MINERAL WATERS AND MEDICINAL SPRINGS OF ESSEX 5
The author of a work published a little more than thirty
years later was able to make only the curt statement7 that
"some Mineral Waters rise in the County, but few have obtained
much repute."
To-day, every single one of our Essex Mineral Springs, with
one exception of little importance, is wholly neglected and
almost forgotten. It is for this reason that we have sought to
gather up, in the following pages such information in regard to
each as it is now possible to recover.
In 1699, a writer in the publications of the Royal Society
declared8 that
"Whoever discovers . . . Healing Waters and publickly prescribes the safe
and right use of them does really distribute larger and nobler almes than if
he built and endowed a Savoy ; for this prolongs life and restores health (which
is sometimes better than life), both to rich and poor, to natives and strangers, to
neighbors and travellers."
If we cannot claim credit for having done this, it has seemed
to us, nevertheless, that the work we have undertaken was well
worth doing. Even as far back as the year 1889, the Editor of
the Essex Naturalist expressed9 a hope that he might soon be
able to publish in his pages a history and description of the
Essex Mineral Springs. He has had to wait just twenty years
for the fulfilment of that hope.
In regard to our respective shares in the work, we may say
that, in the main, the historical and topographical matter
has been supplied by Mr. Christy, while the analytical investi-
gations have been undertaken by Miss Thresh.
We desire to express our indebtedness to many friends and
correspondents who have assisted us in our search for lost weils
and in obtaining samples of water ; to others who have replied by
letter or otherwise to our many troublesome enquiries; and to
yet others who have lent us books. Among these, we may
mention Mr. John Avery, of Forest Gate, Mr. J. H. Burgess, of
Hockley, Mr. E. North Buxton, Mr. George Clements, of
Hockley, the Messrs. W., B. G., and H. A. Cole, of Buckhurst
Hill, Mr. Walter Crouch, of Wanstead, the Rev. J. Bonamy
Dobree, of West Tilbury, Mr. E. A. Fitch, the Rev. Canon
Fraser, of South Weald, Mr. John French, the late Mr. I. Chalkley
7 Beauties of Engl. & Wales, v., p. 252 (1803).
8 Philos. Trans., iv., p. 1040 (1699).
9 Essex Nat., ni., p. 198 (1889).