MINERAL WATERS AND MEDICINAL SPRINGS OF ESSEX. 251
It remains for us to survey briefly the results obtained as a
whole.
Speaking generally, we may say that, with few exceptions,
the reputed Essex Mineral Waters which we have analysed for
the purpose of this investigation cannot be regarded as Mineral
Waters at al). The few which may be rightly so classed owe
such small medicinal properties as they possess almost entirely
to the presence in them of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts).
Waters containing this salt are in no way remarkable in Essex ;
for such waters are found in many parts of the county, and wells
have frequently been abandoned, as sources of domestic supply,
owing to the excessive amount of saline constituents present in
their waters. Thus Dr. Thresh says150 that,
" In the Hanningfield district, where the London Clay is exposed, the surface-
water feeding the streams contains an amount of sulphate of lime and sulphate of
magnesia (Epsom Salts) sufficient to render it useless for domestic purposes."
Elsewhere he says151 that,
" Over certain areas (notably near Althorne, in the Maldon Rural District),
the deep wells yield a water containing sulphate of magnesium (Epsom Salts).
This is also the case at Hockley and elsewhere. This water, I suspect, comes
from localised beds of sand in or under the London Clay ; and, in more than one
instance, I have found by experiment that the water arising from the bottom of
the bore-tube contained no Epsom Salts. In one instance, the aperient water
was entering the well at a point about 60 feet down ; in another, about 10 or 12
feet down ; and, in another, at a defective pipe at a much lower level. ..."
Of the nine samples of water we have examined, only three
can be classed as Mineral Waters—namely, those from South
Weeald, Upminster, and Hockley. Even these have, as stated
already, little or no medicinal value, the amount of their saline
constituents being small when compared with the quantity
found in certain Mineral Waters occurring elsewhere.
The remaining six waters cannot be regarded as Mineral
Waters in any sense, and they have no medicinal properties what-
ever. These are the waters from Little Dunmow ("Felstead"),
Woodford, West Tilbury (both the Hall and the Rector's Well),
Hornchurch (Havering Well), Stapleford Abbots (Curtis Mill
Green), and Ilford (St. Chad's Well).
It appears, therefore, that our Essex Mineral Wells (so
(so called) have, perhaps, obtained their reputations without being
justly entitled thereto. It is conceivable, of course, that our
150 Rep. on the Water Supply of the County of Essex, p. 5 (Chelmsford, n,d., ? 1900).
151 Op. cit., p. 36.