( H9 ) 
very much funk its Efteein among the Learned in 
Phyfick. 
By the Account M. Bolduc gives no longer ago, than 
in the Hiflory of the Royal Academy of Farls^ for the 
Year 1718, 1 find he did not fucceed according to his 
Wifii in the Experiments he try’d, to find out what 
this Salt was made from, juftly grounding his Reafons 
for its not being all made from thej^y^fwWaters, or other 
Springs that afiPord bitter purging Waters, becaufe of 
the large Quantities confum’d, and the Cheapnefs of its 
Price. After all his curious Endeavours, it ftill re- 
main’d a Secret, until the Information he received from 
hence by Dr. Mendez^ whofe Account is as follows, 
though very imperfed. It comes, fays he, from Le- 
tnington and Fortfea, both in Hampjbire, where from 
Heaps of folTile Salt, there runs a faltifli, bitter, fharp, 
and pungent Liquor, One would judge by itsBrackilh- 
nefs and Bitternefs, that it contained two Kinds of Salt, 
the one a Sea Salt, the other a bitter Salt. To feparate 
thefe Salts, they caufe this Liquor to run through hol- 
low Drains on the Ground \ there it gets together, and 
condenfes into Salt , this they put into a large Veifel, 
with a great Qiaantity of common Water, and boil it 
as long as is fufficient to dilTolve it, then they let it 
cool and fettle for feveral Days. The Water, im- 
pregnated with the Sea Salt, which is the heavieft, 
links to the Bottom of the Veifel with the earthy Parts, 
and the Water impregnated with the bitter Salt, which 
is the lighted, fwims at Top. They take off this up- 
per Liquor, as long as it retains its bitter Tafte, without 
any Pungency *, afterwards they boil it in one or two 
Waters, then evaporate it, and it yields white and tranf- 
parent Crydals, which are the counterfeit Epfom Salt. 
lii 
What 
