THe Drinking of the Bath-Water at Bath, having late­ly met with great applause, which may incourage some inconsiderately to use it, the many, or multitude, being like those Animals [Page 2]that follow one another, and apt to go the broader way, though it lead to ru­ine: On no other design than my own satisfaction, and the benefit of those that shall commit themselves to my di­rections, I have drawn up the follow­ing decision of this two-fold Question, in as plain, satisfactory, and significant a manner, as my present occasions, and divertisements of another Nature, will permit me to do.

But before I give a positive and particular answer to the Question pro­posed, I must crave leave, with the best Mineral and Metallick Fathers, to premise, That all Mineral Waters are not alike admitted to an Internal Use; For first, all such are justly ex­cluded, that contain in them, or are impregnated with, any noxious In­gredient, such as are Quick-silver, Lead, Gypsum, &c.

Quick-silver is no friend to the Nerves, and though it may, and hath been given inwardly, both liquid, and Solid, in a small proportion by Pra­ctitioners, with good success in the Worms, and in greater quantity on other emergent occasions; yet the con­stant use thereof is not warrantable, especially in Mineral-Waters, that in so vast a proportion as they are usu­ally prescribed, must necessarily for some time lodge in the Stomach, pass through the Intestines, and touch on many Nervous and Membranous parts of the Body, before they come to the Ureters and Bladder for excretion. That all Waters supposed to proceed from Quick-silver, are to be avoided, I know is contradicted by some Au­thors of good Credit, and particular­ly the Waters of Serra Morena, and la Nava in Spain, Almagra, Toletum, and others by the Rus Mimus, as [Page 4]the Learned Doctor Jorden observes, are found to be wholsome; however, since many venomous Springs are adjudged (how justly I say not) im­pregnated with this Mineral, and ma­ny ill effects have been produced by no very great proportion taken into the body; others more wary, have wholly excluded them from an Inter­nal Use; whereupon Paledinus hath this Note; In universum excluduntur ab hoc usu quae aliquid metallicum noxium in se habent; Amongst which he rec­kons Argentum Vivum.

Lead-Waters are also accounted un­wholsome to be used in this man­ner; Caveatis à potu talium aquarum quae habent in se Plumbum, saith Fal­lopius; and he gives this reason, quia periculum est, ne natura Plumbi con­versa vel in Lithargyrum vel in ali­ud simile, ut solet, hominem enecet: [Page 5]lest the nature of Lead be converted into Litharge, or something like it, as it often is, and men die thereupon. But perhaps there may be little need of this Caution, since, if we believe others, there are no Waters observed that are impregnated with Lead; I confess I have met with none but the Plumbeae, Plumbares, or Plumbariae, in that part of Germany called Lorain, which yet may not have that name from their being infected with Lead, but more probably, as John Bauhi­nus supposeth, from the scalding of Fowls, which they do by the Heat of those Waters, and ought to be cal­led Plumiers, as Pictorius writes it, from the French word Plumer, à de­plumando, as a Learned Physician of our own hath observed.

Gypsum, or Plaister-waters, are ac­counted noxious in regard of their [Page 6]over-cooling and refrigerating nature, which proves destructive, and there­fore no Physician hath ever ordered the use of them in Drinks. The like may be said of Arsenick, Auripigmen­tum, Risagalum, Sandaracha, Rusma, and Cadmia natural, which being Ve­nomous, and strongly Corrosive, are dangerous, and no way to be used in­wardly in the manner under debate.

But to come nearer our purpose; Neither are Waters that have in them Liquid Bitumen, and especially Naph­tha, esteemed fit to be drank, be­cause they more than ordinarily relax the Stomach and Guts, partly on the account of their Fattiness, and partly by reason of too much Moisture, by which the Tone of the parts is inju­red, and consequently the strength of the Stomach and Guts enervated, to the great and inevitable detriment of [Page 7]the rest of the Body. Sed & Bitumen liquidum habentes, quòd praeter modum relaxant, inutiles sunt, saith Claudinus; And Fallopius more particularly, Ad­datis Aquas quae habent Bitumen Li­quidum, praecipuè Naphtham, quae a­quae noxiae sunt, quia relaxant ven­triculum & intestina, praeter modum, partim ratione Pinguedinis, partim quia habent vim humectandi, relaxan­do autem dissipant omne robur Viscerum, & ideo non conveniunt in Potu. I know the Testimony of the Ancients, Archigenes, Galen, Paulus, and Vi­truvius, are alleged in favour of Bi­tuminous Waters; but the answer is obvious, That they are to be under­stood of Waters passing through veins of a solid and dry Bitumen, which were in use for purging heretofore, and not of a Liquid. Claudinus; Quae per venas transeunt bituminis sicci pos­sunt in potu convenire; & de his in­telligendi [Page 8]sunt Archigenes, Galenus, Paulus, Vitruvius, cum eas pro Potu proponunt.

