Bath memoirs: or, observations in three and forty years practice, at the Bath what cures have been there wrought, (both by bathing and drinking these waters by God's blessing, on the directions of Robert Peirce, Dr. in physick, and Fellow of the College of Physicians in London, a constant inhabitant in Bath, from the year 1653. to this present year 1697. Pierce, Robert, 1622-1710. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A54826 of text R217310 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing P2163). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 567 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 220 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A54826 Wing P2163 ESTC R217310 99828992 99828992 33427 2264210830

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 Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A54826) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 33427) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1935:5) Bath memoirs: or, observations in three and forty years practice, at the Bath what cures have been there wrought, (both by bathing and drinking these waters by God's blessing, on the directions of Robert Peirce, Dr. in physick, and Fellow of the College of Physicians in London, a constant inhabitant in Bath, from the year 1653. to this present year 1697. Pierce, Robert, 1622-1710. [32], 399, [1] p., [1] leaf of plates : map (folded) printed for H. Hammond, book seller at Bath, and the Devizes; and are to be sold by most booksellers in London, and the countrey, Bristol : 1697. Engraved map of the city of Bath inserted before p. 1. With contents on c3v-c4r, and an advertisement on 3C8v. In two parts; "Bath memoirs: .. The second part" has a separate dated title page; pagination and signatures are continuous. Copy cataloged tightly bound with slight loss of text. Reproduction of the original in Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland. eng Medicine -- Early works to 1800. Mineral waters -- England -- Bath -- Early works to 1800. Mineral waters -- Therapeutic use -- England -- Bath -- Early works to 1800. eebo Bath memoirs: or, observations in three and forty years practice, at the Bath, what cures have been there wrought, (both by bathing and drinking these Pierce, Robert, 1697 436 102825 3031 0 0 0 1 0 295.75 F The rate of 295.75 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the F category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2010-11 Assigned for keying and markup 2010-12 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2011-01 Sampled and proofread 2011-01 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2011-06 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

Bath Memoirs : OR , OBSERVATIONS IN Three and Forty Years Practice , AT THE BATH ,

WHAT CURES Have been There Wrought , ( both by Bathing and Drinking these Waters by God's Blessing , on the Directions of Robert Peirce , Dr. in Physick , and Fellow of the College of Physicians in London , a constant Inhabitant in Bath , from the Year 1653. to this present Year 1697.

BRISTOL : Printed for H. Hammond , Bookseller at Bath , and the Devizes ; and are to be Sold by most Booksellers in London , and the Countrey , 1697.

THE PREFACE .

DID not the Tyranny of Custom compell it , nor the daily Examples of those that put out any thing in Print , encourage it ; yet would the small thing to which this is promised , necessarily require some Reasons to be rendred , for the publication of it .

I can safely say , it was not Ambition to be seen in Print , that put me upon it ; I have often blamed others , for their forwardness in that kind , and have observed , that some who would not be advised , but have persisted in the Vanity of putting out their Works ( as they call them ) have got little or nothing by it , not so much as the applause they aimed at , much less the Gain they proposed to themselves . And as very few have advantaged themselves , so have some as little benefitted others , or so much as satisfyed the expectation of their Readers .

I have therefore hitherto , contented my self ( as many greater , and more Learned Men then I have done ) with a fair and cleanly Reputation without Book , and should still have so done , had not the great , and not to be deny'd importunities of Friends ( both Patients and Physicians ) press me so long , and so much that I could no longer withstand their Sollicitations .

Besides , it hath been very often propos'd , and desir'd ( and by many wondred at , that it was not done , if for no other end , then for the Benefit of the City ) that a Catalogue of Eminent Cures should every Year be Printed , which though it hath been by some attempted , yet is the thing hardly Practicable ( if possible to be done ) for these following Reasons .

First , Very few will be contented ( especially in some Cases ) to have their Names mentioned ( so publickly at least , as is putting them into a Printed Paper ) least it spoyl their Preferment , or make them a common talk . And to put out a Rehearsal of Cures , without naming the Persons on whom they were wrought , ( that enquiry might be made of the truth of it ) might be looked upon as a Deceit , nor much better then a Quack's Setting up a Bill , at the corner of a Street , and one without a Name might probably call in question the truth of all the rest .

A Second Reason is , where one finds present Advantage , whilst he is here ●t at least a perfect Recovery , or such as will be sure to hold , which time only can try ) there be many that go away little alter'd from what they were when they came hither , and yet afterwards recover by degrees , of which not one in Forty gives an account , nor do we hear of them again , unless it be by chance .

And then thirdly , some are so horridly unworthy , that they industriously conceal ( what they can ) the Benefit they receive , for fear of being more obliged to gratifie those that have taken care of them , of which great ingratitude many instances might be given , were it to any purpose .

Fourthly , ( and what is indeed of as much Concern as all the Rest ) They that need much , and long Bathing , especially if they come in the hottest Season of the Year , ( which is not always their own , but sometimes their Physicians fault , that will not part with them whilst they can take Physick , or give Fees , ) are so enfeebled with long and much Bathing and Sweating , that till they have Recovered that Fatiegue , they cannot be sensible , what-Benefit they have received , which some do sooner , and some later , but scarce return back any account hom they speed .

And here may justly be reprehended those that , either upon their own Heads , or by the advice of the Bath-Guides , or out of lucre to have as much for their Money as they can , ( though to their hurt ) stay too long at a time , or go in twice a day , or more frequently then will well consist with their Strength , or present Circumstances . If a Physician advise against it , he shall be censured , as if he did it for his own end , to ke●p them longer in Town .

By these means , some have gone away , to all Appearance , as Bad or Worse , then they came , and yet ( after resting at home a while ) attain by Degrees , the end they came for .

Fifth , There is another impatient sort of People , that if they are not presently well , after so many times Bathing or Drinking ( the number of which they propose to themselves , or others for them ) enter presently upon some new Course , or take some trivial Medicine , which comes under the specious Character ●f ●n approved Receipt , though perhaps may signifie no more then Chips in Pottage , and then imputs the Advantage they receive , to what they took last , though the Bath or Waters had wrought it before , and they would not allow time to expect the Success . Which thing hath made me very often give this Advice , not to enter upon the use of any other Remedy ( unless great Necessity compel ) till after a Month or six Weeks time .

I do the rather mention this , because I find a Physician of great Name in his time , blaming the Bath ( in some of his Observations ) without Cause , and indeed , not without just Suspition of some Self-endedness ; I am sure , without allowing sufficient time to try , whether the Bath were Blameable or no , or did not rather deserve the Reputation of that Recovery , which was afterwards ( too partially perhaps ) ascribed to his own Method .

These are some of the Reasons , why a Catalogue hitherto , hath not been made publick . Now if ( instead of that ) there be a Manual fitted to every ones Price and Pocket ( which is one , and a chief design of this Vndertaking ) that shall give some instances upon every considerable Head , what Cures have been here done for more then Fourty years past , and the Persons named ( where it is convenient so to do ) that either , from themselves ( if living till this time ) or their surviving Friends , and Relations , ( if since Dead ) the truth of what is here related ) may be enquired into ; I think it may at once , attain all those ends , that a yearly Catalogue , could any may pretend unto .

And in doing this , I shall only relate Matter of Fact , not medling much with Theories , or setting up new Hypotheses . He that does that , does ( as it were set up a Shrove Tuesday Cock , for every one to throw at , without so much as paying Two Pence for Three Throws .

The Age we live in , is a Learned and rathe Ripe Age , and many think they know more , and sooner then those that lived before them , and indeed they are , and do so , if they are not mistaken . I am sure if they do , they have had more Advantages for it , then many of their Predecessors . Therefore I solemnly declare , that I mainly design this , not to instruct Physicians , but to direct Patients , where and how to seek for Remedy , by the Examples of those that have here found it , in the same or like Cases with theirs . And I shall not ( in the least ] Forestal , or prejudice the diligent endeavours of well designed Men of our Faculty , having not given the Copy of any one Prescription , used in any Case , in this my long Practice here , but have only hinted ( in the general ) what course I usually took in the several Diseases therein mentioned , and what the success was , whether Good or Bad , and have declared one , as well as the other ; that as one may supply the place of a Land Mark , the other may do the Office of a Buoy .

I do also solemnly averr , that I will not ( as others have done ) set down any Recovery , barely upon Report , or what hath been done by others , but only such as I my Self have been alone concerned in ; or joyned with another Physician , or Physicians , or by and with the Communicated Advice of Him or Them , that Recommended the Patient to my Care , whose Names also I have in some , if not most Instances inserted .

Now though I have declared against Theories and Hopothesis , yet I may ( I think ) without Breach of that Promise , say something in Answer to a Question that hath been some Hundred of times asked me , since I came to live upon this Place , viz. What is the Reason of the Heat of the Bath-Waters ? I never did give a positive Answer to it , that it was thus or thus , and no otherwise , nor shall I now , but as I usually returned to those Querists , so shall I now declare , what best satisfyed me about it . Most I know , ascribe the warmth to subterraneal Fires , others to the Fermenting Heat of imperfect Minerals , and a late Author to an Acid Spring running upon the Alcali of Free-stone Sand and Snail Shells . Let every one abound in his own Sence , much may be said against either Supposition , if one had either Will or Leisure to undertake the Controversie , or were it likely to be to any purpose Considerable .

The Fermenting Heat , I should like best , were it likely that Minerals were so long imperfecting . Vid. Mr. Jones Baths Ayd . pag. We have an Account of above Two Thousand Years , near Three Thousand , that this City hath been Built , and the Baths were discovered some time before ; no doubt , for the City was probably Built for their Sakes only , and doubtless , the Springs were long before they were discovered ; and if Minerals will not be within that time perfected , and consequently that Fermenting Warmth cease , the World must be much Older , then it is generally held to be .

Were the Story well vouched , that Dr. French relates in his Art of Destillation , ( with me , the Second Edition , Printed at London , 1653. in 410. Page , 155 ] it is of Monsieur de Rochas's Demonstrative Experiment , as he calls it , which can no where else be made , but in an unhabited Place , such as was that ( on the Alpes ) where this Monsieur found his Hot Spring .

Were the Truth of this well asserted , I should easily give up my assent , that ours might come from the same , or a like Cause . The Book is not in every Bodies Hand , and therefore it may not be unacceptable to some Readers to transcribe the Story out of Dr. French's Book , his Words are these .

As I was with some of my Companions , Monsi . de Rochas wandring in Savoy , I found in the Valley of Luzerne ( betwixt the Alpes ) a hot Spring , I began to consider the cause of this Heat , and whereas the vulgar opinion is , that the heat of Fountains , is from Mountains fired within , I saw Reason to think the contrary , because I saw Snow unmelted upon a Mountain , from whence this Hot Spring came , which could not possibly but have been dissolved , by the hot Fumes of the Mountain , had it been fired within . Whereupon being unsatisfied , I with my Companions , and other Labourers ( whom I could very hardly perswade to undertake such a Business , by reason they were afraid , that Fire would thereupon break forth out of the Ground and consume us ) got Tools , and set upon digging , to find out the true cause of the heat of this Fountain .

After we had digged Fifteen Days , [ having perceived before , the Water to be hotter and hotter by Degrees , as we came nearer to the source ) we came to the Original of the Heat , where was a great Ebullition . In three hours more , we digged beyond this place of Ebullition , and perceived the Water to be cold , yet in the same continued stream with the other that was hot . Upon this , I began to wonder much at the reason of these things . Then I carryed to my Lodg●ng some of this hot Water , ( which was both Saltish and Acid ) and evaporated it , and of Forty Ounces , I had in the bottom five Drachms of Saltish Matter , which I then farther purefy'd , and extracted thence three Drachms of pure Nitrous , Hermetick , Salt , the other two Drachms , being a slymy Sulphurous Substance . Yet with this I was not satisfyed , but with my Labourers , went again to the Place , and digged twelve Days more , and then we came to a Water which was insipid , as ordinary Fountain Water , yet still in a continued Stream , with the Saltish Hot Water .

At this I wondred much , whereupon I digging up some of the Earth , where the cold and Saltish Stream runned , and carryed it home with me , and out of a Hundred weight thereof , I extracted a good quantity of Nitrous Salt , which was almost Fluxile . When I had extracted as much as I could , I lay'd the Earth aside , and in twenty four Hours , it was all covered over with Salt , which I extracted , and out of a hundred weight of this Earth ( which I call Virgin-Earth ) I had four Pound of this kind of Salt , which it contracted in the aforesaid Twenty Four Hours , and so it would do constantly .

Now this satisfyed me concerning one Doubt ( for before I was unsatisfyed ) how there could be a constant supply of that Salt , which made the Water Saltish , seeing there was but a little distance betwixt the insipid Water , and the Hot Water , and the constant stream of Water washed away the Salt that was in that little space . For I perceived that this kind of Earth , attracts this Universal Salt of the World , partly from the Fire , in the Cavities of the Earth , and partly from the Vapours , that pass constantly through the Earth .

After this , I took some of that Earth , where the Ebullition was , and carryed it home , and proved it , and I perceived it to be a Sulphur Mine , into which the former Acid Saltish Water penetrating , caused an Ebullition ( as do Salt of Tartar , and Spirit of Vitriol mixed together , and also Water poured on unslackt Lyme . ) After this , I began to question how it was , that this Sulphur-Mine was not consumed , seeing so much Water passeth from it daily , but I began to understand how all things in the Earth did assimulate to themselves , whatsoever was of any kind of Affinity to them ( as Mines convert the Tools of Miners into their own Substance , in a little time , and such like Experiments of that Nature ) I was satisfyed . And after all this , I understood how this Universal Salt of the World was to be had , and I could at any time mix it with Water , and pour that Water upon Sulphur , and so make an Artificial Hot Bath , as good as any Natural Bath whatsoever . Since this , reading Monsieur Blondel of the Baths at Aix-la-Chapelle , I find that Henricus Rochas Medicus , had written a Treatise de Aquis Mineralibus , whence ( I suppose ) Dr. French had this Story ; Dr. Rochas's Book I never saw , if I had , I should rather have quoted him then Dr. French.

It seems Monsieur Rochas , was a Virtuoso , and Chymically enclined , and if the Relation be to be depended upon , it seems less lyable to difficulties , then the other Hypothesis .

Something like this , probably it must be to continue warmth to the Waters of the Bath so long , without interruption , or considerable Alteration . And why not then .

Two Channels in the Bowels of the Earth differently impregnated with the Streams , Vapors or Substances ( it matters not much which ) of different Salts , or Mineral Juices , continuing a while their single course , and at length meeting together in a common Channel , as we see the Veins in a Man's Body do , in the return of the Blood to the Heart , for as it is in the Microcosme , so may it be in the Ma●rocosme also ; and probably it is under Ground , as we see it to be above Ground , two little Rivulets meeting , make a bigger , which thing hath denominated several Villages , as Meetford near us , and Twyford near Reading : These Channels thus meeting , and being ( as before supposed ) differently impregnated , fall a fermenting together , and acting one upon another , produce this actual Heat , and so deliver the Waters up warm at the Spring-Head .

That several Liquors are known ( and more perhaps upon Trayal may be found ) that being cold whilst asunder , Vid. M. Blondels Thermiae Aquis Gra. become hot when mixed together some of our shop Preparations do testifie ( as in making Tartar Vitriolate , and Butter of Antimony , &c. ) And if I remember well , Mr. Boyl , in one of his Philosophick Treatises makes mention of Two Limpid Liquors of his own Preparation , with which be used to divert himself , and those that came to visit him , which being apart in several Glasses , seemed ( to a tender Finger ) rather colden then ordinary Water , but being put together in one Glass , became presently so hot , as to heat the Glass soconsider ably , as to affright one of the timerous Sex so , as to hazard the breaking of it .

Now it may easily be Granted , that Art being but the Ape of Nature , there is nothing in the former , but what was first in the latter , and that the great Chymistry , governed by the greatest Artist in the vast Laboratory of the Earth , comes not short of our small Processes here , even amongst the most Adepti .

That which confirmed me in the Opinion , that the actual Heat of these Waters , is from this or some like Cause ( for I have already sufficiently declared against Dogmatizing ) was an Experiment I made , when William Lord Viscount Stafford , ( of whom you will find mention made under the Title of Lumbago , or Duplex Sciatica , Lib. I. Obs. 4th . ) continued most part of the Winter at the Bath , and lived in my House , and Bathed three or four times a Week in the King's-Bath ( when the Weather was calm ) from the beginning of November forward .

He was in the Bath on Christmas-Eve , and took no Cold all that time . He had indeed , the Conveniency of a Gallery in my House , ( which was the Reason that his Lordship chose those Lodgings ) through which he went into the King's-Bath , under Covert , without exposing himself to the open Air , till he came into the Bath , when Stormy and Windy Weather was ( for Winds are always more a hinderance to Bathing , then Rain , nay , then Frost it self . ) I got His Lordship a Bathing Tub , which hela about Two or Three Hogs-heads , and placed it in the Pump-House . This Tub was pumped full about Five in the Morning , and between Seven and Eight , his Lordship came as at other times , to Bathe in it , but finding it ( by trying with his Hand , as his Custom was ) too hot , he commanded the Guides that were there to lave it for Half an Hour , with Hand-Pails , as People cool their Pottage with Spoons ) when it was cool enough , he entred the Tub , and stay'd his Hour , or Hour and Quarter , as at other times .

At my Lord 's going off , I commanded the Serjant of the Bath , to lock up the Doors , and not to let run the Water , till I came at Night , which I did after Nine of the Clock , and found the Water warm , though there was ( if I remember well a Frost that Day , and a large Window open upon the Tub.

Now the Experiment is easily tryed , whether Water boyled to the greatest heigth that may be , will keep its Warmth so long as Seventeen Hours , or more ▪ if it will not , it may be concluded , that this proceeds not from any extraneous Heat ( as that of Under-Ground Fires ) but from some Mineral Particles , rather within it self , which till they are wholly evaporated , continue the Water more or less Warm . And these Mineral Particles , probably , stick closer to the little Globules , that make up the Consistence of Fluids , then those , communicated by Fire , can possibly do .

And now although I have already ( more then once declared against insisting on Theories , and new Hypothesis , yet I do again assure you , that I assert not this farther , then to tell you what best satisfied me in this Enquiry , and what I usually answered others , that proposed the Question to me , recommending only the Farther Consideration of it , to more ingenious , and more industrious enquirers , and proceed to what I mainly proposed , which is to lay down plainly what I have observed of the Waters themselves , and the effects they have produced , both in the outward , and inward use of them , in those Diseases , the particulars of which you will afterwards find mentioned in the following Observations ; which I shall soon proceed unto , when I have given you some short account of the Occasion of my coming to live in this Place , which thing I should easily have been convinced to be needless , had not I my Self been one ( and that perhaps not the most inconsiderable ) instance of the Recoveries obtained by the use of these Waters , it being for my own Healths Sake , that I first came hither .

For as my own Sickliness and Tender Constitution , was one of the main Motives , that prevailed with me to bend my Study towards Physick , for I suppose it might otherwise be intended by my Father , when he first sent me to the University , he being himself a Clergy-Man , and Batchelor in Divinity , but Died in the 49th . Year of his Age , before I took my first Degree in the Arts ) so my great Illness at that time , was the chief Reason that brought me to live at Bath .

It may be needful to let you know that after a weakly Child-hood , I had at Ten Years of Age , a Dropsie , an Ascites , and Anasarcha , together , of which I was ( with difficulty ) recovered , by the Advice of Dr. Ralph Baily of this City , a New-College-Man , whose then Wife , was a Relation of my Mothers a Hungerford . ) At twelve Years old , I had the Small-Pox , which did not ( as it was hoped it would ) much mend my Sickly Constitution . At Fourteen ( being then at School , at the College near Winchester ) I had a Severe Tertian Ague , which held me Six or Seven Weeks . Many accidental Illnesses , between whiles I had , and seldom or never free from a Head-ach , which sometimes would be so violent , as to enforce me to give of all Business for a time .

Besides , I had very frequent Defluctions of Rheumes , to my Teeth and Jaws , to the Pallate of my Mouth , and Glandules of my Throat , even to the hazard , sometimes of a Suffocation .

At One and Twenty , breeding the Measles , I bled so excessively at the Nose , for two days together , or longer , that some despair'd of my Life , my Blood was so exceeding thin and sharp , as well as in a great Ferment , upon Breeding that Disease .

