2 tf The Statural Hijlory 



adjoyning Rivulet, yet being fo near, and the Glebe all there- 

 about being to be prefumed of a like nature, it mult needs lick 

 fome of the Mineral in its paffage. About Kingham I was told 

 of a fulphureout Earth, and that fome of the Waters there were 

 of fuch an odour ; but whether true or no, I am fure On the o- 

 ther fide the water, at a place called Bould in the Parity of Id- 

 bury, it is manifeftly fo ; which being not far from the River, ac 

 leaft not from the Stream that runs by Fofcot, and fo into it, in 

 all likely hood may impart to the waters hereabout no mean quan- 

 tity of its more volatile parts. Upon the Cherwellwt have a fait 

 Spring runs immediatly into it ; and perhaps the fulpbureout Glebe 

 of Deddington may fomwhere reach the River. The Banks of the 

 Thame are fo well fated with fome kind of acid, that no well- 

 water in the whole Town of the name, will either brew, or lather 

 with foap : But none of thefe give a tinflure fo high, that they 

 can be perceived by the moft exquifite palate,but only fo far forth 

 as may conduce to a due fermentation, and to keep them living : 

 And yet without doubt from hence it is, that the Thames water at 

 Sea, in eight months time, acquires fo fpirituous and active a 

 quality, that upon opening fome of the Cask, and holding the 

 candle near the bung-hole, its fteams have taken fire like Spirit 

 of wine, and fomtimes endangered firing the Ship '. Hence 'tis 

 alfo that its flench is no abfolute corruption, and that after a 

 third or fourth fermentation, it equals the waters of the Well in 

 the Haven of Brundufium *, and ftiaks no more ; and though the 

 Mariners are fomtimes forced to drink it and hold their nofes, 

 yet upon that account they do not ficken ; whereas all other wa* 

 ters, as far as has been hitherto obferved, become irrecoverable 

 upon ftinking, and dangerous to drink. 



14. Cardan in his Comment upon Hippocrates k , takes the 

 plenty and goodnefs of the Fifh, to be a fure indication of the 

 wholfomnefs of waters. And our Country-man, the ingenious 

 D r Browne *, fpeaking of the great fecundity of the River Tibifcut, 

 admits it into confideration, whether its exceeding fertility may 

 not be afcribed to the [aline Tinclures it receives from the natural 

 fait Mines it licks by the way : which opinions if approved, as 

 rationally they may be, ftiew the health of our waters and the 



> Pbilofoph.Tranfan.Num.2f. pag. 495. * Flin. Nat. Hifi./ii. 2. tap. 103. K De Aere Aauis & loeii 

 fup<rlcxt.-$. * General Defcr:ption of Hungary, pag- io. 



rcafon 



