must refer our curious Readers to the Book itself for farther Satisfaction in that particular.

THE fecond Propofition advanced is, that this Spirit differs from the common Spirit of Sulphur, in that it brings with it a fubtilized mineral Fatnefs, or Fatnefs, or combuftible Substance; which he thinks is manifeft, because if the dried, reddifh Sediment of the Water be thrown on melted Salt-Peter, many of its Particles do vifibly kindle and burn with the Salt-Peter; and this, fays he appears ftill more evident from gathering a large Quantity of the partycolour'd Skin, which is form'd on the Waters, and throwing it, when dried, on the melted Salt-Peter. This being done, it may be obferved that a great many clear Sparks burn out of it; which cannot be feen, when Matter is thrown on it which is not combustible.

THAT the Spirit in Question does not diffipate and fly away, but is always more and more fixed, which is his third Propofition, the Author thinks fufficiently clear from the smell of the Waters, when newly taken out of the Well; which he fays is not penetrating, fulphureous and fuffocating, as all Volatile Spirits used to be; but it is a vitriolick Smell, though fometimes with a Mixture of a gentle Sulphur. This is confirm'd by the following Obfervation. It is well known, fays he, that all fpirituous Things, which are any way loofe and volatile, if fet on the Fire, will presently smell trong. Now he denies this to be the Cafe in regard to the Pyrmont Waters, a large Quantity of which being fo placed, neither the Organs of Smelling nor of Refpiration will be affected, though a Man holds his Head over it a confiderable time.

AMONG

AMONG other Difficulties which might be ftarted on this Occafion, the Doctor apprehends it may be ask'd, what becomes of the Spirit, which according to him, does not evaporate, and yet is fo foon loft? To which he replies, that this is best answer'd by a Proof of his 4th Propofition, viz. that this Spirit unites itself by Degrees with the Alcaline Salt, or with the fubtile fweet Earth, &c. and makes of it a Sal enixum. This Sal enixum, according to the Chymifts, is form'd by an Union of acid things, with lixivious Salts, or Alcalies. Now, fince the mineral Spirit of Steel Waters chiefly confifts of an Acid, as is acknowledged by most, both ancient and modern Phyficians; and the latter agree, that in all hot and cold Mineral Waters, there is not only a lixivious Salt, or an alcaline Earth, but that the Alcali predominates in them, fo that the acid Spirit cannot evaporate, but muft unite with the Alcali, when it meets with it in any Liquor, and thereby form a Sal enixum,.or neutrum; he thence concludes his way of accounting for the Matter, juft and fatisfactory. After feveral Pages employ'd in explaining and illuftrating this 4th Pofition, our Author thinks, if what he has faid on it be duly confider'd, the fth will want little or no farther Confirmation. viz. that the acid Spirit of the Waters by uniting itself with the Alcali, muft let fall all the diffolved Particles of Iron, which it had affumed, and fo the Waters muft lofe all their vitriolick Qualities. However, he explains himfelf ftill farther on that Point; but, as what he fays on that and the two remaining Propofitions, though curious and entertaining, is not fo useful to our Readers, as an Account of the chief Vertues and Effects of the Pyrmont Waters on

1

human

human Bodies, and of the Diseases cured thereby, which is the Subject of the third Chapter, we fhall proceed to that.

HAVING Confider'd the mineral Contents of these Waters at large, he rightly obferves, that they must work according to all their incorporated Ingredients together; which he reduces to fix, viz. the acid Spirit of Sulphur; the Vitriolum martis nativum, which he has before endeavour'd to prove form'd from a Mixture of the Steel with the acid Spirit of Sulphur; The Salt, the Steel, the alcaline Earth, and the cryftalline Subftance. And firft as to the Spirit of Sulphur. He obferves that the most learned Chymifts agree that the Acid of Sulphur and Vitriol is of the fame Species: that Practitioners of the greatest Learning, and moft Experience, allow the Spirit of Sulphur and Vitriol, to be a Medicament, which, without any Mixture, may be fafely taken to 10, 15 Drops, and fometimes a Scruple, and more. This Acid, he adds, when prudently prescribed, ftrengthens the Stomach, reftores loft Appetite, deftroys the fuperabundant Bitterness and Sharpness both in the Stomach and Bowels, as well as in the Blood, and entirely difcharges fuch Matter by Urine. It has likewife been found of great use in Fevers, especially fuch as are infectious.