At this Rate I rubbed on , till Thirty ▪ when living Westward , near the Moors and Mashy Country , I was seized with an Epidemick Feaver ( a Disease usual in those Parts , about the end of Summer ) which upon my ventring too soon abroad ( to visit a good Friend , as well as a beneficial Patient ) determined in a Quartan Ague ( a common Distemper in that Country , and lasting seldom less then Six Months , sometime Twelve or Eighteen ; nay I have known some in those Parts , to have kept it Two or Three Years , and one that had it Seven Years . ) It is a scandalous thing in that Countrey , for a Physician to be Sick , much more a Reproach is it , to the whole Faculty , for him to die . The Scandal I could not avoid , the Reproach I kept free from , for I was recovered of it in Three Months , without Jesuit's . Powder ( scarce known at least in those parts then or any other fam'd Febrifuge , only with a plain Alterative and Aperitive Course ( sedulously follow'd , and for five or six Weeks continued ) in which a Preparation of Steel and Aaron Rootes prepared , had a considerable share .

In the midst of this Course , Nature offering a Discharge , by Swelling the Hemoroid Veins , I caused Leeches to be applyed , and Bleed plentifully , from which time I apparently got Ground of my Adversary , every day . This Quartane ( though so soon removed ) and the Preceeding Feaver , together with the ill steams of that Marshy Country , left many Scorbutical Symptomes upon me ; for which ( resolving not to trust a crazy Carkass , to that rotten Country , another Autumn ) I removed hither , not only because it was near my Native Air , ( which some advised , every one yielding me to be in hazard of a Consumption , even Physicians as well as Friends ) but also for the assistance of the Baths , and Bath Waters .

And being now for my Healths Sake setled here , I could not reasonably propose to my Self any Advantage of Practice , where there were three well reputed Physicians , constantly residing , besides several interlopers , both from Oxford and from London , and other parts of the Nation , some with , others to look for Patients , ( as still there are , and will be , for where the Carcass is , there will the Eagles be gathered together . ) But it was not Profit that I mainly came for , but Health , which ( I desire Solemnly to Bless God for it ) I found to increase daily , and therefore determined here to continue , though I had Advice , Encouragement , and Perswasions ( particularly from my Friend and Country-Man , and Fellow . Collegiate , at Lincoln-College in Oxford , Dr. Christopher Bennet ) to remove to London , as the likelyest place for a Beneficial Practice , but doubting whether a close City [ having tryed Bristol , before I went Westward , and finding that not so agreeable ) would well consist with my Constitution , which always best suited with an open Air , I set up my Staff here .

And contenting my Self with that little Business , that fell to my small Share , and demeaning my Self to my Seniors , with that Difference and Respect , that did ( I thought ) become me , ( very different to what some since have shewn to me ) I was often desired by them to go in their stead , to Patients in the Country , when they were hindred by a full Bath Practice here , by which means , in process of time , I had the Riding Practice for Ten or Twenty , sometimes Thirty Miles about , which I submitted to the Trouble of ( which is not little , considering the very ill ways we have in these Parts ) till those Elder Physicians dropping off ( and some younger Ones too ) a considerable share of the Bath Practice devolved upon me , and here I have continued a constant Inhabitant ever since , from the Year , 1653 , to this new begun Year of 97 , and to the Age of 75 , without Gout , Stone , Asthma , Dropsie , or any other great Disease , incident to Old Age , and not without some Considerable Success , as to the Health and Recovery of others , as well as my Self , and a far greater Advantage , then I could reasonably have hoped for . All which I desire Solemnly and Publickly , to ascribe to the Mercy and Goodness of the Great God only .

Now before I conclude this Prefaratory Discourse , ( though I am very sensible that it is already of the longest ) I thought it requisit to let you know also , that at my first coming hither ( as ill as I was I was not altogether idle , but having little or no Practice , I had more Leasure to Read and Think , then I had in many Months I may say some Years ) before . And determining to fix here , at least for a time ) I applyed my Self to those Books that treated of Baths and Mineral Waters , and was not backward in making [ at least ) ordinary Experiments upon these ; such as Evaporation , mixing various Things with them , &c. I must Confess , I was not so curious , as some have since been , to how much purpose , let the World judge , to spend Years about it , nor so wise as to enquire how many Hogsheads , Gallons , Quarts and Pints , each Bath held . There being no impost upon the Water , I though it needless to employ an Excise Man to Gauge the Ponds . It sufficed me , that there was enough to cover a de●ay'd Limb , or a Leprous Back , and that there was Water to be had immediately from the Spring , without mixing with that , which People Bathed in , to Drink .

And indeed I was ( even then of the Opinion , that the useful knowledge of a Mineral Water , is sooner and better had a Posteriori , then a Priori , that Experience and long Observation , is the best and surest way of acquiring that Knowledge . In which Opinion , I have been since much confirmed ( and have applauded my Self for thinking so formerly ) when I found so great a Man as Mr. Boyl ( then whom no Man in this last Age , nor in some past ones , hath been more industrious , and no less Successful , in trying Experiments , and laying Foundations for new Theories ) to be of the same , and that in a Book , which he designed as a Direction to a Physician , to enquire effectually into the constituent parts of Mineral Waters , and to declare himself there of the same judgment , it is in his Memoirs , for the Natural Experimental History of Mineral Waters , addressed by way of Letter , to a Friend , it s in 8vo . Lond. 1685. In the Second Paragraph of the first Section , and the Third Page , in which Book he hath these Words ,

But here I must ingeniously own to you , that notwithstanding the many ways I propose of discovering the Natures , or Qualities of Mineral Waters , yet I think the surest way of knowing them , is a long and sufficient Experience , of their good and bad Effects . For I strangely suspect ( and it may be partly known ) that there are beneath the Surface of the Earth , divers Mineral Substances , some Fixed , and some Volatile , some in the Form of hard Bodies , some of soft ones , some of Liquors and some of Fumes , divers of which , the Generality ( even of Learned Men ) are altogether Strangers to , besides those that ( though Men may chance to have some ) have their Nature so little known , that they have not so much as Names assigned them . So that when I consider that of the ingredients we are acquainted with to pass by all the rest , that the Earth may conceal the proportions wherein they are mingled , may be numberless , and the Qualities resulting from the commixture , may be very differing from those of the seperate ingredients , I am apt to look upon the difficulty of Securely determining the effects of Mineral Waters , a Priori , as little , if at all less then insuperable to human Understandings .

This was that great Mans Opinion of this Thing , and if a Person of his unparalleld Parts , and indefatigable industry and Ability , to be at the Charge of Experiments , looked upon these nicer Enquiries so difficult and uncertain , how easily may I be exensed , if I as indeed I did mainly gave my Self to the diligent Observation of the eff●cts of these Waters , some of which you will find faithfully communicated , under several Heade of of Diseases , in the following Papers , to which many more Particulars might have been added , had it not been for fear of Swelling the Volume too large a Bulk , it being intended only as a Pocket Companion , for those that need ( or would make Tryal of the Bath and Bath-Waters .

If this be received well , and an Enlargement be thought useful , ( if it please God to continue me Life and Health ) I shall not bethink my Pains in doing that also . But in this ( as it is ) you will sind of those many Instances , that may be given of great Recoveries obtained here , by the use of these Waters , under my Directions , even when great Means and long Methods of Physick have failed .

If any in the same or like Cases , are encouraged by this to come hither , and take the same course which others havr done , and find the same Advantage by it , I shall think it a sufficient Compensation , for all the Trouble and Pains have been a , in looking up my old sca●●er'd Papers , of many Years standing .

Such as it is , accept it , as it is meant and designed , an Advantage to those that need it , and a Direction to the Sick and Lame . If any one read it out of Curiosity , and think the Descriptions of the Distempers I give instances of , be not acurate enough ; let it be remembred , that I have already said , that this is done for the information of Patients , and not Physicians , and for the Satisfaction of the Necessities of the former , and not the Nicities of the latter . And I have ( for that Reason ) chosen such Terms as are most vulgarly known , and commonly used , and where I have been necessitated to use a Term of Art , or a less known Expression ( which is not often ) I have endeavoured to explain it so , a● every ordinary Apprehension , may know what is meant by it .

Some perhaps , into whose Hands this may come , may wonder that it was not written in a Language , more becoming the Education I have prentended to . Though I have out lived my English Teeth , yet I have not ( as old as I am quite forgot my Latine Tongue , and had I designed it for Forreigners , or Scholars only , it might have spoken that Language . But this was , and is intended , for the Information of those that know no other then what their Mothers taught them . And for the Advantage of that fair Sex , that usually are skill'd in but one Tongue , and whose greatest Honour it is , to use that well .

If this plain English may be of Advantage to either , or both , ( but especially to the latter ) I shall not repent me , though others Censure it , of the Trouble in Writing , nor will they , I hope , of theirs in Reading it , at least I shall satisfie my Self in the Presumption , that both will kindly accept the candid Intentions of

Their very Faithful Servant , Rob. Pierce .
The Contents . That the Reader may the more easily turn to any Chapter or Disease . I have added this short Direction to both . BOOK I. Of Bathing . CHapter I. Of Wandring Pains . Page 1 Chap. II. Fix'd Pains Sciatica . p. 15 Chap. III. — in the Arm. p. 41 Chap. IV. Numbness and Palsie . p. 58 Chap. V. After the Collick . p. 83 Chap. VI. Scorbutical Palsie . p. 101 Vertibrae started . p. 122 Chorea St. Viti . p. 133 Quarterly Palsie . p. 136 Chap. VII . Lameness from Accidents . p. 138 After Mortifications . p. 139 Strains . p. 141 White Swellings . p. 152 Poyson . p. 151 Mercurial Oyntments . p. 15● Wounds and Ulcers . p. 159 Bruises and Falls . p. 162 The Gout . p. 16● Chap. VIII . Cutaneous Diseases . p. 171 King Blaudud's Story . p. 172 Chap. IX . Womens Diseases . p. 187 Green Sickness . p. 188 Barrenness . p. 195 Conception removed . p. 198 Miscarrying . p. 2●1 Women with Child may Bathe . p. 20● Uterine Fluors . p. 214 Chap. X. Childrens Diseases . p. 222 Chap. XI . The use of the Pump . p. 237 Bath-Mudd . p. 248 BOOK II. Of Drinking . CHap. I. Of Water-Drinking in general . ibid Chap. II. Observations in Pectoral Caeses , p. 263 Chap. III. Palpitation of the Heart . p. 287 Chap. IV. The Dropsie . p. 296 Chap. V. The Diabetes . p. 310 Chap. VI. Caechexies . p. 322 Chap. VII . Diseases of the Stomach . p. 342 Chap. VIII . Of the Urinary Passages . p. 363 1. Sharpness of Urine . p. 364 2. Stone and Gravil . p. 367 3. Bloody Water . p. 374 4. Unlcers . &c. p. 376 5. Old Gonorrhaeas . p. 380

map of Bath THE CITY OF BATH

Places Observed by Letters A St James Church B the Abby Church C St Michaels Church D the Town Prison E the Free School F the Kings Bath G the Queens Bath H the Hot Bath I the Cross Bath K St Katherines Hospital L St Johns Hospital M Bridivel & Bridivel Lane N Vicarage Lane O Cock Lane V. the Meeting house P Nowhere Lane Q Gascoin's Tower W. Bear Corner R the Cock Pitt S Guild Hall T St Johns Chapel

Bath Memoirs . BOOK I.
CHAP. I. Of Wand'ring Pains .

ONE of the Anglo-Saxon Names by which this antient City was formerly call'd , was ACKMANCHESTER , or the City of Aches and Lame People , from the Concourse of such Infirm Persons , that came hither in Bathing Seasons . Were it to have a new Name given it now , upon the same consideration , it might be call'd CRIPPLE-TOWN ; as Cripple-Gate was from the Cripples that used to lie there begging .

As there hath been every Year since , so that year , especially , that I came first hither , many , it not most , of those that came to use the Bath , were for Aches and Pains in several parts ; and that which I was first , and most concern'd in , was the Arthritis vaga Scorbutica , which Gregory Horstius says the West-Phalians and Fryseans call DIE VAREN , and LOPEN DIE VAREN , which my good Friend , Dr. John Northly , of Exeter , ( who hath lived in those Parts , and understands the German Tongue ) tells me that in their Idiom signifies the GRIEF , the LEAPING GRIEF : In the West Country they call it the Wind-Gout , and in some Places the Joynt-Ague .

One of those Scorbutical Symptoms , which my Quartan left upon me , ( as I mention'd in the Preface ) was this Wand'ring Pain ; together with a Spontaneous Lassitude , and a Ca●he●tick Habit of Body , and sometimes a Swelling , and a dull Pain , with some Spots on my Legs . Of this sort of Infirm Persons , ( and indeed those that had these Symptoms , in far greater degree than I had them ) many then came to the Bath , and some were under my Care ; I therefore begin with Aches and Pains in the Limbs , and first of those that are Wand'ring , Transient ; and Vncertain , afterwards of those that were settled , and fixed in any one part .

OBSERVATION I.

Amongst those , I may very well begin with my self , ( the first Patient that ever I ●ad . ) It goes ill with a Physitian when he must exercise his Patience , in bearing his ●wn Illness , instead of imploying his Care and Skill about Patients , to endeavour to ●ecover theirs .

But this was my Case then ; I had sometimes a Pain in my Right Hip , Thigh , Knee and Ancle , which would soon move to my Left Shoulder and Arm ; in both so acute , as ●o render them for the time almost useless ; 〈◊〉 had a dull , heavy , and well-nigh constant Pain in my Legs , with a little Swelling , and small Spots , &c.

After due Preparation , by Purging and Bleeding , and for a time , renewing the Opening Course I mention'd in the Preface , I Bathed for this , at Spring and Fall , seldom oftner than three times a Week , and not at all in the Summer , not being able to bear the Heat of both ( the Bath and Season too ) without excessive F●intness : I used a Decoction of Sarsa and China , Lignum , Lentiscinum , with Cephalicks , Neureoticks , and Antiscorbuticks , and a Sacculus for a Diet-Drink , of the same Ingredients . The Waters I used at first , no more than would quench , or prevent a Thirst , in , and after Bathing , nor so often , nor so much as others do , they seldom passing with me without the help of Pills ; and when they did not pass well , they left Superfluous Moistures , which increased in me Rheums and Catarrhs , to which I was always subject from my Infancy : Yet in the Intervals of Bathing then ; and Spring and Fall since , ( before Business comes in , to interrupt my Attendance on them ) I yet drink them for some time , and bathe also for prevention .

So that to God's Blessing on both , and an orderly Course in Diet , and Medicines , and the good Air upon the Neighbouring Hills , must I impute the Recovery which I had , and that was not inconsiderable ; for within a year or two after my first settling here , I was engaged in a Riding Practice almost all the Country about , which I bore 〈◊〉 tho' oftentimes wet and weary ) beyond Expectation . The Air and Exercise in Riding contributing I think , greatly to the Confirmation of that measure of Health , which the Bath and Waters had restored me to ; so that I had little or nothing left of the Symptoms above mentioned , unless sometimes upon Accidents , in taking Cold. And now whilst I write this , ( which is in my 74th . Year ) I bless God I have neither constant Cough , Asthma , Gout , Stone or Propsie , nor any Remainder of the Scurvy , but want of Teeth .

But , at this time of day , it is not to be expected , it should long continue so with me ; Young Folks may die , but old Folks must die . May I provide for the worst , the best will help it self ; the Will of God be done , by , and on , me , and mine .

OBSERV . II.

Mrs. Score , aged 42 ( from Linton , near Porlocke , upon the edge of Devonshire ) came to the Bath in May , 1654. She complain'd of Wand'ring Pains all over her , from Head to Foot , occasion'd ( as I judged ) by Indigestion in her Stomach , and long continued Obstructions ; she was withal Hysterick , and Scorbutical : After previous Purgings she enter'd upon Bathing , and drank of the Water in the Bath ; at other times she took of a Bocket of Sarsa , Lignum-Lantiscinum , Sassaphras , the Opening Roots , Hysterick and Neureotick , Herbs , Seeds and Flowers , &c. gently purging once a Week . She continued this Course a Month or five Weeks , when ( being considerably freed from the Pains she complain'd of ) she return'd home , with Directions for a peculiar Diet , and Physick , amongst which was a Sacculus ( to be hung in a Barrel of Beer ) consisting of Aperitives , Antiscorbuticks , and Hystericks ; by which means she past the following Winter much more at ease than formerly ( for she had been for some Years before subject to this Illness . ) She came hither again the next Summer , and ( if I remember well ) some Years following , to continue , and preserve the Ease , Health and Strength which she got the first year , till at length , being confirmed in a perfect Recovery , she gave over her coming any more to the Bath .

OBSERV . III.

William Hedges , a Farmer , of Hinton St. George , in the County of Somerset , about 50 Years of age , being greatly afflicted with these vagrant Pains , and also highly Scorbutical ( insomuch that his Disease might very well deserve that barbarous name of Gingipedium ) his Gums being flaccid , his Teeth loose , and ready to drop out , his Breath fetid , and his Legs and Feet not only pain'd and swell'd , but the Joints relaxed , loose , and useless withal ; upon them many black , yellow , and blue Spots , very large , from Knees to Toes . This helpless Man , after some Months ( if not Years ) tryal of other means in the Country , was at ●ength brought to the Bath , in June , 54. And presently ( as is the custom of those that look upon the Baths as a Pool of Bethesda , that cures by Miracle , ( as many of higher quality , and more ingenious Education than this honest Countryman was , have done , and yet frequently do ) was put into the Bath , without Advice , or Preparation : Upon which , finding some of his Symptoms to increase , rather than ( what he expected ) to abate ; I was at length call'd in , and supply'd ( what had been before omitted ) by duly preparing him , and prescribing Antiscorbut ck Alteratives , with an orderly course of bathing , by which , in a Fortnight or three Weeks time , having obtain'd Ease , and some Strength , his Patience would hold out no longer , ( tho' the sault was laid upon the Purse ) but home he would go , and did , with Directions for Antiscorbutick Juices , to be put in all the Beer he drank , and Gargarisms for his Gums and Teeth . And tho' this Man did very well , and ( for ought I ever heard ) continued so , yet may it be here observed ( and let it be once for all ) what I have many Instances of ; That the Impatience and Parcimony of sick Persons , have hindered as many great and good Cures as the Bath , and best Methods of Physick have ever perform'd ; so that the French may be very well excused that say of the English , that they are guilty of two great Errors in reference to their Health ; They do not own themselves sick soon enough ; and they think themselves well too soon .

OBSERV . IV.

Mrs. Fane Chase , ( of Yartee , beyond Charde , upon the Borders of Devon and Dorsetshire , but in the County of Somerset ) a Maiden Gentlewoman , of an antient Family of that name , aged about 24 or 25 Years , was seized about Michaelmas , 1655. with sharp Pains in her Joints only , which ran from place to place , by quick and sudden Removes ; sometimes Inflaming , sometimes Swelling , always severely paining the part it moved into ; this Illness held great part of the Winter , and so much enfeebled her Limbs that she was not able to go , or stand upright ; for which Lameness of hers she was brought to the Bath the Spring following , to wit , April 56. She had ( besides these Infirmities in her Limbs ) several other Scorbutical Symptoms , such as a Spontaneous Lassitude , want of Appetite and Digestion , Palpitation of the Heart , and sometimes the Returns of those Arthritick Pa●●s , but not altogether so violently , or frequently as at the first Seisure .

After convenient Preparation she was pe●nitted to bathe , and in bathing we were fo●●ed to support her with Cordials , her Spirits being very low , and her Strength exhausted ; nor could she bear a temperate Bath , at first , more than twice a Week , or every other day : But by degrees she grew stronger and stronger , and greatly more at ●ase ; so that in six Weeks or two Months time she got considerable Strength and Stomach , and the Tumours on her Joints began to subside ; the Palpitation of the Heart remitted , and she was ( in all particulars ) so well recover'd , that she that came hither in a Litter , went home on Horse-Back , and continued the Autumn and Winter following free from a Relapse ; but came again ( whether the next , or second Summer following , I cannot well remember ) to confirm what she had got the first Season .

This Gentlewoman at her first coming drank the Waters no otherwise than to quench Thirst in the Bath , and sometimes ●o keep soluble ; her Case then requiring rather Cordials , to which being accustomed the Waters were not so agreeable ; a● the second coming she drank them more freely .

She continued after this , many Years very well , and free from this painful Distemper ; taking Spring and Fall such thing● as I then order'd for her , which were som● gentle Purgatives , Antiarthriticks , Antiscorbuticks , and Cardiacks .

OBSERV . V.

