3<* The Natural Hijlory 



other of the Vind,l have met with in Oiford-JI/ire have been per- 

 formed; 1 forbear, and proceed to the other fait waters that are 

 more eminently fuch, and do not petrifie. 



32. And amongft/iw7, we muft remember to reckon all fuch 

 as are unfit for waftiing, and will not take Soap ; for though thefe 

 to our taft are not fenfibly fait, yet to our touch (as the Learn- 

 ed Willi* w notes) they areharfh and unpleafant, which they have 

 from their too great impregnation with Salts : But what is a much 

 more certain evidence of it, we do not find any but inftantly 

 lathers, except fuch as hold an acid fait, and difcover themfelves 

 fuch upon evaporation. To which may be added this very eafie 

 Experiment, That if to fimple water, and fuch as before would 

 lather well, you add fomefew drops of Spirit of Vitriol, or fome 

 fuch like acid, it prefently refufes to mix with foap : The reafon 

 of which feems indeed to be no other, but the congrefsof the 

 acid /alt of the water, with the/xVand alcalizate one of the foap, 

 which it fo wholly fubdues to its own inclinations, that it will 

 not permit it any longer to hold the oily parts of the foap, or mix 

 them with the water ; but now vifibly increafed both in quantity 

 and weight, by the confiderable acquesl of this new prifoner, it 

 may alfo perhaps fo fill up the pores and little cells of the water, 

 that the excluded jiilpbur or oily parts of the foap (as in their fe- 

 parate nature) are forced to the furface. 



33. Many of thefe waters are every where found, and accord- 

 ing to fome, all Pump waters are fuch but that they are miftaken, 

 my experience has taught me, for I have met with fome that will 

 lather very well. 



34. At Henly they are troubled with many of them, but not 

 fo much as they are at Thame ; for there they have a way to let 

 them ftand two days, within which time (as I was informed by 

 my worthy Friend M r Munday, Phyfitian there) the Vitriol, or 

 whatever other acid kbe, falls down to the bottom of theVef- 

 fels that hold them, and then they will wafh as well as one can 

 dcfirc. But TxTbame, where there is never a Well in the whole 

 Town whofe water will wafh, or (which is worfe) brew : This 

 Experiment, for I caufcd it to be tryed, will by no means fuc- 

 ceed ; fo that were they not fupplyed by the adjoyning Rivulet, 

 the place muft needs be in a deplorable condition. The reafon, I 



w Be Ferment. cap.?. 



fuppofe, 