THIS volatile Acid, according to our Author's Proof of his fifth Propofition, is united with Iron, and thus conftitutes a hard Vitriolum martis nativum, the fecond Ingredient to be here confidered, according to its medicinal Properties and Qualities. To which he adds, that a clean Vitriol of Iron is daily ufed by the best Practitiners, who give a Dofe of it to 10, 12, 15 Grains, which they continue daily for fome

Weeks.

Weeks. It opens Obstructions in the Bowels of the lower Belly, ftrengthens them, and helps their too great Relaxation, diffolves Slime, kills Worms, &c.

THE Doctor fuppofes that the mineral Water Salt proceeds from this Union of the Acid with the Alcali, as proved in his fourth Pofition. Thele he calls Salia Media, which he tells us, diffolve all Slime, Hardness and Obftructions in the Stomach, Bowels, Spleen, and other glandulous Parts, and are good in Dropfies, and feveral other Distempers.

THE next Ingredient in the Pyrmont Waters to be confidered in this Place, is the Steel or Iron which is found in them. The chief medicinal Effect of it in human Bodies, is that it ftrengthens, and gently contracts the Bowels. In long Illneffes the Fibres of all the inward Parts are much weakened and relaxed. By virtue of the fulphureous, dried, ferruginous Earth, they recover their natural Strength and Firmness, and by the Motion of its Parts all flimy, tartarous Obstructions, if not too much hardened, are preffed out of the feveral Canals of the Body; for which reason, fays our Author, the Steel or Iron Water produces fo excellent Effects in Malo Hypocondriaco, Morbis Matricis, defects of Digeftion, and all other Obftructions. As the first of these Diftempers is no where more common than in our Country, it were to be wished for the Good and Comfort of Society, that we were fupplied with large Quantities of these excellent Waters in their prime Perfection.

THE Doctor is of Opinion that he has proved in the preceeding Chapter, that the Alcali in the Steel Waters of Pyrmont, is a fubtile, alcaline Earth, diffolved in cryftal clear Wa

ter. This must correct and attract to itself the fuperfluous, acid Bitter, and faline Sharpness in the Bowels and Stomach, which is afterwards convey'd out of the Body by the cleansing Virtue of the Water.

THE laft Ingredient, mention'd by our Author, is the tasteless, cryftalline Subftance of the Water; and the Question is, whether this has any medicinal Virtues or not; which he affures us he has often employ'd with Success, in Cases where the Mountain Crystal has been recommended. This Chapter is concluded with confidering farther how the fresh Pyrmont Waters do operate in the Body. The most obvious Effect of them, according to Dr. Seippius, is, that when drank moderately, they increase all the natural Evacuations and Ejections, perform'd by the Organs of Secretion, and cleanse the whole Body.

He adds, that the Water throws fome Perfons into a ftrong Salivation, which continues fome Days, and carries off great Quantities of Phlegm or Slime through the Glands of the Mouth, Throat, and Windpipe; it causes Vomiting, makes a great difcharge of Filth; and carries off by Stool the grofs Humours lodged in the Bowels. Its moft general Operation, however, is by Urine; and it is the fafeft and furest Remedy for ordinary bloody Fluxes. Our Author proceeds to recommend this Water for broken Conftitutions, telling us, that its fulphureous, balfamick, ferruginous Earth reftores and ftrengthens the Tone and Elafticity of the Fibres and folid Parts, so that all new gathering of hurtful Matter in any part of the Body is prevented. To this he adds a long Catalogue of Diftempers in both Sexes, which he affures us, on