Mrs. Greene , of Stratford , upon Avon in the County of Warwick , aged 40 Years came to the Bath in July , 1677. She had in her younger days ( when about 19 or 20 ) a Wand'ring Scorbutical Gout ; of which ( after a great deal of Pain and Trouble ) she was recovered , and marry'd , and had four Children ; but in January , 167● . was again seized with the same Distemper , which at first tortured her between the Shoulders , upon the upper Vertibrae of the Back , and those of the Neck ; whilst it stuck there , upon rising up ( or any ways stirring ) she would be very faint , ready to swoon away ; after it had thus severely afflicted her there for a time , ( and perhaps upon the use of outward Applications ) it dispersed into all her Limbs , one after another , and was exceedingly painful where ever it went. This stubborn Distemper yielding to no Re●edies in four or five Months time , she at ●●ngth came hither at the time abovesaid , and was commended to my Direction , in p●eparing her for , and advising her in , the ●●se of the Bath and Waters .

What she mostly then complained of ●as Weakness , as well as Pain , in Hipps , ●hees , and Soals of her Feet , which disabled her from standing long together , much less was she able to walk . After one or two Days rest ( her Journey having not a little disordered her ) I prepared her with a gentle purging Potion ; after that put her upon taking of an easie Pill ( which I usually gave in those Arthritick Cases ) over Night , and drinking the Bath Waters next Morning , which she continued to do three or four Days , or a Week .

Being thus prepared she was put into the Cross-Bath , as the more temperate , it being then a very hot season . Thus she continued drinking and bathing by turns for five or six Weeks , and return'd home ( at ease , and able to walk considerably well ) with some familiar Directions how to manage her self , to prevent another Return of this Illness , which I never heard but that she still kept free from .

OBSERV . VI.

Mrs. Martha Greswold , aged 23 Years , ( from Solyhill , in Warwickshire , a comely Gentlewoman , and of excellent Humour ) was brought hither in May , 1663. so weak as not able to use Hand nor Foot , nor so much as to lift her Hand to her Head , but was carry'd from place to place , and lifted into , and out of , her Bed. Her Head also was concerned in this her general Weakness ; she apprehended every thing that was said to her , but remembred little or nothing .

At 13 Years of Age , by lying on the Ground , in , or soon after a Scarlet-Feaver , she had first a Rheumatism , but not so painful as at this second Seisure ; yet then it left a great Stiffness at her Joints . At 17 Years of age she had the Green-Sickness , and being obstructed ( yet having hot and sharp Blood ) frequently blead at Nose ; in other respects continued well till this second Seizure , which happened from home at Chester . After taking cold , this Wand'ring , Arthritick Pain took first one Knee , after a while the other , and so leaped from Joint to Joint till it had gone over all her Limbs . Dr. Burlace was her Physitian there at that time , who caused her to be let Blood , Purged , Fomented , Sweated , &c. after which ( at eleven Weeks end ) he dismist her , and gave her advice to come to the Bath , ( which after a whiles stay at home ) with no small difficulty , she did , in the Condition above described .

Her Weakness first required Cordials , which were ordered for her ; afterward I gave her Antiscorbuticks , Chalybeats , Cephalicks , &c. with necessary Preparatives for drinking the Waters , and bathing ; by which , in little more than a Weeks time she had Ease , and by degrees , got Strength also , though under the fatigues of bathing and pumping , and sometimes purging ; insomuch , that at seven Weeks end she rode homewards 40 Miles the first day , and that after ten a Clock .

She got home well , and kept free from this Distemper another ten Years , within which time she was marry'd to a Serjeant at Law , ( Serjt. Flint , near Coventry ) and was quickly with Child , but the Serjeant her Husband dy'd within twelve Months .

She hath since that time had ( at some Years distances ) very severe Fits of the Gout , by which her Fingers and Toes have been distorted , and the Joints have contracted Nodes : for which she hath often come hither to drink these Waters , and to bath● sometimes , by which she always hath Respite and Advantage : She was here last Summer , then aged 53.

OBSERV . VII .

Mrs Kent , of the Devises , in the County of Wilts , Wise to Mr. Thomas Kent , the Town-Clerk , and one of the Masters ( as they there term them ) of the Corporation , aged 49 ; she came to the Bath in September , 1655. having long before been greatly afflicted with this Wand'ring Scorbutical Gout . After due Preparation she bathed , the Pains being then the most urging Symptom : And because she had formerly been troubled with Heats in her Back , and Gravel , and therefore feared the Stone in the Kidneys : A cooling Liniment was ordered for the Reins , to be gently rubb'd in before she entred the Bath : In bathing she drank of a Bocket of the Woods , Sarsa , China , Hermodactyls , &c. with Antiarthriticks , and Antiscorbuticks . The first Week or ten Days gave her Ease ; the rest of her Month , ( for so long she stay'd , and no more ) gave her considerable Strength , and great Hopes of a perfect Recovery , which a like Direction home for a Diet-Drink , and some easie Alteratives , and a good Diet , consummated , and continued to her dying day , which was many Years after : She drank little of the Waters , having some aversion to them .

OBSERV . VIII .

Mrs. Mary Huntly , an unmarry'd Lady , near 30 Years of Age , came to the Bath in May , 1656. in much like Case , with some of the former , chiefly that of Mrs. Chase , only in this different ( if I well remember ) that with the Wand'ring Arthritick Pains , she had Heats and Pimples in her Face ; a Cough , and Shortness of Breath , and was greatly obstructed : All which required a longer time of Preparation , and more drinking of the Waters , but at last she was permitted to Bathe , which had on her the desired Success .

She endured it better , and bore a longer Stay at a time , and oftner bathing than Mrs. Chase could do , and therefore spent here somewhat less time ; but had altogether as much advantage , or more ; and was returned home with like Directions , only by reason of the heat of her Liver , I order'd her the more cooling Antiscorbuticks , Pectorals , and Hepaticks ; by which means she kept free from a Relapse , and ( for ought I ever heard to the contrary ) remained well several Years after .

Many more Instances might be given , but these may suffice .

Of late these kind of Illnesses have gone under the name of Rheumatisms ; but whatever they are call'd , all remaining Pains and Weaknesses after ( either this , or the Gout ) have certainly been recovered by moderate and regular Bathing , and Relapses have been prevented by Drink●ng these Waters .

CHAP. II. Of Fix'd Tains .

HAving given some Instances of the cure of Wand'ring and Erratick Pains in the Limbs , I come now to do the same of Fix'd and Settled ones ; the chief of which will easily be allow'd to be the Sciatica , ( as vulgarly call'd ) or Hip Gout ; the Ach in the Hip , for there is the chief Seat of it , tho' by consent of Parts the lower parts of the Back ; the Loyns , ( whence call'd , when upon both sides , the Lumbago ) the Groin , the Thigh , and outside of the Leg and Foot also have their share of Pain , and ●re sometimes convulst withal . And here , ●y the way ( for Cattle are subject to this Distemper as well as Men ) I think that ●iece of Beef which the Butchers call the Ach-Bone ( which by some is look'd upon ●s a choice piece ) is thence denominated , ●art of the Hip-Bone being cut into it .

The Gout in this part is not only as ●uch , if not more painful than that in ●he Hand or Foot , but is usually of longer Continuance , and with more difficulty r●moved , and hath more severe Accidents attending it . It is not so easily pal●●ated or cured , because affluent sharp Hu●ours , lie deeper upon the Bone ; and thick ●nd large Muscles intervene , and therefore 〈◊〉 outward Application can so easily reach 〈◊〉 as in a less-fleshy part . It is lyable also 〈◊〉 more , and more afflicting , Accidents ; 〈◊〉 the Matter being long imprison'd there , ●●rrupts more , grows more Acrimonious , ●●d becomes at length corrosive , and de●●nerates into a Vitriolick , if not an Arse●●cal Poysonous Sharpness , which in Process ●f time , penetrates the Bone it self , as ●ell as the Periostium , as some of the fol●●wing Observations will more than suffici●ntly demonstrate .

Then again , the too much Moisture ●●ere relaxeth the Ligament , which should hold in the Head of the Thigh-bone , into the Acetabulum ( the hollow of the Hip ) and then by the weight of the Limb it sinks out of its Socket ; and when it is thus sunk , and the lame Person endeavouring to go , and putting stress to it , it 's sometimes struck back into the Buttock , or into the Groin , or to the Outside ; and the Leg i● shortned , when thus thrust back . Whilst it relaxeth the Ligament only , that Leg is longer than the other , but weak ; when thrust back amongst the Muscles , it is shorter than the other ; and when it is come to that pass , the Hollow is either fill'd up with a Callus , or ( in growing Persons , it becomes less and less , having nothing to keep it out , and this , while the Roun● Top of the Thigh Bone increasing in bigness , renders it impossible to be reduced tho' some bold ( because ignorant ) Bone setters have here undertaken it , to the great Pain and Injury , as well as the Cost of the poor crippled Patient .

Sometimes the Vessels that should convey Nourishment to that Leg are compressed by the dislocated Bone , and then the Thigh and Leg wither and decay .

In others the conflux of Matter cames a Phlegmon , or Abse●sse , which if at length it finds a vent , it becomes a F●s●ula , o● Cavernous Ulcer , ( hardly to be cured , if ●er , if it foul the Bone ) or the Matter ●akes to it self a Cystis .

Instances of most of these Cases I shall ●ve you in the following Observations ; ●r ( as I promised in the Preface ) so I shall ●ve an Account of what was not , as well 〈◊〉 what was , cured by the Bath , and Bath ●aters .

OBSERVATION I.

I shall begin with an eminent Personage , and a great Prince in his Country , ●uke Hamilton , recommended to my Care by one , or both , of his Countrymen , Sir Alexander Fraysier , chief Physitian to King Charles the Second , and Dr. Bruce , ( my much honoured Friend , ) His Grace came hither in the year 1674. in July , very ●●weell ( as he himself term'd it ) by reason of a Pain in his Hip , which caused him to go very lame , and disturb'd his Rest at Night , and had done so for many Months before .

Having rested some days after his Jour●●y , and due Preparation made , he enter'd the Bath , and sometimes drank the Waters : 〈◊〉 the Bath , only to prevent Thirst ; when 〈◊〉 omitted bathing , in larger quantities , expecting Operation by them , which was mostly by Urine , but somewhat by Stoo● also . After a Week or ten Days bathing ▪ his Grace was pump'd upon the affected Hip beginning ( as I remember ) with 200 stroaks and rising 100 at a time , to 7 or 800 , o● a thousand . This course was held on for a Month or five Weeks ; in which time his Grace found considerable Advantage being much more at ease , and able t● walk without much favouring that Leg His Grace had afterwards , upon new Col●● or some other Accidents , a minding of th●illness again , and was here , I think , twic● after , at some Years distances , and was a● length perfectly recovered .

OBSERV . II.

Coll. Mildmay , of Essex , aged abou● five or six and forty , came hither in May 1667. for the same Distemper , but is much worse Circumstances than was my Lord Duke ; for his had been ( if I well remember ) of longer continuance , and ha● much more violent Pain ; nor could he move , or suffer himself to be mov'd from place to place , without great Complaints ▪ after some days Rest , and due Preparati●● by Bleeding and Purging ; he also bath● ●●st in the Queen's , and then in the King's ●●th , and was , in due time , pumpt also . In ●●thing he took a Sarsa-Drink , and conti●●ed thus to do six Weeks , or two Months . after the last bathing , to strengthen and ●●mfort the part , there was put on a large Plaister of Oxycroceum , and Sticticum Para●●lsi , &c. and so return'd well recover'd .

OBSERV . III.

Sir John Clobery , of Hampshire , about 40 years of Age , had been a Collonel in Scotl●nd under General Monk , and was greatly Instrumental with him , in bringing in King Charles the Second , for which he was greatly respected by him , and honourably rewarded .

Having undergone great fatigues in that business of Scotland , lying in the Field in the Snow ( which lies long and deep in those Northern Parts ) and being frequently frozen to the Ground ( as he himself re●●ted ) might probably be disposed to Aches in his Limbs ; but about the thirty-fourth ●ear of his Age , by lying in a wet Bed , was first seiz'd with a Sciatica , and recover'd ●t again , and held well about three Years ; when , in a very hard Winter , the severe ●old Weather searching his Body , which had been before weaken'd by the same Distemper , he was seiz'd by this last , and most tormenting Fit , which held him two Years . It not only affected both Hips with violent Pain , but hinder'd the motion of those Joints ; insomuch , that he could not erect his Body , nor go , nor stand upright , tho' before a straight and proper Gentleman , as he afterwards was , after his Recovery .

About the latter end of the two Years , which this Distemper held him , and after the tryal of several Means , and Methods for Ease , and for Recovery in London , where he then liv'd ( in Hatton Garden ) he , a● length , came to the Bath 1666. and was committed to my Care by some of the London Physitians , I cannot certainly say who , but think it might be Dr. Michlethwait ▪

He was let Blood as well as Purg'd ( if I well remember ) in Preparation for hi● bathing and pumping , which he follow'd close for six or eight Weeks , at the end of which time he went away , not much advantag'd for the present , but after two or three Months was well at ease , upright and streight , as before this Illness . So true is it , that the Benefits of the Baths appears not always presently , but some time after they have been used ; and therefore needful it is to allow time for the Expectation of it , and not to be too hasty in the tryal of other ●eans , but to give Nature leave to work ●●ter such an Assistance . Had this Caution ●een well observ'd , the Bath had had more ●eputation , and Patients had sav'd a great ●cal of Expence and Trouble .

Sir John continued free from this Di●emper to his dying day , which was not ●any Years ago , of a Dropsie , and in the ●xty-third Year of his Age. He was so ●xperienc'd a Soldier , that King James thought himself not safe without his Assistance in Monmouth's Business , and there●ore commanded him to raise a Regiment , which he did ; yet in all that Fatigue had ●o Return of his Sciatica .

Many of the Particulars of this case I 〈◊〉 we to the favour of his own Lady , ( yet living ) and to my Lady Noell his youngest Daughter .

OBSERV . IV.

William , Lord Viscount Stafford , ( of whom mention is made in the Preface to these Observations ) was affected in both Hips , and in the Lumbal Muscles also ; and therefore his Distemper might well be call'd a Double Sciatica , or Lumbago .

Though Mr. Guydott , in both this Books , ( the English and Latin one ) calls it a Palsie , which he never had , nor any thing like it ; nor is this the only Mistake , and Untruth , in those Books : So inconvenient it is to print things upon the relation of Chair-men and Bath-Guides , and to prosecute Malice and Envy rather than Truth .

His Lordship came first hither in July , 1668. but stay'd not then past five or si● Week , and lodg'd by , ( and bathed only in the Cross Bath .

Amongst many other questions his Lordship ask'd me ( when he came to my House ▪ and from my Gallery view'd the King's Bath ) one was , what we did with the Baths at Winter ? I return'd to his Lordship . That we of the City had then only Leisure to use them our selves . If they may be used in Winter , ( said my Lord ) with the same Efficacy and Safety , as in Summer , I will be here in Winter , if you will let me have a Lodging near this Gallery , that goes down into the Bath ; which I promised his Lordship he should have , but did not then think he spake in earnest . His Lordship received some advantage by what he did then at the Cross-Bath , and went hence about the end of August into Glocestershire , where ( in Right of his Lady , who was Daughter and Heiress to the chief of the Family of the ●●eat Stafford , once Duke of Buckingham ) 〈◊〉 had an Estate ; and from thence into ●●ropshire , where he had an Estate of his ●wn .

Returning about the middle of October ●y Inglesfield , the Lord Marquess of Winche●●ers , ( who marry'd his Lordship's eldest ●aughter ) and there finding ( upon the ●pproach of Winter ) his Pains renewing , came directly hither , without going to London , and arriv'd here the 4th . of November ; but so ill , and ( by Fits ) so violently pained , that he would cry out in the Night , ●o the Disturbance not only of the same House , but the next Neighbours also , and thought nothing eased him more than rising out of his Bed , and walking the Chamber ; ( so far was he from having a Palsie . )

Having found Ease the time before , he soon enter'd upon bathing again , which the did either in the King's - Bath , or in a Tub , ( which was provided purposely ) at least four days in a Week : When the ( Weather was calm , or any way tollerable , his Lordship would not be kept out of the Bath ; when it was stormy and windy , he bath'd in his Tub ( as hath been mention'd in the Preface . ) His Lordship was that year in the King's - Bath , on Childermas-eve , and in all that time had not so much as a Cold ; but it render'd him very tender , insomuch , that he was very sensible of Cold , the next hard Frost , which happen'd that year to be very severe about Twelf-tide ; yet he weather'd it very well by a more than ordinary Care of himself , and daily got Ground of his Pains and Weaknesses , and about the middle of February went for London , and never had such violent Pains afterwards .

His Lordship came frequently afterwards to the Bath , but more to continue the advantage he then receiv'd , than upon any new emergent necessity , and sometimes drank the Waters , and sometimes bathed ; and sometimes both , and sometimes neither , but barely for his diversion .

In his violent Pains I was forc'd to give him Anodynes : I would willingly have confin'd him to a Pill ( for in that form I directed it ) once in two or three Nights ; but he having once found the advantage of it , he would not be kept to that Allowance , but would take it ( as I then thought ) much too often . It was a peculiar Preparation of Opium , which I order'd my Apothecary to make , and his Lordship was very earnest to see the Preparation of the Mass , and it was granted him ; but he had clancularly provided a Silver Box , ( like a small Tobacco Box ) which held more than an Dunce , and fill'd this Box out of the Mass , ●nd carry'd it always about him ; pretend●ng that he might not get it made so well ●lsewhere , and that he would use it only when gone from hence . But ( as his Lordship confess'd afterwards , when he was recover'd ) he did often ( sometimes more than once in a Night ) aim at the ●igness of a Pill ( such as was at first given him ) and take it , when not so much ●s his Page knew of it ; which indeed made me ever after bolder in giving Opiats , be●ng , perhaps , before too timerous in prescribing such Medicines , and I mention it here that this instance may lessen the dread that most People have , of giving or taking sleepy Medicines . It is too publickly known ( if it had pleased God to have had it otherwise ) how well his Lord-ship was afterwards , to the time of his Death .

OBSERV . V.

Robert Grierson , Esq a hopeful young Gentleman , aged Eighteen Years , out of the Kingdom of Scotland , was sent hither for a Sciatica about the beginning of October , 1666. after all Ways and Means had been try'd in his own Country , both by Physitians and Chyrurgeons , and I think by some Bonesetters too ; for ( by reason of the Relaxation of the Ligament that holds in the Head of the Thigh-bone , into the Cup of the Hip ) that Joynt was dislocate , and probably had been long before he was put upon this tedious Journey from Scotland to the Bath .

He had most exquisite Pain , upon the least stirring of him , especially when he was lifted into , and out of his Litter , or his Bed. He was a great while upon the way , ( three Weeks or a Month ) being able to endure but very short Journeys . When he came hither , which was late in the Year , as hath been said , besides his weakness from the long continued Pains , and Want of Rest , and perhaps from frequent taking Colds in his Journey ( and it may be before ) he had a consumptive Cough , and a Hectical Indisposition ; raising a very fowl Phlegm , heavy and discoloured , insomuch , that he was in no wise fit to be presently put into the Bath , if his other Circumstances would have permitted it . He was forc'd therefore to rest a Week or more before we durst attempt it ( which his Uncle that came with him , and his Tutor , and Chaplain , were very hasty , and earnest for , coming , as they pleaded , purposely for it : ) And when it was attempted , it was with great difficulty ; laying him upon a kind of a Cradle , bottom'd with Girse-web , letting it down , by degrees , into the Bath ; and even thus it was not without great Pain to him , and Trouble to his Attendants ; and this was done but six or seven times , before Winter came on so far , and his Pectoral Distemper so much increased , that we were forc'd to give it over , and apply our selves wholly to the Consumption , and Hectick , and inconsider the Sciatica ; for the former threatned his Life , the latter but a Limb ; but all that was attempted , signified not , for in February following he dy'd Tabid .

Upon the opening of him ( for he was Embalmed , wrapped in Cerecloths ; those about him knowing no other , but that his Corps was to be carry'd back into Scotland to be interr'd there ) it manifestly appear'd that the decay of his Lungs , was the cause of his death . At length order came to bury him here , which was accordingly done , in the Church of St. Peter and Paul , and a Stone laid upon him ; which little Circumstances I mention , because what I chiefly describe this Case for appear'd fourteen Years after , when the Sexton opening his Grave ; to interr another , I happen'd to be walking in the Church , and reprov'd him for uncovering , this Corps so soon ; but he defended hismell by saying , That Ground would consume a Corps in less time , which prov'd very true , for there was not so much as a Hands-breadth left together whole of the Cerecloth , and nothing at all of the Flesh . Observing the Bones , I took notice , at a distance , of a manifest difference in their colour ; all of them , except those of the lame Hip and Leg , being as white and as smooth , as if prepar'd for a Scelliton , that of the infirm side was shorter by some Inches than the other , and of a dark brown colour , towards a blackish , which excited in me a Curiosity to take a more exact notice of them ; and looking upon them more narrowly , I found them carious , eaten in , to a considerable depth , and those erosions as close one to another , as they could stand by each other , so that it look'd like a Honey-Comb , only the eroded Cavities were not so regular .

