250 BATH \VATER. 
chalk, Glauber s salt (203), and common salt ; together with a 
very small portion of oxide of iron (21), yet sufficient to give 
iron mould stains to the linen of the bathers. The water curdles 
soap, and is so hard as to be unfit for many domestic purposes. 
The city of Bath has been celebrated for its hot 
springs even from the time of the Romans. These are 
of higher temperature than any within the British do- 
minions; and indeed are the only natural waters which 
we possess that are at all hot to the touch, the other 
thermal waters being of heat below the animal tempe- 
rature. 
There are three principal sources of these waters, 
called the King's Bath, the Cross Bath, and the Hot 
Bath ; and they differ slightly in their properties. The 
springs arise within a short distance of each other, at 
the lower part of the city ; and yield so copious a sup- 
ply that all the large reservoirs used for bathing are 
tilled every evening with water fresh from their re- 
spective fountains. 
The application of the water externally is either ge- 
neral or local. The latter consists in pumping it for a 
considerable time on the part affected. This is called 
dry pumping, because in it only one part of the body is 
wetted, whilst the rest is kept dry ; and in many cases, 
it is found an excellent remedy. 
The diseases for which these waters are resorted to 
are very numerous, and are amongst the most import- 
ant and difficult to be cured that come under medical 
treatment. 
4<. HOT ALKALINE SULPHUREOUS WATER. 
285. AIX-LA-CHAPELLE or AKEN WATER, is an 
alkaline sulphureous water, much hotter than that of any of the 
springs in England, varying in temperature in the different 
baths from 112 to 143. It has a saline, bitterish, and some- 
what alkaline taste ; and its smelt precisely resembles, but is 
greatly more powerful than, that of Harrozcgatc water (299). 
It contains a small quantity of chalk, common salt, and 
carbonat of soda (201), the latter of which renders it soapy 
to the touch. But the most striking feature in this water is 
