Comparative Account of Cheltenham Water.

irritability of the muscles, not directly, but through the medium of the nerves; and, in this manner, it may operate to the mitigation of pain, to the quieting of preternatural motions, spasms, and convulsions; and even to the diminution of the irritability of the heart, and the other organs; and, thus, by tranquilizing the whole system, may gradually induce sleep, the maximum of repose of the living body.”

A SHORT

Comparative Account of the Cheltenham Water.

WHILE engaged in the above Analysis, enqui

often made by my patients, respecting the nature of the saline water of Cheltenham; which had been so beneficially employed, for near half a century; but of which the real composition seemed not yet to have been sufficiently investigated. As it may gratify some of your readers to see a comparative statement of their contents, I venture to submit the following, though well aware that it differs materially from those, which have hitherto been laid before the public.

THAT of Dr. FOTHERGILL, being founded upon an Analysis made so far back as 1780, while the art was still in its infancy in this country, cannot, as, indeed, it does not, pretend to any thing like chemical accuracy― the sulphates of soda and magnesia, which were thought to be the two principal salts, not being separated; the muriate of soda assigned, by the vague method of chrystallization; and the oxyd of iron, still more vaguely, by

Cheltenham Water not a Chalybeate.

conjecture. From that of Mr. ACCUм, made at a much later period, my results differ still more widely. It is unnecessary to justify them here, by another detailed Analysis, and I shall, therefore, content myself with saying, that I believe them to be nearly accurate. Should their sim

plicity operate to create doubts as to their truth; let it be remembered, that the more closely the works of nature have been investigated, the more simple she has generally been found; and that as small means, properly applied, are often sufficient to produce great effects; so improved health may result from the continued use of a mineral water of a sufficiently active, though, by no means, of a complex nature.

I cannot conclude without one or two observations, respecting the supposed chalybeate quality of these springs; to which it appears to me, that, in a practical view, they are no more entitled than those of Leamington; as they did not, any of them, in their natural state, evince this character, with the appropriate tests; and only shewed a mere vestige of iron, in the insoluble residium, treated with nitric acid, too inconsiderable to be worth notice. Such quantities as five and seven grains of carbonate of iron in the gallon, as have been assigned to them, when it is at the same time truly stated, that they undergo no change, on exposure to the atmosphere, is an inconsistency which needs only to be mentioned.

A peculiarity of some importance, perhaps, in a medicinal view, distinguishes the two wells of Mr. THOMP SON, situated in Montpelier ground-they both gave to

TINCTURE of cabbage-a green hue.

Contents of the Water of the Old Well—the Orchard Well.

BRAZIL paper-a bluish ditto.

TURMERIC paper-a light brown.

THESE Colours became deeper in proportion as the

water became stronger by evaporation, shewing a slight

alkaline impregnation. To this, must be ascribed, the

turbidness and white sediment, which, I was informed,

take place, on preparing the warm salt baths from a

mixture of the brine, remaining after the chrystallization

of the salts, with common water.—The sulphate of lime,

contained in the latter, is decomposed by the carbonate

of soda.

Earthy Carbonates, with a very small proportion of iron 3

Carbonates of Lime, Magnesia, and Iron, principally

the first, with just a vestige of the last

....

62

Carbonate of Soda, nearly

Carbonates of Linie, Magnesia, and Iron, principally

the first, a mere trace of the last

....

1

2

65

Carbonate of Soda nearly

1

Carbonates of Lime, Magnesia, and Iron, with a mere

2

trace of the last

Specific Gravity

MR. SMITH'S WELL.

62

10,123

THIS as appears from the specific gravity, is the strongest of all-and its superior strength arises from the larger proportion of muriate of soda in its composition. The exact quantity of its several ingredients, I had no opportunity of ascertaining.

THE above examination was made, in the year I un1810, upon the waters, which were then in use. derstand, that several new wells have been since opened

New Wells of Cheltenham.

by Mr. THOMPSON, some of which possess qualities materially different from the above. As I have had no opportunity of analysing them, the present account can only apply to the wells then existing.