These things I mention , not only in performance of my Promise in the Preface , ( not to omit unsuccessful Tryals of the Bath ) but that it may be also observed and consider'd , that such Distempers as these in growing Persons , hinder the Increase even of the most solid Parts ; and that the matter that causeth them , degenerates even into the most deleterious Cor●sives ; Oyl of Vitriol , or Aqua-fortis , could ●ave done no more to those Bones , than ●●e Morbifick Matter , that caused the Sciati●● , had done .

OBSERV . VI.

Another Instance , very like this , ( and in some particulars , more instructive ) was that of Sir Thomas Malevorer , with whom Dr. Bynard and I were jointly concerned , here at the Bath ; ( but neither of us before he came hither . )

He was brought hither in July , 1687. very weak and ill , as well as lame ; swell'd from Head to Foot , especially on the lame side . He was Stomachless , nautiated every thing they offer'd him to eat , and what was forc'd down was usually return'd again by Vomit .

He could not stand upright , much less attempt to go ; for he could put no Stress to the Left Leg , nor much to the Right ; and when lifted by others , was ready to faint away ; which Circumstances render'd it very difficult to put him into , or take him but of the Bath ; which ( after two or three Tryals ) we were forced to give over , and ●o support him with Cordials .

Long before he came hither , he had had the Advice and Assistance , of both Physitians and Chyrurgeons , who still treated him as in a Sciatica ; tho' we were inform'd , that the beginning of his Illness was from a fall from off his Horse , in Hunting , and then probably received a Bruise on his left Hip , to which fell a Flux of Humour . , and ( having an ill habit of Body before ) they became sharp and virulent , as appear'd afterwards .

They had try'd all Methods and Means , even to Salivation it self ; and at length ( as the last Remedy , and as is too usual● sent him to the Bath ; but under so ill Circumstances , that it was no wonder tha● whatever was done for him took no place , all being to little , or no purpose ; for after a Fortnights painful languishing he died , about the beginning of August .

His Body was open'd the same Night , there being present at the Dissection , Sir Richard Malevorer , his Brother , and Heir ; Dr. Baynard my self , and Mr. Chapman , his Apothecary : In the Corps were these Observables .

1. Outwardly , at the first view , the lower part of the Abdomen , the Inguina , Scrotum , and Left Hip , where his alle began● appear'd not only greatly tumify'd ( as were ●●th the Legs and Thighs ) but discolour●● , black and bluish , and clear Bladders ri●● upon those parts ( certain signs of Morti●●ation ) nay ▪ the whole Abdomen was spha●●lated . 2. The lower Region being laid open , ●●ere were no Remainders of the Omen●●m . 3. The Stomach and Guts ( especially the ●●lon and Ileon ) flaccid and thin as Paper , and in some places discoloured . 4. The Liver large , livid , and rotten . 5. The Spleen small , and no sounder than the Liver . 6. The Right Kidney large , loose and rotten ; the Left indifferently sound . 7. But what was most observable , and to our present purpose , was , the Musculus ●soas was totally absum'd to its common Coat ; within which was ( or perhaps rather the Matter had made to it self a large strong Cystis ) such a suppurated Abscesse , as well nigh fill'd the Cavity of the Left ●ide , near as high as the Spleen ; which at ●●rst view look'd of the colour of an un●oyl'd Lobster ; and when open'd ( nor ●id it easily yield to the Knife ) there spout●d out at first some Quarts ( two or three ●●s we judg'd ) of a Whea●● faetid Matter , 〈◊〉 hich was follow'd by a Cheesy Curd , as in a Steatoma ; of which Matter there lay also between the Muscles of the Left Thigh , almost to the Knee , and close upon the Bone , which Matter was of that Corrosive Sharpness and Virulency , that it had eaten off more than the Cartilaginous part of the Head of the Os Femoris , with its Ligament , and Acetabulum , and Coxa ; so that there appear'd nothing to hold them together , after the Matter of the Abscesse was discharg'd ; and what remain'd of the Thigh-bone , ( at least the upper part of it ) was all carious and eaten into Holes , as is describ'd in Mr. Grierson's Case .

In the middle Region ;

1. The Diaphragma was black , thin and rotten . 2. The Heart small , and flaccid , and without any Water in the Pericardium . 3. The Lungs large , but discolour'd , and grown ( mostly on the Left Side ) to the Pleura .

In short , both the middle and lower Region , Scrotum and all , were one entire Sphacelation , and Gangrene .

OBSERV . VII .

Mrs. Boswell , a comely young Gentlewoman , newly marry'd , about 20 Years of age ; she was Daughter to Serjc . Trynder , ( of Oxfordshire by Birth , but liv'd mostly in London ) by taking Cold , was seiz'd with a Pain first in the outside of her Left Leg , afterwards in the Hip of the same side , and thence round her Back , to the other side , and was violently pain'd in both ; she was contracted , and bowed together , not able to stand or sit upright , or lie streight ●in her Bed. She was carry'd from place to place in Arms , and that not without frequent Complaints of twinging Pains .

She had try'd all sorts of Means , to give Ease , and remove the Distemper , by the advice both of Physitians and Chyrurgions ( and I was told , that Salivation also was attempted ) but all in vain : She was brought hither in April , 1687. and stay'd till the end of June , or the beginning of July ; in which time she was first ( in preparation to her bathing ) let Blood , Vomited and Purged ; and whilst she bathed ●for alteration ) took a Bocket of the Woods , Sarsa , China , Hermodactyls , Chamepytheos , &c.

She had so accustomed he self to Anodynes ( for present ease ) that she could not quickly be taken off from them , having ●aken to 30 , and 40 Drops at a time , of ●●quid Laudanum , and that twice or thrice four and twenty Hours . I at length pre●●vail'd with her ( tho' with difficulty ) 〈◊〉 lessen the Doses , and not take them so often , and this was done by degrees .

Whither it was by the violence of th●● Pain , or the too frequent use of these S●●pifactive Medicines , or any former Inclination to Hysterick Fits , it was not ve●● appa●ent ; but she had ( every now and then ) very severe ones , not much sh●● of Epileptick Fits : She bore moderate bathing well enough , and was pump'd upon tho●● parts , where the pain afflicted her most .

This course in a Month or two's time gave her so much Ease , that she was co●●tent to be confin'd to her Anodyne Med●cine , but every other , or every third Nigh●● and could put some stress upon her Legs and lie streight in her Bed. Being th●● considerably advantaged , and the heat 〈◊〉 the year coming on , she return'd home and there , not only continued what Bench she had got , but in some measure improv it , and past the following Winter witho●● great relapses ; but was ( by Fits ) mo●● or less pain'd and weaken'd in her lo●● Limbs ; and therefore came hither the ●●cond time , in May or June , the next ye●● and staid seven or eight Weeks , in wh●● time she perfected what she had before 〈◊〉 ●●n ; and not long after ( if not whilst she as here ) prov'd with Child .

I visited her in London , in April , 1689. ●●d found her very well , and Mother of a ●●sty Son. She continues yet so , I think ; ●●r in December , 1694. whilst I was collect●●●g these Observations , my Apothecary , Mr. ●hapman , being in London , was to waite up●● her from me , and gave me that Account ●hen he came home ; and that she ascribes ●●r being so well to what she did at the ●ath .

OBSERV . VIII .

The Lady Dowager Brooke , ( Mother to ●he present Lord Brooke , and Sister to the ●ow Duke of Bedford ) some Years before ●er Son Robert , Lord Brooke , came to drink ●hese Waters for his Diabetes ; either in Lon●on , or at her House near Hackney , was seiz'd ●ith a Lumbago , or Double Sciatica ; insomuch , that her Honour not only suffer'd violent , and long continued Pains , but was contracted , and drawn together by it , and could neither stand upright , nor extend her self strait on her Bed.

Her Honour had the Advice of the most Eminent and Learned Physitians , about Town ; as Dr. Michaelthwait , Dr. Weatherly , Dr. Willis , &c. who all ( by joynt , or separate Advice ) had held her in several Courses of Physick , from the Spring to September , without considerable Amendment . At length Salivation was proposed , which her Ladyship utterly refusing , her self first mentioned coming to the Bath : But this Proposal of her was not approv'd of by any of the fore-mention'd Physitians , and fiercely declar'd against by the last of the three ; insomuch , that when he saw her Ladyship resolv'd upon it , he told her plainly it would kill her , and came to take a solemn leave of her , telling her Ladyship that he should never see her more ; and since she would go , contrary to the Opinions of her Physicians ( for none of all that were consulted with , consented to her coming , bu● Dr. Stubs ) she should blame her self if what he prognosticated should come to pass ; but withal sent a Basket of Medicines from his own Apothecary , which held near a Peck ; and of which her Ladyship never took an Ounce , and indeed , not much of any other Physick ; but ( her Pain being violent , and her lower Limbs almost useless , by reason of Weakness , and Contraction ; and the Winter hastning on ) she enter'd presently upon hathing in the Cross Bath , and drank sometimes of the Waters . Both which , 〈◊〉 a few days time gave her Ease ; in the ●●●st week she could stand upright in the ●ath ; and in a Months time could walk her Chamber ; and was at length perfectly re●over'd . I had the Honour to wait upon ●er Ladyship , to advise about the Time and Manner of her Bathing , and using the Pump , which also she did , as late in the year as 〈◊〉 was ; ) by all she had not only Ease , but ●trength , and return'd home well ; past ●●at Winter without a Relapse , and lived many Years after free from that Distem●er ; and dy'd afterwards of a Fever at her ●on ( Robert , Lord Brooke ) his House at ●remmer .

OBSERV . IX .

A Smith's Wife , of Cosham , in Wiltshire , by name Symon Hooper , alias Edny ) aged ●2 , came hither in April , 1680. for a settled Sciatica ; she was not only violently ●ain'd , but the Hip and upper part of the Thigh were very much swollen , and that Joint so stiff and tender , that she could not ex●end that Leg , much less stand upon it , and scarcely suffer it to be touched . However having been informed that many had been ●here cured of Sciatica's , into the Bath she would go , and did , more than four or five times ; and out of too much good house wifry , to make haste home , stay'd very long at a time , and went in ( some days ) twice a day ; but instead of easing her pain , and abating the Swelling , it increased both , and then ( and not before ) she thought fit to ask advice ; her Husband 's Sister ( at whose House she lay ) having been my Servant , I was consulted , and Mr. Chapman was to be her . Apothecary , and was afterwards her Chyrurgeon too . At first view I perceiv'd it to be a Phlegmon , and told her that there was Matter anderneath ; and that there would be no discussing of it , but it must break , which perhaps the bathing might hasten ; and the sooner it was done the better , least ( by the long imprisoning of that corrupt Matter ) the Bone should be foul'd ; therefore all Means was used to maturate , and open it , which at length was done by Caustick .

Much Matter was discharged at first , and at every dressing , for a long time after , two Months and more , but with great Diligence and Care in Dressing , and a vulnerary Drink , Anodynes , and Paregoricks ; ( for , by much Pain , long Watching , and no Stomach ; a Cough , and Hectical Indispo●●ion , she was brought very low , even to a ●●●●●on ) she was at length recover'd , but the Leg remain'd crooked ; which by Bathing another Season ; and using some mollifying Applications , and extending it by degrees , it was , it was at length reduced to its Pristine Straitness and Strength , and she to her Health and Vigor , and had several Children after ; and is yet alive , to testifie it .

Such Instances as these might have been multiply'd to a very great number , there being no one Distemper that brings more People to the Bath every year than this doth , and hath done ever since I came to live upon this place .

But these few are sufficient to inform those that are thus affected , where to find a Remedy , if they delay it not too long .

CHAP. III. Of Fix'd Pains in the Arm.

IT is not the Hip or Hips , and Loyns only ; that this sharp Humour exerciseth its Tyranny upon , but almost all other parts are liable also to the same trouble from these Defluxions ; particularly the Shoulders and Arms , one or both , I have observ'd in several Persons to be severely afflicted by it , and for which many have come hither for Cure ; and by bathing and pumping upon the part , have received Advantage . Of which , I think it not amiss to give some particular Instances , and I shall begin with a worthy Prelate .

OBSERV . I.

The Right Reverend Father in God , the now Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield , who ( some Years past , when he was Dr. Floyde , and Minister of St. Martin's ) had such a Pain , and Weakness withal , in the Right Shoulder and Arm , that it became very troublesome to him , and interrupted his Rest , and hinder'd his Study , and disenabled him to discharge the Duties of his place , which he always ( till thus hinder'd ) was well known to be assiduous at . He then came to the Bath for it , I think it was in the year 1679. and receiv'd a great deal of Advantage by it , and continued well of it for ten or twelve Years after ; but then return'd upon him ( when Bishop of St. Asaph ) with greater Violence than before ; insomuch that the constant Pain would scarcely suffer him to take sufficient Rest to support Nature , and that disorder'd him all over ; the whole Limb not only useless but burthensome to him . His Lordship had so yielded to that side , by reason of the Pain and Weakness , and weight of that Arm , that he seem'd to be grown crooked by it , tho' streight before , and is since his Recovery . That Shoulder was fallen manifestly lower than the other , and therefore probably the Ligament was relaxed also . Upon what accident this Relapse came , or whither on a sudden , or by degrees , and what Prefaces there were to it , I have not had particular Information .

His Lordship having receiv'd Ease and Recovery , as is abovesaid , when first it afflicted him , he return'd to the same Remedy ( after the tryal of several Means at home ) and came hither in July , 1692. when I had the honour to attend his Lordship , and to advise in the Use of the Waters , Bath , and Pump ; all which his Lordship used in their turns , and but little inward Means besides the Waters , only an Electuary , and some gentle things , which his Lordship had been accustomed to , to keep his Body soluble ( for of himself he was very apt to be Costive , but more upon Bathing . )

By all which his Lordship found great Ease , and some Strength . But an Accident happening , which call'd his Lordship away before his Cure was perfected , ( for he stay'd but a Month that time ) he had still some remaining trouble from that part all the following Winter . To make Amends for which his Lordship came again the next Summer , 1693. much sooner in the year than before , in the beginning of May , and stay'd out two full Months , and follow'd the like course as before , which perfected what was begun the proceeding Year , and had the wish'd Success ; perfect Ease , and Use of his Arm , and continued so the Winter following , and had nothing remaining of his former Complaints ; only the Fore-Finger , and Thumb of that Hand , had sometimes a little Stupor , or Numbdness upon them .

This Account I had by Mr. Chapman , the Apothecary , Decemb. 30. 1694. who had it from his Lordship's own Mouth , with an offer to attest the Truth of it , under his own Hand , if it were thought needful .

OBSERV . II.

Major Arnot ▪ a Scotsh Gentleman , of the County of Fife ( but very well known in England ) came hither in April , 1693. recommended to my Care by Dr. Hacket , a Physitian , in Edenburgh , ( to whom I was known only by name the Major was upward of 60 ; he complain'd of a very great Pain and Weakness fram his Left Shoulder downwards , to his Fingers end . It began to be very severe about eight Months before he came from home .

As to the occasion of it he thought it might be this . He delighted much in Hawking , and imputed this Infirmity to his long and often carrying his Hawk upon that Fist , in all Weathers , and the frequent Colds that he had taken in the Pursuit of that Game . He had had ( as he told me ) about the Musculus Biceps of that Arm , a Swelling as big as an Apple , which was dissipated with Oyntments . Taking Physick for this ( with little Advantage , but scattering the Humour ) he had Pain also in his Right Hip , Thigh and Leg : And whether by Cold in his Journey hither ( for he was a considerable time , coming from Scotland to this place , not being able to bear long Journeys , and sometimes meeting with very ill weather ) or by what other accidents I know not ; he had withal a violent Cough , and discharged much and fowl Spittle ; he had little or no Stomach , and sometimes cast up what he had eaten . He was subject to the Stone , and had formerly voided much Gravel , and several small Stones ; one whilst he was here .

Making too much haste to be well ( as too many do ) he went presently into the Bath , and was ill after it , and ( not till then ) sent for me .

After due Preparation I put him first upon drinking the Waters , because of the Nephretick Distemper ; and withal to correct the Acrimony of this Defluxion to his Arm , Hand and Hip , &c. and then permitted him the Bath ( to ease his Pain , and recover Strength in the weaken'd parts , ) but defending the Kidneys with a cooling Liniment .

He found not quickly a considerable Alteration to the better , but went on sometimes drinking the Waters , ( which after a while , with some Assistances , past very well with him ) and sometimes bathing . At two Months end , or thereabouts , he went back perfectly recover'd , both as to Cough , Stomach and Sciatica , and had Ease and Strength in , and use of his Arm ; look'd fresh , and better in his Countenance ; was fuller and fatter much than when he came hither . Since that time I have not had any Account of him , or from him , but would have been very glad to have receiv'd it , though I had paid Postage for a Letter out of Scotland ,

OBSERV . III.

Mr. Cherry , ( a Gentleman of Maidenhead , belonging to the Law , aged 40 , or more ) came hither in August , 1679. the Christmas before , by a fall from his Horse , he had his Left Shoulder put out of Joynt , and after two Days it was well set ; but from that time remain'd pain'd and weak , and sometimes numb'd ; so that it became not only less useful , but troublesome , and uneasie to him .

After Preparation he was put into the Bath , and after a Week or ten Days bathing was put under the Pump ; all which was continued for about three Weeks or a Month , and he was well recover'd by it , both as to Ease and Strength , and Use of that Arm and Hand , and yet so continues , I think .

He was here in August , 1691. with a Daughter of his ( that came to drink these Waters by Dr. Brown's Directions ) and his Son , and his Son's Wife . He then assur'd me that he had continued very well at ease , and had the Use of that Arm as well as of the other , and ascrib'd it to what he , at first , did at the Bath

OBSERV . IV.

In a Case much like this did the Honourable Thomas Coventry , Esq since ( and now ) Lord Coventry , come to the Bath in August , 1684. But his Lordship's Pain and Weakness in his Arm was after a Fracture , which was well reduc'd in little time after the Fall by Mr. Pledwell , of Oxford , the Chyrurgeon , who waited on him to the Bath .

The Arm and Hand were both swell'd , as well as weak , and pain'd , and all the Use and Motions of both imperfect , and with Trouble . His Lordship was pleased to take my Direction and Advice in Preparation for bathing , and using the Pump ▪ all which his Lordship submitted to , and continued the Use of , for five or six Weeks .

He bathed near a Month before he used the Pump ; first in the Cross-Bath , ( because the more temperate ) afterwards in the Ho●●ath , ( because more strengthning ) both near his Lordship's Lodgings : The Queen 's and King's - Baths are so used , to the same Intentions .

Infine , His Lordship return'd home very well recover●d , and so continued , without coming a second time , which was design'd and talk'd of , ( as I was inform'd by a Servant of his Lordship's , Mr. Cookes , whose Wife came several Years following for a Palsie , and found great Advantage by it , and ( by turns ) used all the Baths . )

OBSERV . V.

This next Observation I insert , not altogether so much to shew the usefulness of the Bath , and Pump , in pain'd and weaken'd Limbs ; but as thinking it somewhat instructive , in reference to the nature of Defluxions , and perhaps somewhat directive to their Recovery , at least to a present Alleviation of Pain .

Sarah , the Wife of Robert Payne , an honest Farmer , of the Parish of Hutton , near Banwell , in Somersetshire , aged 40 , or more ; in the year 1675. came to the Bath for a violent Pain and Weakness in her Right Shoulder , Arm and Hand , from a sharp Defluxion to those parts , from her Head , ( as is probable , having , before that , been often troubled with severe Fits of the Head-ach , and Rheums to her Teeth and Jaws . ) There appear'd no Swelling , and little or no discolour upon the Parts affected ; but for some Months before she came hither , they had been exceeding painful , both by Day and Night , but chiefly at Night ; and in moist and wet Seasons .

