Ch ap. 8 . ] Bath and Briftol. 5 j 7 



rcous fmell ; but this latter is not ufually perceptible, 

 except when the baths are rilling. The gallon of 

 Bath water contains twenty-three grains of chalk, the 

 fame (quantity of muriat of magnefia, thirty- eight of 

 fea fak, and 8,1 of aerated iron. As it rifes from the 

 pump, it contains fixed air, or other volatile acid, in a 

 fufficient quantity to curdle milk and act upon iron. 

 The Bath water operates powerfuJly as a diuretic, and 

 promotes perfpiration. If drunk quickly, in large 

 draughts, it fometimes purges ; but if taken flowly and 

 in fmall quantity, it rather has the contrary effect. An 

 heavinefs of the head, and inclination to fleep, are often 

 felt on firft drinking it *.' 



This water when taken inwardly is faid to give 

 a ftimulus and vigour to the whole conilitution, it 

 therefore proves ufeful in old rheumatic complaints, 

 and in cafes of gout connected with much debility. 

 During the ufe of the Bath water, and fome time pre- 

 vious to it, the patient ftiou'ld live on a light diet, eafy 

 of digeftion. The courfe ihould be continued for a 

 month or fix weeksl In local complaints, as in ftiff* 

 joints and chronic pains, the application of the water 

 by pumping is more efficacious than bathing the whole 

 body. 



BRISTOL. ' The fprings are known by the name of 

 the Hot Wells. The water at its origin is warm, clear, 

 pellucid and fparkling ; and if let ftand in a glais, covers 

 its infide with fmall air- bubbles. It has no fmell, and 

 is foft and agreeable to the tafte. It raifes the ther- 

 mometer from about feventy to eighty degrees. It 

 contains ill grains of chalk, 5? of muriat of mag- 

 nefia, and 6 1 of fea fait in the gallon j-/ 



* Elliot on Min. Waters, p. 134, &c. 

 j- Ibid. p. 14.5. &c. 



L 1 3 The 