The like censure hath pass'd on all Sulphurous Waters that have Brim­stone alone, and no other Mineral commixed with it; as appears from the Testimony of Antyllus an ancient Physician in Oribasius, who gives this reason, that they relax the Orifice, subvert, and effeminate the body of the Stomach; which is also confirm­ed by the concurrent judgment of other Physicians, which, for brevity sake, I must here omit; only observe this by the way, That whereas Waters purely Sulphurous were condemned, those that had any other Mineral that might correct the ill qualities of the Sulphur, were permitted; and Waters Sulphurous, à praedominio, are ac­counted aptae ad potum, provided they [Page 9]have Salt, Alume, Nitre, or any other Ingredient, that may give a check to the relaxing and effeminating nature of the Brimstone. And of this sort of Compound Sulphurous Waters are Galen and Alexander Trullianus to be understood, according to the judgment of their best Interpreters. But here, like a wheel within a wheel, this Question may arise, which will need a solution.

Q. How come Bituminous and Sul­phurous Waters, to relax, and ef­feminate inwardly; when we find by experience, that outwardly used in Baths, they Strengthen and Cor­roborate?

A. The reason I conceive, must be chargeable on the mediate, or im­mediate application of the Waters to the nervous parts; for being exter­nally [Page 10]used, the Skin and muscular parts are a sufficient defence against the relaxing quality, and being like­wise discussive, they dissipate any impacted matter lodged in or about the Nerves, by which the free moti­on of the Animal Spirits is impeded, and consequently Strength diminish­ed; Whereas in the immediate ap­plication to the Stomach and Inte­stines, they are least able to resist, and so in danger of receiving great­er prejudice. Thus if we keep a con­venient distance from the Fire, we receive its benefit, but approaching too near, without a very good Skreen, we experience its rage.

Waters tincted with Brass are con­demned by some, on the account that they are very seldome free from Ae­rugo or Chrysocolla, which are dange­rous; but others allow the use of them [Page 11]if they participate but slightly of the Minera, as the Viterbienses, which are judged praestantissimae.

The best Waters to be taken in­wardly, by the unanimous consent of Judicious Writers, are supposed to be Salt, Nitrous, Aluminous, and Iron; which, besides their moderate heating quality, are very friendly to the Stomach, and parts through which they pass; and, what is the main Thing to be observed in the choice of Mineral Waters, pass freely through the Body, either by Siege or Urine, without the addition of some helps, which other sluggish Waters must have; which probably may somewhat alter their property, and render them less effectual, than those that need not such Additi­ons.

Also Gold, Silver, (if such are to be found) and Marble Waters, without Gypsum, are esteemed whol­some, and may safely be used as a Drink.

These are the most considerable VVaters, Good, and Bad, I find men­tioned in Mineral Writers; by which any indifferent person may sufficient­ly judge of the first part of the Que­stion propounded, provided he be assured of what Minerals the Waters of Bathe do consist. If principally of Bitumen, with Nitre, and some Sulphur, as was the Opinion of Do­ctor Jorden, and is yet my own; there are two ingredients against one for the not using it as a Drink: yet in regard the Nitre seems to be in a greater proportion than the Sulphur, and by that means, may in some mea­sure, qualifie and allay the Inconve­niences [Page 13]that may arise from the two other Constituents, I judge, with some Cautions in the use thereof, they may be potable, though not so adviseable as some other Mineral Waters are. And this is the most moderate Decision I can give of that part of the Question that concerns the Security of the using the Bath-Water as a Drink.