She had used several Applications , such as that Country would afford , and what her Neighbours could advise , but to little or no purpose , which put her upon a Journey hither ; as soon as she came she would go into the Bath , and ( hastning to be well , as she at least thought ) stayd sometimes longer than ordinary in it , which rather increased , than lessen'd her Pain , ( probably , for want of due Preparation , the Humours were heated , dilated , and exasperated by it . ) Under this great Trouble and Disappointment , she came to my Wife ( who was her Country woman , born in the same Parish , and whom she knew ( when she kept her Father's House ) to make , and give to her Neighbours a white Plaister , in cases of Squats and Bruises , and Pains in the Limbs ) and was importunate with her , to give her one of those Plaisters for her Arm. The Plaister was made of Burgundy-Pitch , Frankincense , Bees-wax , &c. My Wife willing to gratifie her Countrywoman , and to save her what Charges she could , gave her a large one , which cover'd Shoulder , Arm , and all , to ( or below ) the Elbow ; telling her withal , that if she expected Benefit by it , she was not to move it till it sell off of its self .

On she put it , and wore it two or three Days , with some Abatement of the violent Pain ; about the fourth day she comes to her Doctoress , and shews her the Sleeve of that Arm , as wet , as if it had been dipp'd in the Bath , and dropp'd at her Fingers ends . They being both startled at it , I was call'd in to the Consultation ; the Plaister being mov'd up , there appear'd no broken Skin , no sheere Bladders , no discolour , ( therefore , probably , no danger of Mortification ) but this sharp Serum forced it self through the Pores of the Skin , dilated by the Plaister , and attracted from the Bone , and Inward Parts . The Pain decreased daily upon it , and this Running continued a Week or ten Days ; and when it began to cease running , the Matter crusted upon the part , half an Inch thick , like a Scabies faeda humida ; which Crust was at length got off , by lomenting it with the Bath-Water , and some Mollifying Cooling Oyntments , and left no Erosion of the Skin at all . It is not to be imagin'd what a prodigious quantity of this sharp Ser●m was vented at that part . But this Discharge not only eased the Pain effectually , but lessen'd her Head-ach also , and Rheums , to which she had been a long while subject to . Some Weakness was left upon the Arm , but a little whiles moderate bathing recover'd that also ; so that she returned home eased , and well , and continued free from this Symptom as long as she liv'd , which was many Years after .

OBSERV . VI.

Mrs. Booreman , ( Widow to Dr. Booreman , formerly Minister of Fromeselwood , in the County of Somerset , and Prebend of Sarum ) aged 43. She was Daughter ( or Grandchild ) to Sir John Lamb , of Coulston , in Wiltshire . She had been for a long time highly Scorbutical , and Rheumatical ; her Blood Salt , Sharp , Hot and Thin ; an unusual Testimony of which appear'd upon her , some Months before she came hither , ( which was in July , 1663. ) For having a seemingly slight Vlcer in her Left Leg , ( but of long Continuance , and not easily cicatriz'd , by reason of the Conflux of sharp Humours to the part ) as she was one day walking about her House , and entertaining some Friends , a Vein opened of it self , in , or near , the Ulcerated part ( possibly the sharp Matter had eroded the Vein and blead profusely ; fill'd up the Stocking and Shooe , she her self being no way sensible of it , till the Company that ca●●e to visit her , took notice of it , by the Blood spilt upon the Floor of the Room .

Upon taking off the Shooe and Stocking , the Blood stream'd out as if the Vein had been open'd with a Lancet ; so that they found no way to stay it , but by holding a Finger hard upon it , till a Chyrurgeon ( that had had that Ulcer of hers in Cure , for some considerable time before ) was sent for from Salisbury , ( which was two or three Miles distant ) who , by opening a Vein in the Arm , to divert the course , and allay the ferment of the Blood , and by Stipticks outwardly apply'd , at length stopp'd it . From this sharp Blood she had frequent Fits of the Rheumatism , which at length settled in the Right Shoulder and Arm , and both became by it very painful , weak , and useless , for which she came ( as is already said ) to the Bath .

Bathing she indeed needed , for the Pain and Weakness in her Arm ; but the Heat and Sharpness of the whole Mass of Blood , made me , ( to whose Care she was committed ) not easily to consent to it .

And indeed , Complications of Distempers , and Contra Indications are the Puzzle of Physitians ; but the most urging Symptom must be first set upon . She her self , and some Friends that were with her , were very fierce for bathing , but I did not agree to it , till by Bleeding , Purging , and Drinking the Waters , and taking some of the cooler Antiscorbutick Alteratives , she was so prepar'd for it , that I thought she might bear ( without Prejudice ) the Cross-Bath ( the most temperate , and therefore most agreeable to her present Circumstances , at that season of the year ) which Bath she did chiefly use for some considerable time , with so much Advantage , that she went away cased , and in some measure strengthned ; and , by degrees , perfectly recover'd upon it .

OBSERV . VII .

Mr. Robert Britten , a Londoner , aged 45 , having receiv'd ( some Years before ) a great Bruise in the Right Shoulder , by a Fall out of a Balcony ; the part remain'd very weak after it ; and , in Process of time , a Defluxion of sharp Humours fell to it , which gave him exquisite Pain , and enfeebled the whole Arm , much more than the Fall had done .

Many more such Instances might be given upon this Head , but that it would make what is intended only for a Pocket-Book , to be of too great a Bulk .

OBSERV . VIII . SPINA VENTOSA .

I have seen of these Fix'd Pains to be on some part of the Thigh , Leg , Arm , &c. so small as to be cover'd with ones Thumb , ( as is the usual Saying ) but have caused great Uneasieness , Want of Rest , and Trouble , which have been removed by pumping , and drinking the Waters between . Some Patients I have had here for that odd ( but stubborn and afflictive ) Distemper , which some call by an odder name , The SPINA VENTOSA ; but I cannot say that I have seen very great Success upon the Use of the Bath , or Bath-Waters in this nice Case .

The name of Spina I like well enough ( for the Pain is not unlike that of a Thorn , strongly forced upon a very sensible part ) but for the Ventosa , I like it not at all ; for ( if I have consider'd it well ) it sticks too long to be barely Flatulent , it must probably be more than Wind that is the cause of it . Perhaps a thin sharp Matter , degenerated into a corrosive Poyson , which frets upon the Periostium , or some Branch of a Nerve ; till the Access of some new Lympha dilutes it , and makes it less , or not at all , corrosive for the present , and then there is an Intermission ( at least an Abatement ) of Pain ; till it be exalted anew , and gather Head again , and then another Fit returns : For it s usually hath its Paroxysmes , which with some hath longer , with others shorter Intervals ; sometimes it 's almost constant . If this conjuncture hold , it might be call'd Spina Venenosa , instead of Spina-Ventosa .

Four I can remember to have had under my Cognizance in this Condition , that ( after all other means used ) came hither to try what the Bath would do for them .

1. Sir Harbottle Grimstone's Lady was one , who had it in one of her Jaws , towards her Throat . Her Ladyship had some Alleviation of the violent Pain the first time , which encouraged her to come a second time , and ( if I mistake not ) a third time ; but I cannot say she was recover'd .

2. Mr. Pooley , Minister of Wrinton , in Somersetshire , ( but , for this Distemper's sake , living mostly in London , where he hath had the Assistance of the ablest Physitians and Chyrurgeons , ( as well as Mountebunks ) and hath try'd almost all means for Cure , even to Salivation , and the Actual-Cauterie , but all to little effect , as I was last Sum●er inform'd by a very worthy Lady , his ●elation , and my very good Friend , of ●hom I made enquiry concerning him ) ●e came hither some Years ago , and drank the Waters for a considerable time , and bathed , and I think pump'd too , but with little Success . His was more in the Roof of his Mouth , towards the Right Side .

3. A third was the chief Apparator belonging to Wells Court , Mr. Morris . He had it near the upper Jaw , of the Right ●ide ; where , at long run , it ulcerated , ●nd Matter was daily discharg'd into his Mouth . His Cheek had been open'd by ●ncision , in hopes to have made more effectual Applications outwardly , than could be done inwardly ; but the course of it could not be diverted , but the quitture still ●ssued out into his Mouth .

He at length came hither , and was under my Directions for a Month , or more , ●o no great purpose ; the Pain was somewhat lessen'd . At length , upon drawing of a Tooth ( which I advised to have done ) and drinking these Waters for a long time together ( for after he went from hence he sent for them to Wells , and drank them there ) and using cleansing and healing Lotions , he was perfectly cur'd .

4. A fourth was a Gentleman , recommended to my Care by a Letter from my very good Friend , and old Acquintance , Dr. John Lawson , then Treasurer of the Colledge of Physitians in London , and since that , President .

This Gentleman after some Preparation , both drank the Waters , and bathed ; and was pumped upon that side of the Head , and Face , and Neck , where the violent Pain used to afflict him , and continued the Use of this means some considerable time . He had a pretty large Interval ( longer than usual ) whilst here upon the place , and using the means ; but whether it continued after he was gone hence , or whether the Pains return'd again , I have not had any Account , either from him , or his Physitian , that sent him hither .

CHAP. IV. Of the Dead-Palsie .

HAving in the former Chapters given Instances of most sorts of pain'd Patients , that have receiv'd Benefit by the Bath , I now come to those that had little or no Pain , but had a Stupor , Numbness , Deadness , and Uselessness of the affected parts , 〈◊〉 tho' I have known some Paralyticks , that have complain'd of Pain , when they could not stir the Limb ; and we usually look upon such , as most likely to receive Benefit , and soonest to have Recovery . ) Amongst these the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or half stroke ( vulgarly call'd the Dead Palsie , or Palsie of one Side ) is most frequent , and therefore ●ustly challengeth the first place .

Whether it be from Obstruction , or Compression of the Nerves , hindering the ●rradiation of the Animal Spirits , or too much Coldness , damping the Explosion , or Excess of Moisture relaxing ( and consequently hind'ring the Vibration of ) the Nerves ? What part of the Nerve is mostly affected , and how ? and to what degrees , when both Sense and Motion is lost , when Sense remains , and Motion is lost , & é Contra ? These nicer Enquiries we ( at present ) leave to Theorists ; but to be sure in Practice , we find this to be one of the most stubborn Distempers that we have here to do with , and is longer in curing ; and few there be that have so enlarged a Patience , as to attend this means so many Seasons , as are requisite for the Recovery of so obstinate a Disease . Many give it over at once or twice tryal , and dispair of ever being recover'd ; whereas , if the Bath were followed Year after Year , many more might be cured of it than now there are .

And now I speak of Recovery , I hope it is not expected that I should instance in many that have no remaining little defect in Speech ; Arm , Hand or Leg , ( and by the way I have observ'd , generally speaking ; that the Hand and Fingers , but chiefly the Thumb , in most Paralyticks , are the last parts that recover to any considerable degree of Strength , or Motion ) . It 's not to be expected that the great Shock the Fit of an Apoplexy makes upon the nice , and curious Structure of a Humane Body , should presently be set to rights again ; ( and truly those of all other Animals , even to the meanest Infect , are not less curiously wrought ; and then what a wonder is it , that any considering Enquirer into Nature should be indeed an Atheist ? )

Such a shake , I say , must needs make great Disorder , where so many small Cords , Wheels and Pullies , serve for the several motions of every part ; so admirably stupendious , as to make a great Master , and one of the Fathers of our Faculty , and one , whose Birth and Education was amongst Heathens ( Galen in his Book , de usu Par●ium ) break out into a Hymn 〈◊〉 the most adorable Wisdom that contriv'd them .

No , it is not to be expected , that after such a Concussion , every thing should be set right again in its place , but that some of those fine Parts ( as it is with a Watch , after a fall to the ground ) must be either broken , or put into great disorder . It is enough ( and as much as can be reasonably hoped for ) that a Mute for Stammering Tongue should be made , in the least measure , intelligible : That a dead Leg should be made again moveable at Will , and able to support ( tho' totteringly ) the Body ; that a useless Hand may be made again fit , and able to carry a Cup , or Spoon , to the Mouth , tho' with some shaking ; that a lost Memory should be so far Retrieved , as to recollect what Stupor was upon it , and to give God the Praise for the Alteration .

This , methinks , should be enough to satisfie the most forward Expectation ; and if this may suffice ( tho' you will find Instances of more than this , here done by God's Blessing upon the Baths ) go on ; and I will be responsable for the truth of every Relation hereafter given . And first ,

OBSERV . I.

Coll. John Sayer , of Luddingeton , near Wellingborough , in Northamptonshire , ( where there is a ( once famed ) Mineral Water , such as that of Astroppe and Tunbridge ) he was more than forty Years of Age , and had a Command in the King's Army , when the unhappy Difference was between the King and Parliament ; and after the War was ended , the latter prevailing , and having under them the whole power of the Nation ; He having made his Composition at Goldsmiths-Hall ( as all the Loyal Gentry and Nobility were forc'd to do ) return'd to live ( as he hoped ) quietly upon his own Estate ; but in one of Oliver's discover'd , or pretended , Plots ; he ( as many other worthy Gentlemen were ) was taken out of his House by a party of Horse , and carry'd a Prisoner to London in very ill weather , and with worse usage ; for he was presently clap'd up in a damp dirty Prison , wet as he was after a rainy uncomfortable Journey ; where , the very first Night he was seiz'd with an Apoplectick Fit , which determin'd in a Palsie of the Right Side . Whither his Disease , or his Innocence ( to be sure not the Compassion of his Adversaries ) prevall'd for his Freedom , 〈◊〉 was not declar'd ; but he being disabled ●y the former , to do any thing against the ●resent prevailing Power , he was discharg●d without any Tryal , and then return'd ●o his own Home , where he was , for a consi●erable time under the Care and Con●uct of Dr. Bowles , a then eminent Physi●●an at Oundle , in the same County ; who , ●fter a long tryal of all the usual Means ●nd Methods in Paralytick Cases used , ra●her permitted him to come , then sent him , ●o the Bath . He first came in June , 1659. ●nd still finding Advantage , every Year ●ore and more , tho' but by slow degrees , ●ame almost every Year , till 1670. He ●eldom stay'd less than six Weeks at a ●me : He was always prepar'd for bathing , ●y Purging Cephalick Pills , let Blood some●mes , and used Alteratives all the time he was here , such as Cephalick and Antiscorbutick Tlectuaries , and after them some Spoonfuls of a Cephalick Julip . He drank the Waters ●o more than to quench his Thirst when he bathed , and pump'd the lame Side and Head , and to keep his Body soluble . From the very first seizure , it took away the ●ight of one of his Eyes , if I mistake not , the contrary Eye to the lame Side , which ●ould never be recover'd ; tho' when he was pretty well of his Palsie , and some Years after his first Seisure , he used Means purposely for it ; sending for Dr. Turbervil● hither from Salisbury to consult with him about it . At his first coming hither both his Arm and Leg were useless , and his Speech very imperfect , as was his Memory also . He recover'd ( in all these Particulars ) something the first Year , which encouraged him to follow it on , and he afterwards , apparently got Ground ever● Year more and more ; he would walk i● my Garden ( for he lay every Year in my House , except the first , being then place near the Bath , where the Noise disturb'● him , which was the Reason of his comin● the next Year to lodge with me ) he would walk ; I say , without tripping , or stumbling , or dragging the lame Foot upon th● Ground , but when , at the end of the wal● he came to turn the Giddiness in the He●● ( which indeed should have been mention'● amongst his first , and severest Symptoms not being then able to guide himself 〈◊〉 all ) would sometimes mind him , and cause him to stagger ; but that abated also by degrees .

In short , by his diligent following of thi● Means for Ten or Eleven Years successively , he recover'd so much Strength , that he liv'd well and healthily to a considerable Age ; but of what Disease he at length dy'd , 〈◊〉 have not had the opportunity to learn.

OBSERV . II.

The first Instance upon this Head hath given an Account of a sudden Seisure , that gave no warning at all , this second made some Previous Attempts a great while before it became an exquisite Palsie . It was in a very worthy Gentlewoman in our Neighbourhood , within four Miles of the Bath ; ●hen , and now , Wife to Joseph Langton , Esq ●f Newton Park . She was Daughter to Sir John Burlace , of Bockemore , in the County ●f Buckingham , Knt. and Barronet . After ●he had had several Children ( of which , ●ne , if not more , dy'd of Convulsion Fits ) ●eing again with Child , and in the three and ●wentieth Year of her Age , in the year 1670. ●alking , to pay a Visit to a Neighbour-Gentlewoman , upon a sudden her Speech ●il'd her , so that she could not bring out ●er Words ; She spake one Word for ano●her , yet had no Giddiness in her Head , ●o Failing of her Limbs , of either side . Thus she continued to be till her time came ●o be deliver'd , which was about six or se●en Weeks after this first Assault upon her Tongue : In January following , presently upon her Delivery , it seiz'd her Head violently , insomuch , that she could not speak at all , nor apprehend things well for the whole Month , all which time she would not admit of either Physitian or Physick ; but in the Spring following she was let Blood under the Tongue , which restor'd something her Speech , and took some Physick , and came to the Bath in May , 1671. by which she then recover'd so much Strength , as to be able to go without Crutches , and recover'd to a great degree ; only now and then ( about the Periods of the Moon ) some little Mindings she had , which appear'd chiefly by the Alteration of her Speech . Thus she held for five Years , had Child , or Children , or miscarry'd within that time , but no Child liv'd any considerable time , till being with Child again , of her Fifth , I think ; and within six Weeks of her time she was suddenly seiz'd by an exquisite Palsie , disabling immediately all her Left Side , but her Speech not altogether so bad as in her former Fits. She was now as willing to use Means , as she was formerly averse to it , and consented to what-ever was proposed , even Blistering-Plaisters , &c. all which succeeded so well that she got some Ground before the time of her Delivery , in which , she ●as beyond Expectation well , and speedy , ●nd was safely deliver'd of a Daughter , ●hich is now a proper young Gentlewoman , and was the first Child of sive that ●●v'd beyond three Months . As soon as it ●as fit , after her Childbed , she was brought ●ither , and used the Bath and Pump , and ●nward Means , for six or seven Weeks , ●nd recover'd apparently , so that she lay'd ●y her Crutches again , and could go with ●●ttle help , and use her Hand , though im●erfectly .

She came several Seasons after this ; ●ad several Children since ; there are now ●ur living , a Son and three Daughters ; one ●y'd in September , 1694 at 15 Years of Age , ●f that sort of Convulsion , which is known ●y the name of Chorea Sancti Viti , and the ●verest I ever saw , there being not one ●uscle of her whole Body that was not ●onvulsed , and in continual Motion ; but when she slept ; which was not often , nor ●●ng together ; and yet her Mind and Me●ory sound till toward the last ; it yielded 〈◊〉 no Means ; she dy'd about the 15th Day .

This Lady yet drinks these Waters eve●● Season , but hath not of late Years bathed , 〈◊〉 is so well , that whilst I am collecting these Observations , she is at my House , it order to a London Journey with her Husband ( who was a Burgess in Parliamen● for this City ) and assists me in recollecting these Particulars of that her Recovery , which she still ascribes to the Use of the Bath .

OBSERV . III.

In the Preceding Observation you have an Instance , of some Previous Disposition to it , but the Palsie it self not seizing til● five Year after . The first I mention'd gave no warning at all , but was the be●● Effect , that could be hoped for , from a● Apoplectick Fit , for it always kills , or forth most part leaves one Side useless .

I shall now give you , in this third , a● Instance , different from both the former ▪ ( I could wish that I could have told you that the Bath had been as effectua● in this , as in the two former Cases . ) 〈◊〉 is of a Palsie , consequent to Epileptick Fi●● It was in a Reverend Divine , Dr. North , Master of Corpus-Christi Colledge , in Cambridge , Son , and Brother , to the Lord North and Brother to a Lord-Chief-Justice of that Name . He had been many Years subject to Fits of the Falling Sickness , which woul● take him , sometimes oftner , sometimes sel●omer , but at length brought upon him a Pal●●e on one Side , whither Right or Left I cannot ●ell remember . If the Paralytick Distem●er had superseded the Epileptick , it had ●een an Advantagious Exchange , but both ●ontinuing , it made his Case the more Deplorable ; Bathing having seldom done ●ny great thing ( that I have observ'd ) ●n Epileptick Cases , but hither he was , at ●ength sent , and recommended to my Care. He arriv'd here in the beginning of May , 81. And after due Preparations , both by Vo●●iting , Purging and Bleeding too ) for he was of a Sanguine Complexion , fresh-co●our'd , and full of Blood ) he began with ●he Waters , and after a while bathed , and ●owards the Conclusion , was pump'd also ●pon the weak Side ; the pumping his Head we did not adventure .

The Issue of all was , that he seem'd to ●ave some Relief to his lame Side , till the ●ext Epileptick Fit , and that put him as much ●ack , as he seem'd to have been forwarded ●efore ; so that after six Weeks Tryal of ●his Means , he was return'd with Directi●ns for a Diet and Medicines , chiefly Antie●ileptick , tho' some Regard was had to the Palsie also .

He lived some Years after , but still subject to the Falling-Sickness , and consequently never recover'd his Palsie ; but ( if my Information fails me not ) was at last taken off by an Apoplexy .

