206 MINERAL WATERS AND MEDICINAL SPRINGS OF ESSEX.
the "mineral spirit" contained in the water ; Chapter VII., the
sulphur; Chapter VIII., the salts; and Chapter IX., the
"alcaline earth." Chapter X.43 contains the conclusions arrived
at, which are that
" the Witham Spa is a sulphureous chalybeate water, impregnated with
a small quantity of salts, but carrying in it a larger proportion of an alcaline
earth ; that its virtues, therefore, are not only conformable to those of its several
ingredients, but may, likewise, and do, many of them, result from the mixture
and united virtues of the whole.
" As a chalybeate, it quickens the whole circulation, attenuates the blood,
dissolves viscid humours, [and] opens obstructions ; after which, by its austere
and styptick quality, it straightens43a the relaxed fibres, recovers the lost tone of the
solids and restores their due elasticity.
" As a sulphureous water, it is, likewise, attenuating, resolving, dessicative,
balsamick, pectoral, vulnerary, and antiscorbutick.
" From its salts, it incides, stimulates, dissolves, sizy humours, promotes the
several secretions, and is, in particular, very diuretick.
" Its smooth and subtle alcaline earth is absorbent, destroys acids, and blunts.
the acrimony of sharp humours. And the mineral spirit not only preserves, by
its activity, the due mixture of the several ingredients in the water, but likewise
raises the animal spirits and diffuses new life and vigour thro' the whole
economy.
" The chalybeate, however, in our mineral water, is not to be considered as a
mere chalybeate and nothing more, but as a chalybeate prepared with sulphur ;.
whereby the body of the iron is more opened and subtilized and, consequently,
enabled to penetrate farther into the habit than it could otherwise do. This
sulphur (which is, in its own nature, heating) is allay'd and qualified by the
cooling property of the nitre. The nitre (which, of itself, is too soft to stimulate
the vessels enough to fuse the viscid humours and duly to promote the excretion of
mine) has a stimulating power communicated to it by the marine salt. And the
acrimony of the marine salt is sufficiently corrected by the alcaline earth ; whilst
the energy of the whole is enforced by the powerful influence and activity of the
mineral spirit.
" Thus do these several principles conspire in forming a most useful composi-
tion, and from their union results this most excellent mineral water, whose
singular virtues and efficacy will render it beneficial in many, if not in most,
chronic diseases incident to mankind."
One cannot help wondering if the writer was able to persuade
himself that he really understood what he had written !
Elsewhere, Taverner informs44 us that, in carrying out his
experiments on the water, he had been greatly indebted to his
friend, "the ingenious Dr. Legge, of Braintree."45 He next
excuses himself for not adding "some histories of cases wherein
43 Op. cit., pp. 58-60.
43a ? strengthens
44 Op. cit., Preface, [p. v.].
45 We can learn nothing as to the identity of this gentleman.