MINERAL WATERS AND MEDICINAL SPRINGS OF ESSEX. 219
fully and clearly in a pamphlet by Dr. John Andree, a well-
known London physician, which was published in 1739 and
went through four later editions—the last appearing in 1781.8l
Of the well and its origin, Andree says83:—
" The spring from whence the Tilbury Water comes is situated near a farm-
house at West Tilbury, in Essex, on the top of a hill, which is elevated about one
hundred feet above the marshy grounds and is two miles distance from the River
of Thames. Mr. Kellaway, deceas'd, the proprietor of that estate,83 sunk the
well, in the year 1724, for the use of the farm, but it was not known for any
medicinal vertue till three years after [that is, in 1727]."
Elsewhere, Andree says84 : —
" The spring is about twelve feet deep from the surface of the ground and
rises from a bed of gravel several feet deep, about forty yards from the extreme
point of the hill on which it is situated. . . . The water is about two
feet and a half deep, and the well, when fullest, contains near a hundred
gallons."
The well still exists and can be identified, as will be shown
later. For the present, let us revert to the year 1727, when its
water was first recognized as of value medicinally. Andree
says85 that
" Mr. Kellaway, being then at his farm, much troubled with the gout and a
violent cold, ordered some of the water to be boiled to drink with wine ; and,
perceiving it looked white and that it became clear again upon mixing some
white-wine with it, he apprehended it was not wholsome to drink. However,
the family telling him that they had constantly made use of it on all occasions
without any hurt and that it always boil'd white, he drank of it during the time
he then stay'd there and found himself chearful and much relieved of his gout
and cold. As he was a great lover of milk, he commonly eat some [sic] when he
was at his farm, tho' it seldom failed to give him some loose stools ; but, one
morning, after he had taken a glass of the water, he took some milk and found it
did not purge him as usual ; which experiment he made many times after, with
the like success.
" No further notice was taken of the well till, in the year 1731, Mr. Kellaway,
about that time labouring under a looseness for about fifteen or sixteen days,
which had reduc'd him to a very low state, and being oblig'd to go down to
Tilbury to look after his farm, he drank some of the water with wine at night.
The morning following, he perceiv'd that his looseness was gone and his
appetite pretty well restored ; which, for many days before, had entirely failed
him.
" This sudden amendment made so strong an impression upon his mind that
he ordered the person who look'd after his farm, if he found any of the servants,
81 See ante, p. 191.
82 Account of the Tilbury Water, 2nd ed., p. 9 (1740)
83 Mr. John Kellaway, who bought West Tilbury Hall from Richard Jenoure, Esq., died
17 Sept. 1737 (See Morant, i., p. 232).
84 Op. cit, 1st ed., p., 4 (1737). The passage is omitted, for some reason, from all subsequent
editions.
85 Op. cit., 2nd ed., pp. 9-12. This passage appears in the first edition but, less fully.