OBSERV . IV.

Having in the last Observation given an Instance of a Palsie , consequent to the Falling-Sickness ; I shall now give an Account of some that became Paralytick after Convulsions ; and those in Children , who came hither , and used the Bath with better Success .

A Daughter of Sir Thomas Bludworth's , ( about that time Lord Mayor of London ) about Three Years old , after several violent Convulsion Fits , had the Use of her Left Side wholly taken away , and her Mouth drawn to one Side ; but after this Seizure freed from the Convulsion . Sir John Gell , a great Friend , and intimate Acquaintance of her Father's ) coming hither usually once a Year , to prevent a Palsie ( of which he had had some Previous Symptoms , and of whom I may have occasion to say something before I dismiss this Subject ) This pretty Child was sent down with a Maid to attend her , in his Company , and was by him committed to my Care and Directions , having the Honour of being Physitian to him , after the Death of Dr. Venner . She came hither about the middle of June , 1661. and ( after such Preparations , as her Aversion to every thing but Bread and Butter , would permit ) she was put into the Queen's-Bath ; and after a whiles bathing in that moderate warmth , was suffer'd to be carry'd into the King's-Bath ; and bearing the Use of both very well , without any ill Accident , she continued so to do ; using withal some Alteratives in what she eat and drank , as were not very distasteful , she manifestly got Strength ; so that at six Weeks end she return'd apparently amended ; which Amendment encreasing , even in the following Winter , she was sent down again the next Summer ; and a third time , in 1665. still improving in her Recovery without Interruption .

She was here again in 1683. and sent for me to advise about some other thing , and was then a proper comely Gentlewoman , having not the least Remainder of her former Weakness ; only the Fingers and Thumb of the Left Hand could not be kept out strait , but were not altogether useless , but her Mouth , Face , Arm , Foot and Leg , as shapely , strong , and trigge , as on the other Side , that never ailed any thing .

OBSERV . V.

Mr. Powell , a Gentleman , that did live ( at least had a considerable Estate ) within few Miles of Oxford , was sent hither , with an old Nurse to attend him , at about six Years of age , in July , 1667. He also had an exquisite Palsie after Convulsion-Fits . He took Purges and Alteratives , as the Nurse and I could perswade , and bathed as his Strength , and the hot Season of the Year would permit , sometimes three times , sometimes four times a Week , for Two Months together , or more , getting Ground upon his Distemper apparently , after the first Month ; which Advantage improv'd , after his Return to his Friends , and that encourag'd them to send him again the Year following , and so for several Years , one after another , till he was perfectly recover'd ; and afterwards grew a strong lusty Man , and was marry'd to a Derbyshire Gentlewoman , Sister to Mr. Dormer , of that Country .

He and his Lady , with Mr. Dormer , her Brother , were here at the Bath , in 1691. He came for a Tettery Eruption in his Neck and Chin , but had no Remainder of the Palsie , nor sign of it , only ( as was Ma●am Bloodworth's ) the Thumb of his lame Hand not so shapely as the other . Whilst 〈◊〉 am collecting these Observations , I am ●old that he is ( not long since ) dead of 〈◊〉 Fever .

OBSERV . VI.

In this next Observation I shall again perform what I promised in the Preface , viz. ●ive an Account of the unsuccessful , as well as beneficial Tryals of the Bath , and ●t is in one of our own Profession , Mr. New●on , of Swell , in Somersetshire , near Somerton . ●he County Town . He was an ingenious Gentleman , and bred a Schollar at Oxford , ●nd not a mean Proficient in Learning .

Being born to a competent Estate , he ●id not quickly settle to any Profession , ●ut marry'd , and had a numerous Family of Children ; and his Father living too long for him ; and giving up to him , in Marriage , but a small part of his Estate , ●e set himself upon the Practice of Physick to mend the Commons , and was not ●nfit for it , nor unsuccessful in it , and had 〈◊〉 good Reputation in reference to his Pra●tice in those parts . But having been generously bred , and being of a cheerful Temper , and in a Country , much given to Good-Fellowship , he gave himself more than enough to that sort of Jollity , and would drink with his Patients when recover'd , as well as prescribe for them , when sick . This ( as it was thought and said ) was the occasion of a sudden , and violent Seisure in his Head , which took away both Speech , Understanding , and Memory , and left one Side Paralytick . The Wife being greatly concern'd for a Husband she lov'd , and having many Children , who had the greater part of their Maintenance from what he got by his Practice ; and having heard o● great Cures done at the Bath , in Paralytick Cases , brought him away much too soon , before the Matter of his Disease was settled , where Nature endeavour'd to lodge the Burthen ; and before it was in any considerable Measure lessen'd , either by Bleeding , Womiting , or Purging . When she was here , and applying her self to an antien● Physitian that then liv'd constantly upon the place , but had formerly practised Physick in Dorsetshire , and had been Physitian to some of her Relations ( she being a Gentlewoman of that Country ) he , after 〈◊〉 slight Purge or two , permitted him to be put into the King and Queen's-Bath ; where the poor observant Gentlewoman , quickly perceiving that he grew worse and worse , began to be dissatisfied in the Ad●ice she had hitherto followed , and sent ●o me , to whom alone she would have re●err'd the Management of her Husband 's Concern ; but I ( having still a Regard ●o the Reputation of the Faculty , and a ●ue Respect to my Seniors in the Professi●n ) refused to be concern'd alone with ●im : And because I knew the Infirmity ●f Age had rendered this old Gentleman a ●ittle Pettish , and Self-conceited , I was not willing to be concern'd with him neither , without a third , especially the Case appearing to me very doubtful in the Issue , and very hazardous at best .

This Proposal prevail'd , and there was call'd in for a third , ( to make up a compleat Consultation ) one of the Colledge of Physitians , in London , who hapned to be here that Summer . It was in July , 1663. that ( upon my Proposal ) he was call'd in , and we met all three . It was quickly concluded that he was brought from Home too soon , that he needed much larger Evacuations before he had been permitted the Bath ; and therefore by joynt Consent , a sharp Clyster , Bleeding , Vesicatories , Vomiting , and smart Purging , &c. were order'd .

Some of which being done , and meeting again the third day after ( before all that we had first agreed upon could possibly have been try'd ) the Gentleman from London proposed Salivation , as a certain ( and by him often experienc'd ) Remedy in this Case ; to which the antient Gentleman quickly assented ( so great an Influence hath a London Physician upon us poor Mortals that practice Physick in the Country ) but I begg'd leave in that particular , to dissent from them both , lest dying in the Course ( as it seem'd to me most probable that he would ) so Fam'd and Experienc'd a Remedy might be disreputed , and we get the Reputation of Killing , instead of Curing , the Patient .

This did , at length prevail , and we went on with the first-directed Course , but to no purpose ; for , tho' the Medicines wrought with him , as expected , yet he declin'd daily , and in a Week , or thereabouts , dy'd .

OBSERV . VII .

A something-like Case to this I had in one Mrs. Frisby , of Coton , near Bosworth , in Leicestershire , aged 45. She was ( about a Year and a half before she came hither ) seiz'd in her Bed with a Palsie ; and finding ●●o Advantage by what Means she used in ●he Country , was , at length , sent hither ●bout the middle of June , 1677. by the Advice of Dr. Harrington , of Baggeworth , ●n the same County . Tho' she had been ●repar'd by Bleeding , Purging , &c. both before and after she came hither , yet upon Bathing she apparently grew worse , especially in her Speech , which very much discourag'd her in proceeding farther ; and ●ndeed I was not very importunate with her ●or her longer Stay , lest the great Bell should huve rung out for her here ; for then Enquiry would have been made whose Pa●ient she was ? not what Distemper she had ? or whither a due Method had been used for her Recovery : But with the Vulgar ( who measure all things by the Success ) the Physitian that doth not Cure shall be sure to have the Reputation of Killing the Patitient that dies ; be the Disease ( or the Patient ) never so much uncurable . I return'd her back therefore to him that sent her hither , with Advice to use Antiscorbuticks and Cephalicks , and never since heard any thing of her .

OBSERV . VIII .

But where I have met with one Example of this uncomfortable sort , I cou'd name you twenty that sped in their Errant ; amongst which is one , long since made publick ( but upon another Occasion ) in the Philosophica● Transactions , N. 169. Pag. 944. ) by Dr William Musgrove , then of New-Colledge , in Oxford , now living in the City of Exeter . to whom I sent the Relation , upon his Request , by Letter . It is of one that had not only what she came for , a Cure of her Palsie , but also what she did not then think of nor hope for : Having been twelve Years marry'd , and never was with Child till after her second coming to the Bath ; ( when she stay'd the whole Season out , from March to Michaelmas ) as soon as she return'd Home to her Husband ( at least within a Month after ) she conceiv'd with Child , and had five strong , and lusty Children , at a Year , or a Year and a halfs distance one from another , four Daughters and a Son. Her Husband's Name was Duffewait , an Attorney at Law , and liv'd then in Wiltshire , but afterwards had an Employ for the Cathedral Church at Wells , to keep their Courts , and therefore liv'd there ; where I spake with the Mother , and ●v four of the Children ( the Son dying ●●ung , of the Small-Pox , ) likely to make ●●●per Women . The Mother dy'd of a ●●nsumption Twenty Years after her Reco●●ry from the Palsie .

OBSERV . IX .

I shall only mention two more ; who , ●●o I cannot say they had Children , as ●ell as Help in a Palsie , yet I suppose they ●●d their Endeavours for it ; for they were ●●th marry'd out of my House , whilst ●●ey lay here , perfecting their Cures : The one a Widow , between Thirty and ●●rty Years of Age , the first Year of her ●●ming for Remedy : The other a Virgin , ●●d a modest comely one , aged One or ●wo and Twenty , in the second Year of ●●r coming to the Bath . Whether the con●●nient Scituation of my House contributed any thing to it , ( having on one Side a Gal●ry , and a Door that goes into the King's●ath ( the best for Paralytick Persons , if at l●ast they can bear the Heat of it ) and on ●●e other Side , out of my Garden , a pri●ate Door into the Church , entring by ●hich , less notice might be taken of a limp●ng Bride . ) I leave to the curious to determine . But to be sure it goes well with the Individuum , when Care is taken for propagating the Species . I must beg the Reader's Excuse for not naming the Persons ; I forbear it , for fear of incurring their , or any of their Relations Displeasure . But if any body question the truth of it , and be so curious as to desire to be farther satisfied in it , I can inform them ; for I have their Names by me , and the times when they were here , using the Bath .

OBSERV . X.

I shall conclude this Chapter with telling you , that it is not only for Cure , but for Prevention also , of Palsies , that many resort hither ; when , by some Previous Symptoms , they have had great Reason to apprehend the Palsie threatning them . Amongst such ( and indeed he may excuse the mention of any more ) Sir John Gell , of Hopton , near the Peake , in Derbyshire , Knt. and Barroner : a great Friend to the Bath , and indeed the Bath was so to him ) for Twenty Years together , was a constant Frequenter to this City , for the life of the Bath , but mostly of the Bath-Pump .

His usual Custom was ( in Dr. Venner's time , before I was concern'd with him ) after a Purge or two , to go into the Queens-Bath , for a quarter of an Hour , and then immediately to the Pump , where he seldom took less than Seven or Eight Hundred Pumps the first day , upon his bare Head , and increased every day Two or Three Hundred , till he came to Fifteen Hundred , at last to Two Thousand , and so went on to do three or four days in a Week , sometimes more , for Five or Six Weeks , ( the usual time of his Stay here ) abating towards the Conclusion , by degrees , as he increased at the beginning , but seldom had he sewer than Five or Six Hundred at a time ; after which he Purged again at Conclusion , and went hence , to his own House , to Hawk ( after the Harvest was in ) for a Month or Five Weeks , and then return'd to his House in St. Martins-Lane , to Winter ; and stay'd there till he came again next Summer to the Bath , and again into Derbyshire , as above . Thus did he Year after Year , as long as he was able to take Journeys , and till Age , and a Scorbutical Dropsie , confin'd him to his House in London , where he dy'd in the Eighty-second Year of his Age , and had no Symptoms of the Palsie ( more than what at first brought him hither ) to his dying day .

I do not remember that after I had the Honour to serve him as his Physitian ( which was the first Summer after Dr. Venner's Death , and that was in March , 1660. ) that he Drank often or much of the Waters , and before to be sure he did not ; for that old Gentleman was no Friend to Water-drinking . I perswaded him sometimes to a Bocker of the Woods , and Cephalick Herbs , of which he would drink very regularly , and take sometimes ( tho' rarely ) of an Antiscorbutick and Cephalick Electuary . That which made Sir John to fear an ●mpending Palsie , and to come hither to prevent it , was , A Stupor and Dullness sometimes in his Head , and a seeming Clout about his Tongue , and a kind of Creeping , and Sleepiness as they call it vulgarly ) upon Arm or Leg , sometimes one , sometimes another , and a kind of Clomsiness whilst it remain'd there . But all these Symptoms vanished , after he had a while used himself to the Bath ; and he dy'd at longth , as is already said .

CHAP. V. Palsie after the Cholick .

THere is another sort of Palsie , besides those that are consequent to Apoplexies , Epilepsies , or Convulsions , and that is what follows after Bilious Cholicks , Rheumatisms , and sometimes Feavers , but most frequently after the first ; of which , Fran●iscus Citesius , Physitian to the King of France , and his great Cardinal Richlieu hath written a Treatise ex professo , and calls it Dolor colicus Pictonicus , in his Opu●cula Medica , in 410. Parisiis , mecum , Pag. ●67 . and of which , Sennertus , Crato , and ●ll , or most , that have written a Praxis of Physick , or Observations , have made frequent mention . This is allow'd by all to be caused by a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or Translation , of the Morbifick Matter , from the Intestines , ●o the Nervosum Genus , or at least , to the Original of some of those Nerves , that Branch from the Spinal Marrow . I have ●een in some Patients the Arms only , and ●ot the Legs render'd useless , & è Contra ; ●t least one part more enfeebled than another ; in others , all parts , from Head to Foot , altogether Relaxed , some with Pain , some without it ; but in most a Colliquation , even of the Musculous Flesh , which ( by the way ) seems to countenance the Opinion of those that assert the Conveyance of Nourishment to all parts , to be by the Nerves , and not by the Arteries and Veins ; these latter supplying only Oyl to the Lamp of Life , and continuing the Stream that drives about the main Wheel that keeps the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ( the Machine of an Animal Body ) in Motion . Whither this Bilious Matter relaxeth only the Nerves , or by its being Coagulated , stops the Passages that the Animal Spirits cannot find their way to irradiate them , or how otherwise affected , is already referr'd to the nice● Enquirers into Theories It is enough to ou● purpose here to give some Instances amongst many ( for I find no one Distemper mo●● frequent among my Adversaria , non● more eminent Recoveries than in this ) of Person thus disabled , to have been restor'd by the Assistance of the Bath , and the Bath Waters .

OBSERV . I.

I begin with a Minister of Lincoln-shir● ●ne Mr. Pi●kin●or , aged 33 , who came hi● ●●er in May , 1666. He liv'd near the ●enns , to which Uliginous Air , was ascrib'd ●he beginning of his Illness . After such a ●ollick he was Crippled , and Emaciated all ●ver ; his Legs were in some measure , re●over'd before he came hither , for he could ●o , tho' but feebly , and had not much Pain , ●ut his Arms and Hands were whloy useless , ●nd hung like Flayls . He could not lift ●ither of them to his Head , nor grasp any ●hing with his Hands ; the great Muscle of ●he Thumb ( wherein chiefly consists the ●trength of the Hand ) was quite wasted . He could not feed himself , much less put ●ff and on his own Cloaths .

After Preparatory Purging , I put him up●n Drinking the Waters , to prevent the Re●●rn of his Chollick , ( for he had had some Threatnings of a Recidivation ) and a Chaly●eat Course , and Bathing between whiles , as ●is Weaknes would bear it . The first In●tance of his being better , ( with much Joy , 〈◊〉 shew his Improvement ) coming to my House , he put off his Hat to me ; for tho' he was a Clergy man , his Disease had made him so much a Quaker , that he could not ●erform that accustom'd Civility to any ●ne , till after a whiles Bathing . Before ●e went hence he could write his Name ●●mpetently well , that could not hold a Pen in many Months before : He stay'd Six or Seven Weeks , and then return'd greatly advantaged , and directed to the Use of Antiscorbutick and Neurotick Alteratives ; and to return the next Year , which he did , and perfected what he had so well begun the Year before .

OBSERV . II.

A young Gentlewoman , not long marry'd to one Mr. Kenricke , ( afterwards Sir William Kenricke ) came hither in July , 1663. from her Father's , Mr. Kilblewhites , in Berkshire , in the Vale of White Horse , about Ten or Twelve Miles from Oxford ; which I mention , because she had been a long time a Patient to Dr. Willis , and ( if I mistake not ) carry'd thither , and Lodged there , for the greater Conveniency of his daily seeing her .

After some Months , finding little or no Ease or Strength , by his most industrious , as well as knowing , Prescriptions , came against his Will , and Approbation , hither , ( and indeed he never was a Friend to the Bath , as was intimated in the Preface , and is mention'd in my Lady Dowager Brooke's Case , which may also be gather'd from some of his Observations , and ( if I mistake not ) in this very Gentlewoman's Case . She was violently pain'd in Bowels and Limbs , both Joynts and Musculous Parts ; and so tender , that she could not endure to be touch'd , but would cry out ; she had Convulsion , or Hysterick Fits , withal , and was wasted and emaciated even to a Skelliton . She was with no small difficulty , and trouble to her Attendants , as well as Pain to her self , brought hither in a Litter ; and when permitted to bathe , let down into the Bath in a kind of a Cradle : She had some ease by the Bath , but no Strength nor Stomack ; she was therefore put upon drinking the Waters , and used Chalybeats , Antiscorbuticks , and Cephalicks , and ( as her necessities requir'd ) Anodynes , Cordials , and Hystericks : She used first the Cross-Bath only , some decrying the King's and Queen's , as too hot and fierce , ( for in this place there are those that would set the Baths at Variance , as well as the Inhabitants , several speaking , as their Interest leads them ) but the Truth is she had Ease by the Cross-Bath , and drinking the King's-Bath-Waters , but no Strength till she bathed in the Queen's and King's-Bath , and that would not be permitted to be , till her second or third coming hither .

She came three or four Years following , at first ; and then at four Years distance , and at Six , and had Children between , which hinder'd her coming .

One thing peculiar I observ'd in her , The Optick Nerves ( as well as all the rest of the Nervosum Genus ) bore a great share in this her Universal Enervation , for it impair'd her Sight very much ; which also was by degrees restored , as the rest of her Body encreased in Strength . The last time she was here ( if I remember well ) was in the year 1675. She had several Children in , and after , this great Illness , and left some when she dy'd , ( which was at length , ( as I have been inform'd ) of a Consumption .

OBSERV . III.

A comely young Gentlewoman , not much above Twenty , ( whose Name I must beg leave not to mention , she having declar'd an utter Aversion to it ) was brought hither out of Suffolk ; I should have conceal'd even the County too , but that it is of moment to mention it , that it may appear , that even in clear Air , and dry Soyles , these kind of Distempers sometimes seize , as well as in Marshy , and Fenny Places .

She was in so weak a condition when ●e first came hither which was in July , ●●89 . ) as not to be able to help her self in ●●e least . The beginning of this Illness was a ●●eumatism ; she was first taken with a ●eakness in some of her Joynts only , and after two or three Days , was wholly disabled , not capable to stir Hand or Foot , after ●●at , most violent Pains seiz'd sometimes ●●e part , sometimes another , so that she lay in very great torture . By the Advice of her Physitians there were taken at several ●●mes above forty Ounces of Blood ; she took also Abundance of Medicines , such 〈◊〉 Antiscorbuticks , the Sarsa-Drink , &c. at length , when she had some little ease , so that she was able to bear the being held 〈◊〉 in a Coach , ( for she was not able to help her self in the least , with Hand or Foot ) she was brought to the Bath , where ( by the Blessing of God , upon these Waters , and other Means used here ) she receiv'd Benefit the first Year , which encourag'd her ●●iends to bring her a second time , and was able then to use Hands and Arms , and to walk , tho' feebly . She apparently recover'd more Strength , whilst she was ●●re this second time , but did not think fit 〈◊〉 come the year following . The account ●●her first Seizure , and Proceedings , I had from a very kind Brother of hers , almo●● Verbatim ; and with it her Reasons why she would not have her Name publish'd the chief was pretended to be because sh● was not perfectly well , having still som● Weakness in her Limbs , especially in he● Ancle Joynts , and walk'd with some Diff●●ently and Pain . If it be so , it is certainly her own fault ; for that Means , that ( b● using it at two Seasons only ) recover'd her thus far , would certainly , in a litt●● time , have perfected the Cure , had 〈◊〉 follow'd it ( as she ought to , and other● have done ) Year after Year , till she ha● been , ( as she desires to be ) perfectly Eas●● and Strengthen'd .

