump.

When the water is first taken from the well it appears somewhat milky and bluish. It sparkles a little; but, on being exposed to the air, it becomes turbid, and throws up a thin film, which, on examination, will be found pure sulphur. This change takes place even in close vessels, so that it cannot be sent to any distance with advantage.

The common people so much esteem this water that many of them drink at the rate of from six to ten quarts of it in a morning, and one instance has been stated of a person drinking thirty─two quarts of it in eight hours.

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INDEX TO THE FIRST VOLUME.

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Acid, sulphuric, 12; how made, properties and uses of, 145

Acid, phosphoric, 12

Acid, carbonic, 12

Acid, fluoric, 13; how made, properties and uses of, 120

Acid, boracic, 13

Acid, muriatic, 13; How made and uses of, 132

Acid, nitric, 14; How made, and uses of, 138

Adamant. See Diamond.

Adamantine spar. See Corundum.

Adularia, description and uses of, 70

Agate, description, uses, &c. of, 61, 62 ——, different kinds of, 63

Alabaster, description and uses of, 117 ——, calcareous, account and uses of, 111, 112

Alkalies, 18

Alumine, 15, 123

Alluvial depositions, 235

Alum, description and uses of, 123, 124 ——, Roman and Roche, 123 ——, how procured and made, 123

Amalgams, what they are, 176

Amazon stone, description and use of, 69

Amber, description and history of, 161 ——, where found, and how wrought, 162 ——, uses and properties of, 163 ——, varnish, 163 ——, gum animè often mistaken for, 164

Amethyst, oriental, 32 ——, common, description and uses of, 48

Amianthus. See Asbestos.

Ammonia, muriat of. See Sal─ammoniac.

Antimony, description of, and whence obtained, 215 ——, how prepared, and uses of, 216, 217 ——, butter and glass of, 217 ——, oxides of, 217

Antimonial powder, of what composed, 217 —— wine, how prepared, and use of, 217

Aqua marine, description, value, and uses of, 39, 40 ——, where found, how cut and set, 40

Aqua fortis, mode of manufacturing, and uses of, 138

Aqua regia, of what made, 139

Argil, 15

Arsenic, description of, and whence obtained, 212 ——, how prepared for use, and the uses of, 213 ——, poisonous effects of, how counteracted, 213 ——, how to know from any other substance, 213

Asbestos, use of, for making incombustible cloth, &c., 93, 94

Asphalt, description of, where found, and uses of, 149, 150

Avanturine, description, uses, and value of, 50 ——, imitations of, how made, 50

Axestone, description and use of, 89

Azure stone, description and uses of, 67, 68 ——, imitation of, how made, 68

B.

Barilla. See Soda.

Barium, 17

Barytes, description and uses of, 120 ——, sulphat of, 121

Basalt, description and uses of, 95, 96

Bath stone, description and uses of, 114

Bell metal, of what made, 188

Beryl. See Aqua marine:aqua─marine#.

Betton’s British oil, what it is, 146

Biscuit porcelain, what it is, and how made, 75

Bismuth, description and uses of, 217, 218 ——, singular fusible metal prepared from, 218 ——, experiment with, illustrative of metallic crystal, 234

Bitumen. See Asphalt, 149 ——, elastic, 149

Black chalk, description and use of, 80

——, pencils, how made, 80

Black tin, what it is, 200

Bloodstone, description and uses of, 59 ——, singular specimen of, 59

Blue John. See Fluor spar.

Blende, 209

Bole, description and uses of, 87

Bologna phosphorus, or Bononian stone, how prepared, and properties of, 121

Boracic acid, 13

Borax, description of, whence and how obtained, 134 ——, preparation and uses of, 135

Bottles, how made, 55

Brass, how made, and uses of, 187 —— wire, properties and uses of, 187

Bricks, how made, 72

Brimstone. See Sulphur.

