66 Aicount of Sutton Spa. 



are parliciilaily liable, chronic diseases of the skin, and 

 scrophula. Tn the former, which have so improperly been 

 termed scorbutic^, this water has been found a very vaUia- 

 ble remcdv, both externally and internally applied. 



In the cure of scrophuta, the superior merits of sea water, 

 first introduced to publicnotice by Dr. Russel, have ever since 

 been uniformlv and universally acknowledged f. A simi- 

 larity of ingredients would naturally lead us to expect si- 

 milar effects from the Sutton water ; and I am happy to bear 

 testimony, that a twenty vears' attendance at the Salop In- 

 firmary, as well as in private practice, has furnished me 

 with abundant proofs of its success in the treatment of 

 scrophulous afiections. Yet I will frankly own, that in 

 this deceitful, and, I fear, increasing malady, the effects 

 of medicine are frequently but too fallacious. At certain 

 seasons of the year, and particular periods of life, the sym- 

 ptoms will subside spontaneously, and the credit due to 

 Nature be given to the remedy last employed. 



In addition to the above properties possessed by the Sut- 

 ton spring in common with sea water, it enjoys one evi- 

 dent advantage, in containing iron. Though the minute 

 portion of it, in this and many other mineral springs, may 

 be thought inadequate to any useful purpose, — experience, 

 our surest guide, has amply proved the contrary; and it is 

 now well ascertained, that small and repeated doses of this 

 valuable metal produce far more beneficial and permanent 

 eflects on the constitution than the much larger ones for- 

 merly prescribed. 



It has been variously administered, either as a calx or 

 oxide, or as already combined with an acid solvent ; but in 

 no form has it proved so uniforndy efficacious as when pre- 

 pared by Nature herself, and' existing as a carbonate in 

 chalybeate springs. Winged, as it were, by its aerial acid, 

 it pervades the remotest vessels and minutest capillaries of 

 the system, invigorating every fibre, and rendering evacua- 

 tion by the saline ingredients both safe and salutary. Of 

 the external use of this water as a cold or tepid bath, I can 

 i^peak from theory alone, no such conveniences having been 



* I say iinproperlv, because the real scurvy is connected with a state of 

 tht system the mo-it oppo^ise of any to the diseases here mentioned. 



f It is worthy of reiiKirk, tluit ;i!inust every popular remedy for this com- 

 p';ii;U rontains tlie marine acid in its composition. At ons time, the muri- 

 ali'd ;)jrytcs was in high celebrity, and jiow the muriated lime is rising- into 

 ei'jiial rrcdit. I have often presciibcd witli success, tlie tinet. fcrr. muriat. as 

 romhinin^r the tonic pov.er.n of iron with the stimulus of the acid; but I 

 think I iiave fouild ihc siinpK^ rvarine arid full ns cflir;ii'i()ir. :i • any of its 

 ci.mil)inatii)nt. -"«• •<-••— • 



"• as 