I mention thus much of this Case , ( th● I have been desired not to mention the Nam● in Hopes that this Book may fall into 〈◊〉 or some of her Relations , Hands ; and 〈◊〉 her in Mind how much she hath been wan●●ing to her self ; and to warn others not 〈◊〉 give over the Use of the Means , that th●● have had the least Benefit by , till they ha●● attain'd the wish'd Effect .

OBSERV . IV.

A very Honourable Lady , and a Person 〈◊〉 great Quality , whose Name and Title , ●●ppose I may ( without fear of Reproof ) ●●ture to insert , because she hath been ●●ased , Frequently and Publickly , to ascribe 〈◊〉 Recovery to these Waters ; and hath fa●●ur'd me with a particular Leave so to 〈◊〉 .

It was the ( then ) Countess of Mull●●ve , now Lady Marchioness of Normanby . 〈◊〉 was sent hither by Dr. Lower , in May , ●●88 . and by him recommended by Letter 〈◊〉 my particular Care ( as he had done ma●● before , that he could not perswade to 〈◊〉 to Tunbridge ) . Her Honour's Conditi●● was somewhat worse than the Persons ●●t mention'd ; for besides that her Lady●●p was altogether as helpless , after a Bi●●us Cholick ; she was more Emaciated , Sto●chless , and frequently in Pain . The ●●ps , Knees , Ancles , Feet , Arms and Fin●●s , Contracted ; the Morbifick Matter be●●g wedg'd into the Porosities of the Tendons , which was almost all that remain'd of ●e Muscles of every part ) insomuch , that ●●en they were endeavour'd to be ( tho' ●●ntly ) forc'd out , as was Reason to attempt often to do , her Ladyship would cry out , as if cut with Knifes .

Her Ancles were so much drawn inward , that when it was endeavour'd to set her upon her Feet , the Soals could by no means be made to come flat to the Ground ; but the weight of her Body would thrust out more her Ancle-Joynts , so that we were forc'd to desist from that Attempt . Her Ladyship began here with drinking the Waters , ( having taken Purges before she came down ) and sometimes of the day some Spoonfuls of Dr. Lewer's Bitter Infusion with Steel , which was brought down with her . She was continued in this Course a Fortnight , or Three Weeks before she was put into the Cross-Bath ( for her Ladyship used no other ) and then but a little while at first ; not past half an Hour at a time , and that but once in Three or Four Days , or every other day when most , for the first Month , or longer ; the days between drinking the Waters , and continuing the Alteratives . This recover'd something , an Appetite , but little Alteration made upon the Infirm Limbs the first Six Weeks . Her Ladyship had , by reason of her violent Pains , so accustom'd her self to Laudanum , that we had something to do , to take her off from it ; but , at length , it was , by degrees pretty well done , and after that she apparently got Ground . She would ●t length suffer her Legs to be laid streight , ●nd be set up upon her Feet , when we had ●ot for her flat single-soal'd Shooes ; nor would ●er Ancles then turn out so much : Her La●yship could hold a Plate in her Hand , and ●ring a Fork to her Mouth , to feed her self , which at first she could no ways do , nor suffer to be done , for a long time before . These little Improvements were the most we could bragg of , after almost Three Months stay here , at which time ( the Sea●on being then very Hot , and therefore ●nfit for her farther bathing ) her Ladyship return'd , lying on a Bed in the Coach as ●he came hither ; but endur'd the Journey back much better than when she came down , and improv'd daily after her Return , till ●he arriv'd at a considerable pitch of Health and Strength , and Activeness ; which I was an Eye-witness of , the Spring following , when I was to wait upon her Honour , at her Lord's Lodgings , in White-Hall , my Lord , her Husband , being then Lord-Chamberlain . And I have , several times since , heard that her Honour hath continued , without any Relapse into the like Condition , to the time I write this Account of her Case .

OBSERV . V.

The next Case I instance in , seems to be a Complication of Rheumatism and Chollick , ( or rather Antritio Ventriculi , as Sennertus calls those violent Stomach Pains ) and to be sure a high Mixture of the Scorbute withal : But the Weakness and Decay of the Limbs , the same , if not greater than either of the former ; but the Prefaces to those Weaknesses , and Decay of the Flesh in the Limbs , were , at first , more Rheumatick than Collical ; the Pains seizing ( after that of the Stomach ) the Musculous Parts , as well as Joynts ; and last of all , mostly in her Heels , especially when warm in her Bed ; and in all these Parts the Pains very acute ; and after which , follow'd the Weakness in all her Limbs , and wasting of all the Musculous Flesh .

It was the Wise of Thomas Beare , Esq a Devonshire Gentleman , but Daughter to Robert Longe , Esq of this County , and a Neighbour to the Bath .

She was past Forty Years of age when this Illness came upon her ; she had ( by Fits ) Pains also in her lower Bowels , and ( what was peculiar in her Case ) did sometimes avoid Blood by Stool , in considerable quantities : After the Pains ceased , she complain'd that her Belly seem'd to be bound about as ●●th an Iron Hoop , ( it was her own Ex●ession ) yet no hardness appear'd to the ●uch in those parts ; the disorder of the ●●rves had so much deprav'd her sence of ●eling .

Yea , the Totum Nervosum Genus was so feebled , that all Parts bore a Share ; it ●s trouble to her to breathe ; her Lungs ●●v'd so heavily , that it was Pain and La●ur to her to speak ; nor could she well bring ●t her Words ; a little Talking would quite spirit her . Her Stomach had neither Ap●tite nor Digestion ; and all her Bowels ●●re benummed , and seem'd ty'd as with Cord.

She could not lift an Arm to her Head , ●r grasp any thing in her Hands , nor sup●●rt her self with her Legs and Feet , her ●eakness being most in the lower Parts ; ●●d the Muscles of all Parts quite fallen flat . 〈◊〉 this deplorable Condition was this poor ●entlewoman brought to the Bath in May , ●690 . Dr. Musgrove , then of New-Colledge , 〈◊〉 Oxford , now living in Exeter , was joyn●● with me in Consultation about this Pa●ent , here at the Bath ; but when at home ●e had the Assistance of old Dr. Dyke ; ●ar Taunton , and Dr. Osmond , an ingenious ●hysitian , of Exeter . By Dr. Musgrove's Advice and mine she was first put upo● gentle Vomitings ; Carduus-Posset-Drink , i● large quantities , and Oxymel of Squills , 〈◊〉 Wine of Squills , was the strongest Vomiti●● we ventur'd at , and those urged no farther than her present small Strength would permit ; after that she began upon drinking these Waters , at first in small Quantities ▪ increasing by degrees : After a whiles drinking she was put into the Cross-Bath ; where ▪ at first , she stay'd but half an Hour ; bu● finding Ease there , she ventered to stay longer at a time , and bathed every day , f●● Three Weeks together , contrary to the Opinion of her Physitians , yet was not ( as was fear'd ) fainted , or more enfeebled by it , but rather got Strength , as well as Ease by it . And whereas , with others , bathing usually takes off the Appetite from every thing but Drink , hers increased upon it . She was advised , in all this time , Chalybeats , and a Bitter Wine , and Antiscorbutick Julips , and now and then a Solutive , rather then Purging Medicine ; but she took but little of the former . Thus she continued to do till the hot Season came on , when it was thought advisable , to give her some Respite , by returning her to her Father's , who lives near this City ; where she stay'd till towards the ●nd of August ; about which time she return'd again , and follow'd the same Course for a Month. She recover'd in her Recess , both ●s to Stomach and Strength , in some measure ; but more apparently at this second Coming , and continued so to do the following Winter ; only subject to frequent Vomitings , of Viscous Phlegm , and Acid Juices , ●n which Case she found nothing so advan●ageous to her as Sherry , mull●d with Sper-●int .

She came again the Summer following , ●nd so a third Season , but more to Confirm ●●e Health , and Strength she had got by the ●●rst , than to enter upon any new Course , ●●r to repeat the old . She held well , and ●er Stomach return'd : her Muscles were re●or'd Plump and Full , and was at length , in all Circumstances ) as she had been for ●●me Years before this Sickness seiz'd her ; ●et since was threatned with a Relapse into ●●e same Weakness , tho' she had not violent ●ains , but some Decay of Stomach , and ●eebleness of Limbs , for which whilst she 〈◊〉 at her Father's ) she drinks the Bath Wa●●rs , not without considerable Benefits .

OBSERV . VI.

The Right Honourable Nicholas , Earl Thanett , aged between 50 and 60 ; came hither in August , 1677. very ●eeble in all his Limbs , but especially in Arms and Hands ; he had scarce a Muscle upon either , left visible ; not able to help himself in any respect . The Ligaments at his Shoulders were so relaxed , that his Arms hung like Flayls , and he threw them forward and backward , rather than moved them ; with this Weakness of Limbs he had Decay of Appetite too , and Digestion ; nautiated every thing , and was fallen away , even to a Skelliton ; and all this the effect of a Bilious Cholick which continued long upon him .

After the Translation of the Matter to the Nerves , he was , by Fits , at ease in his Bowels , but thus weakened in his Limbs , for which he came to the Bath . I had the Honour to advise him , having been Physitian to the Lady Dowager his Mother , who was sent hither by Sir John Micklethwait , to prevent a Palsie , to which she had many Previous Dispositions , and at length dy'd of an Appoplexy .

My Lord both drank the Waters , an● bathed , took Alteratives , Apperitives , and Antiscorbuticks , and by Degrees , got Stomach , Ease and Strength , but stay'd Two 〈◊〉 Three Months for it . His Lordship came several times after to confirm , what he 〈◊〉 first attain'd ; of what his Lordship dy'd afterwards , and when , I have not been ●●form'd .

OBSERV . VII .

Mr. Pettit , of Reading , came hither , May , ●681 . as weak , or weaker than any in this Case before-mention'd , and was here re●over'd by the like Methods . Dr. Baynard and 〈◊〉 were joyntly concern'd in directing for ●●im , and managing his drinking the Wa●●rs , and bathing .

It would be too tedious to give a parti●●lar Description of every ones Case that 〈◊〉 have to instance in upon this Head ; let 〈◊〉 suffice then that I name only some Per●ons , and the time of their coming , and ●●e Success they had , since there was but ●●ttle difference in their Symptoms , and Me●●ods of Cure.

I. From Ireland , whence I have had very many in this Condition ; as namely ,

1. Sir William Davis , then Recorder of ●●ublin , afterwards Lord-Chief-Justice of Ire●●nd ; he came first in July , 1686. and was recoverd . 2. Sir William Tychborne , whose Estate ●●y near Lymrick ; he came first in June , ●674 . and was here several Years after , ●nd had perfect Recovery . 3. Sir John Cose was here in the same Errant , in June , 1671. and several Year after , and at length , recover'd also . 4. Alderman Best , an Alderman of D●●lin , came in June , 1680. and several time after , and was restor'd to Strength . 5. Capt. Harrison , a Gentleman , th●● marry'd Bishop Taylor's only Daughter had lost the Lise of his Hands after th● Cholick , and here recover d them . 6. Mr. Lawrence Hodson , with mar●● more , which I omit , for fear of being 〈◊〉 tedious .

II. From the Isses of Guernsey a●● Jersey , many have been sent to me ●●der these Weaknesses of Limbs , by M●●sieur Sallanoue , an eminent Physitian 〈◊〉 Chyrurgeon of the Isle of Jersey , 〈◊〉 were sent back recover'd ; by name , 〈◊〉

1. Madam Patriarch ( a Kinswoman 〈◊〉 his ) came first in June , 1672. and ser●ral Years after . 2. Mrs. Martyn from Guernsey , in Ju●● 1679. had a remarkable , and speedy R●●covery . 3. Monsieur Peter's , a Chyrurgeon from the same Island . Cum multis aliis , &c.

III. From the American Plantatio● .

1. Coll. Hallet , from the Barbadoes . 2. Capt. Richard Hallett , his Brother . 3. Mr. Bond , an eminent Planter , and 〈◊〉 ingenious Gentleman . 〈◊〉 All , and many more , for the same Loss 〈◊〉 Limbs after the Belly-ach , ( for so they ●●m this Pictonic Cholick in those parts ) ●●ere here relieved ; if not perfectly restor'd 〈◊〉 Strength .
CHAP. VI. Of a Scorbutical Palsie .

BEsides those already mention'd in the fore-going Chapters , there was ano●●er sort of Enervated , or Paralytick Patients ; ●●any of which sort have been under my ●●are also , and have found no less Advan●●ge than those already instanced in . These ●●ing like Palsies in many particulars , I ●●ink it not improper to bestow a Chap●●● upon them , and here to insert it , as ●●arest of Kinn to Palsies .

Tho' the Cases following may , in many ●●rcumstances , seem to differ one from a●●ther , yet all agree in this , that the ●●mb or Limbs affected are rendred less use●● , if not altogether useless . These ( for ●●stinction sake , if for no other reason ) I call Scorbutical Palsie ; not seizing of a suddain , but coming on by degrees .

1. Sometimes enfeebling the Totum Genus Nervosum , and then the Head it self , and all parts from thence downwards , have had a share in the Enervation : the Head tottering , and unsteady ; sometimes dosed , and stupid ; subject to Giddiness , no●able to guide the Feet , which too , but frebly , if at all , support the rest of the Body .

2. The Arms and Hands in some force● to odd Motions and Gesticulations , like those of Changlings , and referrable ( I think to that sort of Convulsive Motion , which goes under the name of Chorea Sancti V●●●

3. Sometimes one Side only , Arm a●● Leg weaker than ordinary , and numm●● but not altogether useless .

4. Sometimes the Arm of one Side , a●● the Leg of the other .

5. In others the lower parts only , the upper remaining not at all debilitated . Persons thus affected have had manifest Scubutical Symptoms upon them long before these Weaknesses began . Some har● had Previous Head-ach , and Virtigoes ; othe● have thus declined in Strength , in or after Fevers ; and after Concussions and Contus●●●

6. Some have been thus affected in their lower Limbs , from some of the Vertebra 〈◊〉 ●●e back or Lo●ns started out , and from ●●ence downward have had , no Sense nor ●●otion . These generally speaking ) have ●●ot been altogether so long before they re●●eive Benefit , as those that have been seiz'd ●y a sudden Stroak ; tho' this also requires ●ime and Patience ; and more than once ●oming to the Bath ; and strict Use of In●ard Means , Cephalick and Antiscorbutick .

To give many Instances upon every one ●f these mention'd Particulars , would be to ●nlarge too much what was intended only ●or a Specimen . Let it suffice therefore , ●hat I give two or more upon each of the more remarkable ones : And first ,

Of those that have been Relaxed all over , ●rom Head to Foot.

OBSERV . I.

I begin with an only Child , and Daughter of my Lady Colchester's , ( Daughter to the then Countess Dowager of Derby ) aged 13. She had been under the Care of Dr. Burlace , of Chester , and had the Advice also of Dr. Berwick , at a distance . The former gave her , for the most part , Cephalicks , and made her to use an Artificial Bath . The latter by Letter ( for he saw not the young Lady , but had an account of her Case , in writing from her Lady Grandmother ) advised the Testacious Powders , and the Bitter Infusion .

After a long times Tryal of this , and other Means , my Lady her Mother came with her to the Bath in June , 1681. She had a perpetual Stupor , and Dullaess , in he● Head , and lay as if always asleep , and spake not but when forced to it , and then both unwillingly and imperfectly ; the could not feed her self with Hands , nor support her self with Legs and Fe●t : She had not Strength in her Neck , to keep her Head upright , when she was held up between two , but it fell ( by its own weight ) to one side or t'othe●

After some Preparation ( for her Lady-Mother was against taking much , saying ▪ She had been cloy'd with Physick before , to 〈◊〉 purpose ) she was put into the Bath : For tho' her Case had been judg'd to be an Impos●hume in her Head , yet I thought it rather to be In genere Paralytic , and proceeded accordingly . After a whiles bathing ( by which she was , to all Appearances , neither better nor worse ) I urg'd her Lady-Mother to have her let ▪ Blood in the Jugulars ; to which her Ladyship did not easily encline ▪ and the Daughter was very much afraid of a Lancet , and therefore very averse to it . I at length obtain'd of both , that ( at least ) Leeches might be apply'd there , which was ●●ne effectually enough ; for they all fill'd ●●emselves sufficiently ; and when they fell ●●f , by Sponges dipp'd in warm Water , the ●●rifices of the Veins were kept open for ●●me Hours , till the was tired , by being held so long u●right ; then a Plaister being apply'd to each place that bled , she was laid down to her accustomed Repose . About the middle of the Night the Nurse awaking , and looking towards her , observ'd ●●e Pillows , on which her Head and Neck ●●sted , to be very bloody ; which sight ●●eatly affrighting her , the People were ●all'd up , and the Apothecary that apply'd the Leeches , was sent for ; and I was ( with difficulty ) excused from being disturb'd also . She had indeed bled very much , but ●o ways faint , or dispirited by it , but rather ●elieved . Nature having this Vent given 〈◊〉 , discharged that Burthen which had a long time oppress'd the Brain .

From this time she apparently got Ground , ●eing better able to bear bathing , and with ●ess Regret , took Alteratives , which were 〈◊〉 mostly ) Cephalicks , and Antiscorbuticks , ●nd if I remember well ) some Chalybeats . ●he Purg'd between while , and was , at ●ength , perfectly recover'd of this Distem●er , and liv'd healthily , and chearfully , some Years after ; yet the poor Lady her Mother was ( after this joyful , because almost unhoped for , Recovery ) left at last Childless , by this her only Daughter 's dying of the Small-Pox , or Fever ; I remember not well which , but die she did , in some Years after , as I was inform'd .

OBSERV . II.

Katherine Jenkins , from Cowbridge , in Glamorganshire , in South-Wales , aged 23. after a long continued Ague , which was , at length , put by , for a time , with the Jesu●t● Powder ; and ( after its second and third Return , wholly put off by the same ; had all her lower Parts , from the middle of her Back downwards , wholly Relaxed , that she could by no means , stand upright . She was brought to the Bath in July , 1691. Madam Windham , of Dunneraven , ( Serjeant Windham's Lady ) lodging then in my House , for a Lameness , of which we may hereafter have occasion to speak ) desired me to go and see her , and to give her my Advice ; for she had been a Servant ( and I think , was again , after her Recovery ) to her eldest Son's Wife .

I sound her at the Inn , newly brought to Town , greatly enfeebled indeed . I p●● her ( after Preparation ) upon drinking the ●aters first , and then bathing , and inward ●leans withal ; by which ( in a Month , or ●ive Weeks time ) she perfectly recover'd , ●o ' some Physitians in Wales had greatly ●iscouraged her from coming .

She held well all the following Winter , only had , by Fits , some Pains in the Small of the Back , Thighs and Knees . In March those Pains began to increase , and black ●pots , like Stripes and Pinchings , here and ●here appear'd ; the Weakness also , in the ●ower Limbs beginning to return , she came ●gain to the Bath in June , 1693. and stay'd ●ot past a Fortnight , and was very well re●over'd , and held so ; for in July , 1694. she ●ame ( in other business ) to this City ; and 〈◊〉 , by chance , met her trigg and lusty , in ●he Market-Street , and did not presently know her , till she spake to me , and told me who ●he was , and thanked me for my former Advice to her , and owned that she was perfectly well of all the Weakness and Pain that she formerly came to the Bath for .

OBSERV . III.

Whilst ( at my leisure Hours ) I am recollecting these Memoirs , to fit them for the Press , there is a young Lady , about 13 Years of Age , brought to the Bath in much the like Case . My Lady , her Mother ( a Person of considerable Quality , but I have not leave to mention her Name ) being very sollicitous for her Recovery ( it being ( if I mistake not her only Daughter ▪ and of which she hath hitherto almost despair'd ; desired my Advice , and utmost Assistance in the Case . It was a Lameness from a more than ordinary Weakness in the Back , so that she could not so much as sit upright in a Chair , much less stand , or suffer to be held upright . The Lumbal Muscles , and perhaps the Vertibrae of the Loyns , ( tho ᵉ they did not start out ) being Relaxed and Enfeebled . Moreover , when she was forced into an upright Posture , or put into a Swing ( which also was sometimes done whilst she used the Bath ; for my Lady , her Mother , was greatly apprehensive of her her growing aside ) she complain'd of a Pain and Streightness all athwart her Belly ; the Muscles of the Abdomen being probably , contracted , by her so long leaning forward , and yielding to the Weakness of her Back ; and when forced out , by a more erect posture , it was painful to her .

