BRIGHTON CHALYBEATE WATER. 261 
with the external air. This spring is denominated the 
Old Spa. 
In the year 1788, on digging a well for a private 
house, another spring was accidentally discovered, 
which is of nearly the same nature as this, and produces 
a much more abundant supply of water. It is ahout 
a hundred yards distant from it, is upwards of forty 
feet deep, and is drawn by a pump. 
When Cheltenham water is fresh drawn, it appears 
tolerably clear, though not perfectly transparent. After 
standing some time, it becomes more turbid, and air- 
bubbles, in small quantity, rise from it. It contains 
more salt than perhaps any other waters, except those 
of the sea and some brine springs ; and by far the 
greatest part of the salts are of a purgative kind. It 
is also a very strong chalybeate, and has a slight im- 
pregnation of sulphur. 
This water cannot long be kept, nor can it be 
transported to any distance without being materially 
altered. In order, however, to reduce its valuable 
parts to a more convenient form, for carriage and 
keeping, the salts are extracted from it on the spot, 
by evaporation, and crystallizing the residuum. These 
salts are much used, in addition to the fresh water, 
for the purpose of increasing its operation on the 
bowels. 
Cheltenham is a small town in the county of Glou- 
cester. It is about ninety-five miles north-west of 
London, situated in a sandy vale, surrounded with 
hills of moderate height, and in the midst of a fertile 
and well cultivated country. 
297. BRIGHTON CHALYBEATE WATER isa.vi- 
triolatsd chalybeate, which, when fresh, has a peculiar and faint 
smell not uncommon in ferruginous waters, and a strong though 
not unpleasant chalybeate taste. 
It contains sulphat of iron or vitriol (208), sulphat of lime 
(182), common salt, muriat of magnesia, siliceous eartk> and & 
certain portion of carbonic acid gas (26). 
