OF THE WATERS. 



21 



fectly cured : and alfo affirmed, that a poor man, deprived of the 

 ufe of his legs by the fcurvy, and forced to walk with crutches, 

 was cured at the fame time, after having tried other means with- 

 out fuccefs. 



Thefe are the chief fanative fprings we have. It is an extra- 

 ordinary providence, that in this cold northern region, where 

 fcorbutic diforders are fo frequent, that we have fo many fuch 

 fprings for our relief. 



It is the caution of an eminent phyiician to forbear the ufe of 

 fpirit of vitriol, Spiritus Nitri dulcis, and fuch like acids, as a 

 diuretic, in drinking mineral waters, unlcfs in fome hot inflam- 

 matory cafes, to alter and diminifti their force. To recover their 

 ftrength when thus weakened, he recommends the infufion of 

 an alcali-falt, fuch as vplatile fait of hartmorn, or of fal am- 

 moniac, or fixed fait of tartar, or of wormwood, which will 

 reftore their virtue and medical power. The ufe of Laflicinia, or 

 any kind of milk, he thinks fo far from being injurious in the 

 courfe of drinking them, that he prefcribed milk to be given to 

 puny ftomachs in an evening with good effect *. 



The learned natural ift, Francefco Redi, of Arezzo, in Italy, dif- 

 approves of low fpirited perfons drinking freely of them, for 

 fear of injury from the mineral F<eces, which make fad work in 

 the fluids of hypocondriacS f. 



There are fome facred fountains with us of no reputed medical 

 virtue, yet are held in a confiderable degree of efteem and vene- 

 ration, for their being antiently appointed to religious ufes. 

 There is one at 



* Frederick Slare, M. D. Ph. Tr. No. 337. 

 f Opere de francefco Rtdi, 410. Floreftt. 1724. 



