Analysis of a Carlonated ChatyUate IFell, <^c. 1 79 



during that time, to thicken their swill with the meal of 

 beans :rnd oats ground together.^ Pork fattened in this way 

 is vfcry firm, and does not waste'^nl boiling. 



Horned cattle may be fattened with parsnips in about 

 throe months. I never knew theiii used for sheep. 

 . It is the general opinion in the island, that hogs or cattle 

 fed on parsnips may be brought in a condition for slaughter- 

 ing in less'iitrie, aifd ,\\/ith half the quantity that would 

 be required of potatoes. ' The' butchers Are sensible of the 

 superiority of the former, arid will give a halfpeilny per 

 pound more for cattle fattene'd \V.ith them, than for such as 

 have been fed any other way. Upon inquiry I was inform- 

 ed, they always contained a greater quaniily of tallow. .' 



This I believe to be a full account of the culture and*ns6 

 of th(^ parsnip, an(l a just coin pari san with the potatoes 

 Sho'uld the Society wish any further information, either on 

 this, or on my Telegraph, I shall think myself 'iii duty 

 bound to give it. 



;' ^^' I remain, sir. 



Your most obedient humble servant, 



Charles le Hardy^ 



The above communicatipn was accompanied with certi- 

 ficates of the correctness of the statements which it contains^ 



XXXI. Annhjsis of the Carbonated Chalybeate Well, lately 



discovered at Middleton Hall, the Seal of Sir William 



Paxton, Kt.^ near Llanarthney in Carmarthenshire. 



Communicated by Mr. Howell. The Analytical Results 



from an Analysis of Mr. Accum. 



IVIedicinal waters have from time immemorial been 

 much resorted to by the atHicted ; and many traditionary 

 as well as written accounts of their virtues hav^e been trans- 

 mitted from one age to another. 



During the first cfi()rts of science, accident seems to have 

 given sone of tliese waters an illegiiiniatc value, and pre- 

 judice or fiction clothed others with mystery. 



Before the Christian aera, the effects of particular waters 

 were known ; and to some, such as the fabled waters of 

 Lethe, supernatural powers were attributed. Soon after the 

 commencement of that rera, medicinal springs increased 

 every where, and superstition found in almost every situa- 

 tion a holy or canonized well. The y'^rst rays of reform- 

 ation exposed the impotency of many, and the unchastenfd 

 glare that too often leads into exfremes^ brought others de- 



Ms ■ • servcdly 