As to the other, Viz. The Course to be taken by those that would use it so, as to find benefit there­by; before I determine that, I must take the liberty to declare, that I find many irregularities in the Course which is now followed, which is so much different from a rational method, and the pra­ctice and directions of intelligent Physicians in other places; that one may easily conclude it a Brat, [Page 14]if not begot, yet foster'd by a Quack, whose Motto may be, Quo­cunque modo rem, and cares not what betides the Patient so the mo­ney be received.

The first irregularity I take no­tice of is, the general drinking the Waters without advice, or with advice as good as none; the prime thing to be considered being, whe­ther it be proper or not. This is incumbent on the Physician to de­termine, and cannot well be done without an exact knowledge both of the Waters, and the distempers the Patient labours under; Now, though, perhaps, it may be thought a reflection on the Faculty, to say, that some Physicians, or at least pretenders to that Noble Art, are no so intelligent, who notwithstand­ing are very liberal in their advice [Page 15]for the taking the Waters; yet I must needs conclude, that if they are so, they very much stifle their knowledge, and thwart the known Rules of their Profession, in advi­sing persons of quite contrary Tem­pers, and distempers, to an equal use of what, if beneficial to one, must be prejudicial to another. This was the old Quacking Trick in Galen's time, of which an Ho­nest Author gives this account; Dicimus praeceptum istud ut Medicus diligenter observet, an Potus Aquae conveniat, necne, esse summe necessa­rium, quia, sine ipso fieri nequit ali­quid, & in hoc praecepto multi tum recentiorum, tum antiquorum pecca­runt, & tempore etiam Galeni. Sunt enim inter medicos aliqui qui post­quam valde defatigarint aegros, & aliquando praeter rationem & in­stitutum, viderint quod res sibi non [Page 16]succedit statim, nulla alia considera­tione habita, relegent miseros Patien­tes ad Aquas Thermales, tanquam ad anchoram sacram, non conside­rantes antea, an aquae illae conve­niant, vel non conveniant; vel quia ignorent naturam Aquarum, vel quia ignorent naturam morbi, vel utri­usque simul, & ita casu quicquid agunt, agunt. I hope I shall not be so grosly mistaken here, as to be thought by any to write this to discourage a Resort, but rather to be a Monitor to the Residents on the place, that, if Physicians a­broad are not so circumspect (as they may not be, on their confi­dence in them) they would so far discharge their own Consciences, as well as evidence their skill, as to deal candidly and ingenuously with their Patients; neither are those in any wise to be accounted [Page 17] Apollo's, but rather Apollyon's, who, regarding their Patients no more than poyson'd Rats, care not what holes they dye in, provided they are secur'd against this, that they stink not on the place.

The next thing I blame in the ordinary course, is, the drinking of the Waters, and Bathing on the same day, nay oftentimes together, in the Bath it self. How contrary this is, not only to the judgment of Rational Physicians, but Reason it self, may appear from these words of a good Author. Sed neque Balneum Thermarum, dum aquae sumuntur, administrandum est; quod hoc modo ratione contrariorum mo­tuum factorum à Balneo, quod ad Circumferentiam, & à Potu, qui ad Centrum trahit, nimis aeger affligitur. And, that it may not be said to [Page 18]be only one Doctors opinion, (which, if grounded on Reason, is sufficient, without which an opi­nion is nothing) another gives the same advice. Nec quoad infusionem Corpor is placet, quoniam qui ita a­gunt, asfligunt nimis aegrum ratione contrarii motus, qui motus contra­rius fit ab aqua in potum accepta, & à Balneo. Nam aqua quae in corpore est, agit ducendo à Circum­ferentia ad Centrum; Infusio vero è contra à Centro ad Circumferenti­am, unde nisi robustissimum fuerit Corpus non poterit perferre talem mo­tum.

I confess this reason of a con­trary motion lies chiefly against Cathartick Waters, or those Waters that move by siege, which must have a motion contrary to that of the Bath, which moves from the [Page 19]Centre to the Circumference, or from the more inward parts, to the ha­bit of the Body; yet, in regard those Waters that move by Urine, may, on the contrary, be too much accelerated, and sooner than is fit­ting, precipitated to the Kidneys; by which, Nature, on so great a strain, must likewise suffer some in­convenience inwardly, as well as an affliction from the Bath without; The prohibition holds good, as to Diuretick VVaters too, though not on the same, yet as good a ground.