Bristol diamonds, 47

Bronze, how made, and uses of, 187

Burning spring, description of one in Shropshire, 147

Burr─stone, or millstone, description of, 44 ——, where found, uses of, and how split, 45

Buxton diamonds, 47

C.

Cachalong opal, description and use of, 65

Calamine, description and uses of, 209─211

Calcareous substances, 17, 97

Calcedony, description and uses of, 56, 57

Calcium, 18

Calomel, how made, and uses of, 177

Caloric, 9

Calp. See Lias.

Caoutchouc mineral, 149

Carbon, 20

Carbonats, 13

Carbonic acid, 12

Carbuncle, 43

Carnelian, description, uses, and value of, 57

Cat’s─eye, description of, how cut, and uses of, 50

Cave of Fingal, account of, 96

Cairn gorum crystal, whence obtained, how wrought, and uses of, 49

Ceruse. See White lead.

Chalk, description and uses of, 99 ——, black, description and uses of, 80 ——, red, how prepared, and uses of, 199

Chinese grotesque figures, of what made, 84

Choke damp in coal─mines, what it is, how produced, and how to prevent the injurious effects of, 154

Chrysoberyl, description, value, and uses of, 35

Chrysolite, description of, how cut, and uses of, 95

Chrysoprase, description of, how cut, imitations, and uses of, 58, 59

Cinnabar, artificial, how manufactured, and use of, 177

Cinnamon stone, 44

Clay, various kinds, description and uses of, 71, 72

Clay─slate. See Roofing─slate.

Coal, description of, where found, and value of, 151 ——, supposed origin, and various uses of, 155

Coal mines, account of, 152

Coal trade, history, &c. of, 154─156

Coal, cannel, what, why so called, and uses of, 157 ——, stone, Kilkenny, or Glance, and Welsh, 158 ——, Bovey, or brown, 158 ——, pitch, 158 ——, parrot, 157

Cobalt, account of, whence obtained, and uses of, 220 ——, oxide of, 221

Coke, uses of, 156

Copper, description and ancient uses of, 183 ——, mines of Anglesea described, 183 ——, how extracted from the ore, &c., 183 ——, uses of, 185, 186 ——, vessels, in what respects pernicious, 185 ——, oxide of, uses of, 186 ——, alloys of, 186 ——, white, of what made, and uses of, 188 ——, how to gild, 172 ——, sulphat of. See Vitriol, white.

Copperas. See Vitriol─green.

Cornish diamonds, 47

Corrosive sublimate, what it is, and uses of, 177

Corundum, description and uses of, 34

Crystal, description and uses of, 45─47 ——, where found, how wrought and polished, 46, 47

Culm, what it is, and the uses of, 157

D.

Derbyshire spar. See Fluor spar.

Diachylon plaster, how made, and uses of, 206

Diamond, description of, 23 ——, where found, how obtained, and how known, 23, 24 ——, properties of, 24 ——, how cut, polished, and set, 26 ——, value and uses of, 26, 27 ——, account of several remarkable diamonds, 27, 28, 29 ——, Buxton, Cornish, and Carrara diamonds, 47, 102

Drawing slate. See Black chalk.

Dropping well at Knaresborough, 113

Dutch gold, how made, 187

Dykes, mineral, 3

E.

Earth, 14

earthenware, how manufactured, 71

Eau─de─luce, of what made, 164

Egyptian pebble, description and uses of, 61

Electron of the ancients, what it was, 162

Emerald, description of, where found, how set, and how valued, 38 ——, oriental, 32 ——, false, 49

Emery, description, properties, and uses of, 33 ——, how prepared for use, 33 ——, red, 43

Epsom salts, description of, how made, and uses of, 126

F.

Faults, in mining, what they are, 3

Felspar, common, description and uses of, 69 ——, Labrador, 69

Figure stone, description and uses of, 84

Filtering stone, of what made, 233

Fire damp in coal─mines, what it is, how produced, &c., 19, 153

Flint, description and uses of, 53, 54 ——, gun─flints, how made, 54