MINERAL WATERS AND MEDICINAL SPRINGS OF ESSEX. 201
summary, and does not say in what diseases he thought the
water would prove beneficial. In his second work (1711), in
which practically the same information appears, he classes it
among "waters containing a salt alkalial, resembling salt of
tartar, and the sulphurous salt of vegetables."26
Another early reference to this well is that of Cox, already
quoted, which was published in 1720.27
In November 1745, Dr. Rutty had samples of the water
(bottled some months previously) sent to him in Dublin, where
he made experiments upon it :—
" It was [he says28] clear and void of sediment ; smelt fetid like the scowerings
of a gun ; had the flavour of lac sulphuris ; and was bitter in the throat. .
The salt of Upminster is chiefly a calcarious nitre, mixed with a little natron
of marine salt."
Morant, writing in 1768, declares 29 that the water of the
spring is
" impregnated with alkaline salts [and is] of the same nature as that at
Brentwood. It is good to correct acidities, and in vomitings, teachings, and
too-copious hemorrhoidal fluxes."
Trinder, writing some fifteen years later, in 1783, says 30 it
" has the taste of a weak solution of the Epsom Salt in water, but more earthy.
It is somewhat turbid and its colour is greenish."
He then details the result of seventeen experiments on the water,
and declares 3l that it is
" impregnated with the sal catharticum amarum and with an absorbent earth.
Its cooling, alterative, and purgative quality cannot be enough recommended
to patients of choleric and adust habits. An habitual costiveness hath been
known to give way to it ; and I recommended the whey made from this water
to an hectically-disposed patient, who found wonderful relief from its use. . , .
" After hard drinking, this water will be found very pleasant and whole-
some ; and, if the Bacchanalian were wise, it might possibly rescue him from
those very disagreeable consequences that usually attend a life of intemper-
ance. . . .
" The virtue of this water extends also to the urinary passages, which it must
powerfully cleanse and cool [and so on]."
Mr. T. L. Wilson, the historian of Upminster, says32 :—
" This spring was cleaned out and enclosed in 1734 by Champion Branfill, Esq.,
of Upminster Hall, Lord of the Manor in which the spring was situate,
26 Mineral Waters of Gt. Brit., p. 18 (1711).
27 See ante, p. 197.
28 Methodical Synopsis:, pp. 124-125 (1757).
29 Hist. of Essex, i., p. 10 (1768). Both the "Gentleman" (Hist. of Essex, iv., p. 381 : 1771)
and Hughson (Loudon, vi., p. 201 : 1809) follow Morant almost verbally.
30 Medicinal Waters in Essex, p. 35 (1783).
31 Op. cit., pp. 38-39.
32 Hist. and Topogr. of Upminster, 2nd ed., pp. 15-20 (1880-81).
O