iS 
The S^tural Hijlory 
CHAP. II. 
Of the Waters. 
THAT Oxford-JInreis the beft watef d County m England^ 
though I dare not with too much confidence affert, yet 
am induced to believe there are few better ; fmce befide 
the five more confiderable Rivers of Thame^ Ifis^ Cherx^ell^ Even- 
lode^ and WindruJIj^ there 'are numbred no lefs than threefcore 
and ten at leaft of an inferior rank, befide fmaller Brooks not 
worthy notice : And all thefe of fo quick a ftream, and free from 
ftagnation, fo clear, and yet fo well impregnated with wholfom 
primogenial Steams of Salts and Sulphurs^ that few (if any) 
vappid and ftinking Exhalations can afcend from them to cor- 
rupt the Air. As for (landing Pools, Maridi, or Boggy grounds, 
the parents (at leaft occafions) of Agues^ Coughs^ Catarhs^ they 
are feweft here of any place to be found : the Soyl for the moft 
part lying.dry, and water'd only with clear and rapid Fountains. 
In fnort, fo altogether agreeable is this County to Cardans ^ rule , 
S ol urn ficcum cum aquis current ibu^ falubritatem Aer'ps ejficiunt^ that 
had he wanted an inftance for confirmation, he might have found 
one here moft fuitable to his purpofe. And if plenty of whol- 
fom Fiffi, fpontaneous productions of odoriferous Plants, and 
the fcarcity of filthy Reptils^ be cogent Arguments of the good- 
nefs of Waters^ Soyls, and confequently of Air^ as heretofore 
they have been accounted, I know not the place can make better 
pretences, as fliall be fliewn more at large in their proper places. 
2. Befide its clearnefs from peftiferous vapors, I take the 
fliarpnefs we find this Air to be of, to be no fm.all argument of 
its health and purity. Ariflotle, 'tis true, thought Air mode- 
rately warm, but its conftant return to a brisk coldnefs, after it 
has been heated either by fire, the Sun, or warm exhalations, 
gives us ftrong fufpitions that 'tis naturally cold : All natural 
Bodies, after they have fufl^'ered violence, returning of themfelves 
to their innate condition. To which add, that the Air on the 
tops of high Mountains, above the reach of the Clouds and o- 
ther warm Exhalations, as 'tis found to be clear, fo 'tis very 
cold ; 
