On the Neglect of the Bath Waters. 31 



The foreign causes of the neglect of Bath waters, in the cure 

 of disease, are the writings and opinions of physicians, and 

 other practitioners, chiefly resident in the metropolis, amongst 

 whom the late Dr. Saunders holds a conspicuous place. This 

 author, during the period already mentioned, published a book 

 upon mineral waters, in which he pronounced judgment upon 

 those of Bath, without ever having witnessed their exhibition 

 upon the spot, where only evidence of their powers can be 

 obtained ; for when conveyed to a distance, their most active 

 properties suffer diminution, if they be not entirely dissi- 

 pated. In what he says of the medical powers of the waters, 

 he admits that they possess considerable efficacy in some cases, 

 when administered internally ; but he lays so much stress upon 

 the hazard attending their exhibition, that many have been dis- 

 couraged in their hopes of relief, who might otherwise have 

 derived the greatest benefit from them. To the external use 

 of them he denies any superiority above common warm water. 

 It is scarcely necessary to say that this opinion is wholly dis- 

 proved by the records of the Bath Hospital. 



But it is not in respect to its warm springs only that the 

 city of Bath suffers from the presumption and vanity of this 

 author. In describing its site, he says, " the older part of the 

 city is contiguous to the Avon, is narrow, irregular, and mostly 

 ill-built, and has its foundation on a marshy and clayey soil." 

 Now the first part of the description is all that it contains of 

 truth. The older part of the city is certainly contiguous to the 

 Avon, from which circumstance great advantages are derived 

 in regard to cleanliness. He might have added that much of 

 the new part is similarly situated, but the streets, in both parts, 

 are neither narrow, irregular, nor mostly ill-built, as every 

 person who has visited Bath can testify. The most errone- 

 ous part, however, of the description is that which relates to 

 the foundation, which he says is on a marshy and clayey soil. 

 So far is this from being true, that the soil upon which the 

 lower part of the city stands, consists chiefly of alluvial gravely 

 the detritus of the neighbouring hills, than which nothing can 

 afford a more dry or healthful foundation. 



