Experimental observations on the water of the mineral spring near Islington, commonly called New Tunbridge Wells ... : To which is subjoined, an account of its medicinal virtues and use; and of the most adviseable methods of drinking it in each kind of case.

Date:
1782
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experimental observations on the water of the mineral spring near Islington, commonly called New Tunbridge Wells ... : To which is subjoined, an account of its medicinal virtues and use; and of the most adviseable methods of drinking it in each kind of case. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fame manner, the Tunbridge, Spa, or indeed any other natural Chalybeat water, except that in thofe of the compound kind, of which iron makes no part, will be found along with the ferruginous earth. This fediment will be coploufly depoiited by any of thefe waters, if they be fuffered to ha^Te free communication with the air, even though the quantity of fluid be very little diminifhed by exhalation during the time. The proportion of iron, the Iflington water contains in dry weather, when it is in full perfection, is about fixty grains in two gallons, as I found by weighing the re- fiduum, after a very careful evaporation of that quantity; and what is very extraordinary, this will be found, on computation, to be not equal to one-feventh of that weight, of which this water is lighter, when compared with common water. If oil of vitriol, diluted in water, be added to the ferruginous fediment, obtained by either of theib methods, a ftrong ebullition will immediately fol¬ low, the fediment will be entirely diffolved, and a fait of ffeel produced; which may, by the com¬ mon methods, be recovered in a eryffalline form ; or if the mixture be evaporated to drynefs, the reliduum will be found re-diflolvable in com¬ mon water. From whence it is evident, that the Heel