A third Irregularity, I find, is, the Drinking of the VVaters with­out a due preparation of the Bo­dy before; which ought not to be done so slightly, as with a little Bath-water and Salt, but with such frequent and repeated Purgations, as may be requisite sometimes. For [Page 20]the VVaters must certainly first pass through the Stomach and Guts, which, if they find foul, and not cleansed from those impurities that will undeniably lodge there on many occasions, besides that they taint the VVater, and render it less beneficial, are with the current car­ried farther into the body, where­by the intermediate passages are more obstructed, and perhaps also the blood defiled. My Author therefore sayes very well; Omnes & vulgares etiam dicunt Purgatio­nem debere praecedere potum aqua­rum medicatarum, & quamvis ali­quibus successerit sanatio absque pur­gatione praemissa per pharmacum, ta­men raro hoc accidit; quare ante potum corpora sunt diligentissime purganda, bis, ter, & pluries, si o­pus fuerit.

The fourth and last thing I shall take notice of as an Erra­tum, and so to be corrected, is, the drinking other Liquors, keeping too much company, and observing no regular Diet, in the taking of the VVaters, which must of neces­sity prejudice their operation; where­as if they were permitted to take their own course, or had some en­couragements by meat and drink, they would be more apt to display what Virtues they have to a great­er advantage. But many, Gentle­men especially, are not contented with one good mornings draught, and in too short a time after drink­ing the VVaters, gratifie their Ap­petite, which they fancy is height­ned by the use of the VVaters, with variety of Meats; so that the Sto­mach, though sometimes at a dull rate, concocting, and the VVaters, [Page 22]as they say, provoking, makes such work for the draught, that, were they useful all the year, would prove more for the encouragement of the mystery of the Gold-finders, than any thing I know in the world be­sides.

That I may not be tedious in what I at first intended to be very brief, I shall now set down that course I think most convenient to be taken by those that expect any benefit from the drinking of the VVaters. After previous prepara­tion of the Body, which is the work of the Physician, what concerns the Patient may be, To rise about five or six of the clock in the mor­ning, and having discharged Na­tures burden, if occasion require, and walked some few turns to ex­cite natural Heat, he may safely, if [Page 23]of an indifferent Constitution, ad­venture on three pints of VVater the first time, to be taken in man­ner following; Viz. He, or she, may have as much VVater as is necessary by them, out of which may be fil­led a Glass or Cup, containing half a Pint, two of which may be taken presently; then walking gently a Quarter of an Hour, two more; and the like motion performed for ano­ther Quarter, the two last: The next day they may advance one glass more, and so every day increase half a Pint, till six Pints are com­pleated at one time, which is the highest dose I judge convenient for ordinary constitutions. When that dose is well received, I would not have the Patient stay long at this pitch, not above a day, two, or three at most, but descend again by the same steps he ascended be­fore; [Page 24]so that this course may hold twelve or fourteen dayes, without intermission, or Bathing in the mean time, which will be a sufficient try­al what the Waters will do. If it be judged requisite, a longer course may be ordered, as the Physician shall think fit, who is to be con­sulted in this case.

Those that are, if I may so speak, a size stronger in Constitution, lar­ger Bodies, and more violent di­stempers, may take a pottle at first in an hours time, walking, as be­fore directed, and so rise up by the steps before mentioned, to a Gallon, which I judge sufficient for the mid­dle sort.

And those that are of the largest size, and thought fit to bear the greatest proportion, may begin with [Page 25]five pints, and come up to ten; above which, I would not advise any per­son to go. This is the best Gage I can at present resolve on, which yet may be somewhat varied according to the judgment of the Physician that attends.

About twelve of the clock (by which time the Waters may have made a considerable pass) a light dinner may be taken of Eggs, Broth, or a cut of Veal, Mutton, Capon, Pullets, Chickens, and such like meats of easie digestion; but to­wards night, at five of the clock at farthest, a freer meal may be made on the meats before mentioned, that so the Stomach may be cleared against the next morning again; if any Wines be used, I think Rhenish, White, and Claret the best, and as lit­tle Beer or Ale as may be.

What relates to the distempers, it may be profitable for, and the Sym­ptomes arising sometimes in the use, notwithstanding all the Care and Circumspection imaginable, I say nothing of here, as being part of the Physicians concern, but leave the work of Physicians to Physicians themselves.