The beginning of this Lameness was a violent Fever , which after some few Days very great Illness , settled upon the lower Parts , and remain'd there , with the Inconveniencies above-mention'd , many Months after the Fever was removed , even to the time that she was brought to this place .

After due Preparation , she began with drinking these Waters , and then was permitted to bathe , which she did a Fortnight or more , before any considerable Alteration to the better was discoverable ; but from that time , upon her drinking some days together , and bathing other some ( in their turns ) and Purging between whiles , she , at length , recover'd so well , as to be able not only to go alone , and very streight , and upright , but very nimbly also , up and down Stairs ; without any the least Pain or Disquiet , or the least appearance of Crookedness , which was her Lady-Mother's chiefest Fear .

She bathed in all Thirty times , and drank as often , and went from hence well , Octob. 7. 1695.

OBSERV . IV.

Mrs. Budghill , of Exeter , a comely young Gentlewoman , about Five and Twenty Years of Age , was much in the same condition as was the first mention'd , only her Head was not so much dosed , had but little Alteration of her Speech , but all parts else enfeebled and benumm'd , but especially the lower parts , so that she could neither stand not go , and he sense of Feeling was deprav'd in all Parts .

She had been under this Weakness some Months , and had try'd several means by the Directions of Dr. Heale , a worthy Physitian of those Parts , who marry'd her Sister ) and of Dr. Davy , and Dr. Bidgood , both eminent Physitians of Exeter , and some others of meaner note in that Country . She was , at length , brought hither in June , 1682. by her Mother , and that Brother-in-law of his , Dr. Heale ; and after due Preparation , by his Advice and mine , was first put into the Queens-Bath , afterwards into the King's ; and after a whiles bathing , was pump'd , and taking Alteratives withal , ( viz. Cephalicks and Antiscorbuticks ) she , at length , very well recover'd the perfect Use of , and Sense in , all her Limbs .

OBSERV . V.

Mrs. Pierce , of the Devises , in the County of Wilts , ( Wife to a near Relation , and good Friend of mine ) aged Thirty-three . In the beginning of the year 90. being then with Child of her fourth or fifth Child ; and having been usually sick at Stomach , as many breeding Women are ; when she had gone about half her time , ●n excessive Vomiting seiz'd her , insomuch , ●hat , for a time , she could not keep any thing within her . When that ceased , a Numb●●ess in her Limbs ensued , accompanied with violent Pains , which never left her , till it had wholly depriv'd her of the Use of Arms , Hands , Legs and Feet , and render'd her utterly unable to help her self .

Her very kind Husband call'd in to her Assistance two Physitians that liv'd upon ●he place ; sent also for me , and had Advice , by Letter , from two Physitians in Bristol ; we all prescrib'd what her present Circumstances would safely admit , without the hazard of procuring an Abortion , but all to no great Advantage , till she was deliver'd of her Child , which was in November following , and then seem'd perfectly recover'd , and continued so till the latter end of 92. when ( being again with Child ) the Numbness began with it , and the same Stomach-Sickness as before , nor could she then go without help . The same , or the like , Means was used again , but with as little Success , till she was deliver'd , and then ( after her Month was out , and she in a fit Condition to endure a Coach ) I having formerly advised her Coming to the Bath , she was brought hither , and stay'd here Six or Seven Weeks , from July , 93. till September following ; and by drinking the Waters , and bathing ( by turns ) and using Cephalick and Antiscorbutick Alteratives ; and , towards the Conclusion , pumping upon the most weaken'd Parts , and by God's Blessing upon all , she was very well recover'd , and hath so continued to this time , which is March , 96. tho' since she was here she had a Child , and was not so sick in the breeding of it as formerly ; but had a sore L●g upon her first being with Child , which continued running till she was delivered , and then it heal'd of it self ; to the Discharge , probably at which part , may be ascribed the Exemption she had from her former Illness ; and therefore I advised an Issue , as near that part as could conveniently be made . She bread this Child more healthfully than any she had done before , and so continued to be Six or Seven Months after her Delivery ; but the Child had Convulsion-Fits , and at length dy'd in a suddain , and violent one , on the 18th . of February , 1695. This was the third Child they so lost , since she was first seiz'd by this Distemper .

To prevent her own Relapse , and the same Fate to what Children she may yet have , I earnestly pressed the making of an Issue , which she had not then submitted to , and perhaps the more backward in it , because she her self was then so well as ever she was in her whole Life ; tho' it had fallen severely on the Children she bore , whilst under this Nervous Distemper .

OBSERV . VI.

My Lady Ingolsby , of Yorkshire , brought ●ither a Daughter of hers , of about Four●een or Fifteen Years of age , in April , 1684. Relaxed from Head to Foot ; I think , after a ●ever . When set upon her Feet , she was no ●ore able to stand than a Cloth , but sunk , ●nd gave off , at every Joint .

She was prepar'd for bathing , took Alte●atives , ( Antiscorbuticks , and Neuroticks ) ●●ank the Waters , when she intermitted bath●●g . In Three Weeks or a Months time she ●ot so much Strength as to be able to stand , 〈◊〉 set upright against a Wall ; at length ●ould walk her Chamber between two Maids , ●nd before she went away ( which was at Se●en Weeks , or Two Months end ) could ●o , tho' feebly , without leading . She went ●ff at the heat of Summer , and my Lady , ●●r Mother , sent her back ( with a Maid on●● 〈◊〉 to attend her ) about the latter end of August , or beginning of September , and she bathed on as long as the Season would well permit , and was so well recover'd before she went hence , that she danced at our Mayor's Feast , and not with the least Applause of any of the young Company that were then dancing with her .

She was , in a few Years , marry'd to Sir John Arderne's eldest Son , of Cheshire , whose Wife she now is ( if both living ) . They were here in my House , in the Summer , 1693. with a pretty Daughter of theirs , about Two Years of Age , all in good Health .

He came to drink the Waters ( by Dr. Bateman's Directions ) to prevent the Return of a Rheumatism , of which he had , the Year before , a severe Fit ; but neither the Mother nor the Daughter needed either drinking or bathing . In the like Case ;

One Mrs. Booth , of Cheshire , brought a Daughter in July , 1688. She was about Eleven or Twelve Years old ; she also drank the Waters , and bathed , and recover'd in Five or Six Weeks so well , as to dance a Jigg with great Applause , at a Ball , which the Gentry met at . A knotted Cane of her Fathers , which she used to try to go with , was hung up as a Trophy , upon the new Marble Structure in the Cross-Bath , erected by John Earl , of Melford , in Memory of Queen Mary of Modena's Bathing there the year before ; it was the first , of that kind , that was hung upon it , and it continues there to this day .

OBSERV . VII .

Mrs. Elizabeth Waller , ( Daughter to the Famous Sir William Waller , Lieut. General of the Horse in the Parliament Army , in the time of the late Civil War ) aged Three and Twenty , was brought hither in August , 75. so Weak and Lame , that she was in no measure able to help her self , no more then a new-born Child .

She was carry'd in Arms , could not bring a Hand to her Mouth , nor stick a Pin in her Cloaths ; so Weak and Dispirited , that they durst not adventure her in a Litter , because there could be no Body by her : But a Bed was laid in a Coach , and she laid upon that , and her Apothecary's Wife on one side , and her Woman and Maid on the other , with Cordials in their Hands , to support her . They drove but slowly , so that she was four or five Days in coming down . She was reduc'd to this Weakness after a Feaver , which ended in some Cholick Pains , and those in a Diarrhaea ; all together reduced her to a Skelliton , as well as took away her Stomach , and Strength of all her Limbs , from Head to Foot ; she had been in this weak condition four Months before she was brought down . All her Relations , and Physicians also , despair'd of her Recovery , and gave her off as one that nothing farther could be done unto : Yet under all these Discouragements , having heard what great things had been done at the Bath , she was very importunate to be brought hither ; but every Body was against it , concluding that she would die by the way .

It was , at length , permitted that she should have her Will ; and part with her they did , not expecting to see her alive again : But it pleased God to order it otherwise ; for she was not worse upon her Journey , and came at length hither , under the Circumstances above describ'd ; and being recommended to my Care by Sir John Michlethwait ( who was one of her Physitians ) . I indeed wish'd her safe back again , doubting whither she would ever be made sound here ; but I conceal ▪ d my Suspitions from her , and put her quickly upon drinking the Waters , but in very small quantities , lest her Looseness should be increased by it ; so that it was for the Alteration of the excessive sharp Matter , more than Evacuation , that I prescrib'd them to her .

And whereas we gave to others Soluble Tartar , Sal Prunell , or Crystal Mineral , &c. ●o make them pass the better , I order'd her ●o take prepar'd Coral , Crabs-Eyes , and Pearl , ●n the first Glass . This answer'd the Design ; for the Diarrhea abated upon it , and ●he got some Stomach , insomuch , that in a Fortnights time , or thereabouts , ( she great●y importuning it ) she was put into the Bath ; the most moderate one ( to be sure ) ●t first , and not suffer'd to stay past a ●uarter of an Hour , at most but half an Hour , at a time . She went on thus bathing ●nd drinking by turns , about two Months , or ●ine Weeks , and got Strength by degrees , ●nd at length a perfect Recovery ; for she ●●ent back chearful , and well , in a Hackney ●oach , and liv'd ten or twelve Years after , ●nd dy'd , at length , of the Stone in the Kid●eys , as I was inform'd .

The Care and Kindness of her Relations ●ould not trust her with Servants alone , ●ut sent down with her ( as is before said ) ●er Apothecary's Wife ( a very kind , and ●areful good Friend ) who had been marry'd ●ven Years , or more , and never had a Child ; ●or had she been told of the Efficacy of the ●ath , in making Childless Women Fruit●●l , at least she had not Faith enough to ●elieve it , or Courage to come purposely to try it : Her Concern only for the Safety and Welfare of this young Gentlewoman , would not let her trust the Bath-Guides alone with her , but she would , and did go in with her , her self ; and , for the reward of her Kindness , assoon as she came back to her Husband she conceiv'd with Child , and at nine or ten Months end had a Son , and after that , a Child or two more . The Apothecary's Name was Biscoe ; he lived at the Unicorn in King-street , in Westminster , over against the Gate-House , near Pallace-yard .

OBSERV . VIII .

Jane Mosely , of Clack , in the Parish of Lyneham , in North Wilishire , aged 22 ; in September , 97. fell ill of a Fever , which ended in a Pain of her Left Leg ; and after that , a Stupor or Numbness , insomuch , that when a Pin was thrust into it , she was no ways sensible of it ; in a Fortnight after it began to swell , and to look blue and blackish , as if the Blood stagnated in it . In the beginning of November following , I being at Sir Robert Buttons , at Tockenham-Park , ( which is in the same Parish ) I was desired by my Lady Button to see this poor Girl , and to give her my Advice , which I did ; and by a Purging Electuary , ( which I prescrib'd , and my Lady paid for ) and some Antiscorbutick Alteratives inwardly ; and a Bath of warm Cephalick , Neurotick , and Antiscorbutick Herbs , for the lame Leg , outwardly ; Life and Colour was brought again into the Limb , and Strength return'd by degrees . She continued pretty well , so as to work , ( for she had nothing else to depend upon for a Livelihood ) till March 81 , when the same Leg began to grow weak again , without any previous Sickness , and the same Swelling , Tingling and Numbness affected ; not only that Leg , but the other also , Arms and Hands , and all parts of her Body , insomuch , that she became a Charge to the Parish . The Overseers of the Poor ( willing , by laying out a present small Sum of Money , to save a constant Weekly Charge ) sent her to the Bath , with a Letter from my Lady Button to me , in which she desired my Advice to her , and Care of her ; what I prescrib'd before for her , having been so successful . I put her upon drinking the Waters , and bathing ; but the Allowance of the Parish was so scanty , that she could stay but a Fortnight , yet in that little time had some Advantage , but not enough to enable her to work ; therefore ( upon the good Lady's Rebuke for not supplying her sufficiently to stay longer at first ) they sent her down a second time ; and in a Fortnight more was so well recover'd , as to go to her Work again , and excused the Parish from farther Expence . I had the worthy Lady's Thanks , and the Parishes also . This Maid came to my House , July , 95. being waiting on her Mistress here at the Bath , to return me Thanks for my former Advice to her ; she was then healthy and well ; and had continued so , except some aptitude to Scorbutical Distempers .

OBSERV . IX .

Mary , the Daughter of Mr. Rawlins , of Litchfield , aged 13 , was brought to the Bath by her very kind and careful Mother in July , 77 , and withal a Letter for me from Mr. Watson , of Sutton-Cofield , who had been of Lincoln-Colledge , in Oxford , when I was there also ; he practised Physick , as well as exercised his Ministry ; and this young Woman had been some time under his Care , as she had been before under Dr. Higge's of Coventry , and several others , who had try'd all Means , both Outward and Inward ; Vnguents , Plaisters , Artificial Baths , Purgings , Vomitings , &c. and all to no purpose , for she remain'd a Cripple for a Year and a half .

The first beginning of her Illness was a ●●ld , taken by lying on the Ground , upon ●hich a very violent Pain seiz'd the M●seles ●●d Tendons above the Right Knee , and after ●●at the Left also ; and then both the Hips , ●●th Pain and Stiffness , and the Right Thigh ●●sted ; she could put neither of them out ●eight , nor suffer her self to be set upright , ●●ch less erect her self ; she could not suf●● her Knees to be parted one from ano●●er ; so greatly was she every where con●●cted .

The first Year she got Ease , and some ●●se of her Limbs , tho endeavouring to go , ●●e Knee would rub against the other so ●●rd , as to fret off the Skin , and cause Pain 〈◊〉 well as hindrance in going . She came ●●ain the next Year , and was perfectly re●●ver'd ; and some Years after marry'd , and ●●th since been the Mother of several Chil●●en . She both drank the Waters , and bathed , ●●d used Inward Medicines also .

In September , 93. She was in this City , ●●d knew me , tho' I had forgotten her , and ●●lped my Memory in some of the Particu●●s above mention'd . She was then , and I ●●nk is still ) Wife to one Mr. Handcocke , Brasier in the Pall-Mall , London , and had ●n no Remainder of her former Lameness 〈◊〉 all .

OBSERV . X.

In the beginning of the sixth Chapter I told you , that some thus affected in their Limbs , had two , three , or more , of the Vertibrae of their Backs started out ; I now com● to give a few Instances of these ; and first ,

I. Philip Browne , from out of Ireland aged 14 , Nephew to Capt. Carpenter , who had a Foot-Company in Garrison , in th● Castle of Dublin : He took Care of this h●● Sister's Son , and sent him over with a So●dier ( his Servant ) to attend him . They came in July , 66. He had been under th●y Directions of Dr. William Currer , Physitia● to the then Marquess ( afterwards Duke of Ormond , and Deputy of Ireland , and Physitian-general to the English Army there He had try'd all manner of Methods an● Medicines for his Recovery ; and perhap● the more , because a Chymist , and the Captain being his very good Friend ; but all wa● in vain , which made them , at length , dete●mine to send him to the Bath , which they did , and by Letter committed him to my Care , the Doctor and I having been formerly acquainted at Bristol , as he past to and from Ireland , when I practised in that City .

I was sorry to see him come in so weak and ●eplorable a Condition , expecting no other ●han that he would have dy'd upon the ●lace : For besides the great Weakness of ●●l his lower Limbs , ( which they sent him ●ither for ) he had so ill a Voyage , that he ●ook Cold , which brought upon him a vio●ent Cough , with which he discharged very ●oul Phlegm ; he had a Diarrhaea ; both the ●ypochondria were greatly distended ; he was ●ithal Hectical ; so that I was forced a while ●o neglect the Lameness , and apply to the ●ore urging Symptoms .

His Case , for which he was sent to the ●ath , was , that after a long Sickness ( the ●eginning of which was , as I remember , an ●pidemick Fever ) he had all his lower Limbs , ●om the middle of his Back ( where four or ●ve of the Vertibrae were started out , by rea●on of the Relaxation of the Ligaments , which should hold them together ) were not ●nly useless , but senseless , insomuch , that when he was nipp'd or pinch'd , tho' very ●ard , or prick'd Pin , he felt it not : ●t would have been the same probably , if a Nail had been driven into his Foot or Leg. He was no way sensible when he had occasion to ease Nature , by Stool or Urine ; bur ●●t a usual time of the day they set him upon 〈◊〉 hollow Chair , and both came from him , but when or how , he knew not . He had often Cramps , and Convulsive Motions in his Legs and Thighs , which would violently draw them upward , whither he would or not , but of himself could never stir them .

After I had master'd a little those other Symptoms , I permitted him to bathe , ( and indeed sooner than I otherwise would , upon the Importunity of the Soldier that came to attend him ) he endur'd it better than I expected , and went on so to do till towards Michaelmas , but without any manifest Advantage to his Limbs , insomuch , that the Soldier press'd earnestly to be sent back again , seeing no Good was to be done , and that the Winter approaching , they might probably have as bad , or a worse Voyage than when they came over . I was for his longer stay , and writ both to the Doctor and the Captain , what my Opinion was , and the Reasons of it ; in answer to which they left him wholly to my Disposal , despairing of ever having him cur'd , if this Means failed , and concluding , that if he had such another Passage back as he had hither , it must infallibly kill him : so that if I thought fit to try him another Season , I was desired to assist the Soldier , in placing the Lad for the whole Winter , and send him back to be muster'd with the rest of his Company , which was done ; and the young Man left ●o the Care of a Woman , that very well ●ischarged her Trust ; I order'd her to put ●im into the Bath , when ever the Wind was not turbulent , or the weather excessive ●old , tho' it was Winter ; which she con●antly did ; and the first Alteration that ●ppear'd was , that when he was rubb'd after ●is Sweating , he begin to be ticklish . A●out Christmas , ( I having for some time ●een out of Town , with a Patient in the Country , for I then attended a Riding , as ●ell as a Bath-practice ) calling to see him ●s soon as I came home , he told me ( with ●reat joy ) that he could wagg one of his Toes ; and pulling off his Shooe and Stock●n for me to see it , he was better than his ●ord , and mov'd two or three , and in few Days after , all of that Foot , and not long ●fter , those of the other also .

In less than a Months time , after that , ●oth Sense and Motion of all the lower Parts ●turn'd by degrees ; and he could first crawl ●bout the Room by the Chairs , after that ●uld use Crutches ; so the Soldier return●g in March sollowing as was agreed when 〈◊〉 sent him back ) found him ( to his no ●mall Admiration ) at the Door of the House ●y himself . After one Month's bathing that ●pring he left off his Cratches , and could walk three Miles in a Morning ; but the Vertibr● still kept out . And indeed I never saw those Subluxations well reduc'd , tho' some bold ( because ignorant ) Bonesetters , have here pretended to do it , particularly a Rakemaker , who boldly undertook to recover ,

2. Mrs. Unite , a Daughter of Capt. Scudamore's , in Herefordshire , a fine Woman , and of excellent Temper , who came hither in May , 90. almost in the same Condition , as is in the last describ'd ( only the sence of feeling was not quite lost in her useless Limbs . )

She came hither by the joynt-advice of Dr. Cole , then of Worcester , and Dr. Williams , of Hereford , and Mr. Powell , the Chyrurgeon of Abergavenny ; she was by some of them recommended to my Care.

After Preparation , she had not bathed past five times , but , by this Fellow's Perswasion , she left off bathing , and our Directions , wholly submitted to his Cure ; who confidently warranted to recover her ; and in order to it pretended to set some Bones in her Feet , where there were none out ; and to reduce the Bones in her Back , apply'd Plaisters , and bound them up , and kept her in Expectation of a Cure , a Month at least , but none appearing , she return'd home never a Jot the better , b●t came again the next Year , and drank ●●e Waters , and bathed , and found some Ad●●ntage , as to Motion and Strength : How 〈◊〉 hath been since I have not heard ; but by ●●●ident , and at great distances I have learnt ●●●t she yet continues weak and lame , but ●●●h not thought fit to try this Means far●●●r , which I think she ought to have done ; 〈◊〉 if ever she be cured , it must probably be 〈◊〉 bathing , year after year , till it be per●●●●ed .

3. A case exactly like the first of the ●●●ee was in a Daughter of Collonel Wal●●●'s ; he being one of King Charles the I.'s ●●●ges , forfeited Life , Estate , and all , so ●●●t the Children lived upon the Exhibiti●● of Relations and Friends .

She came hither for Cure in April , 65. and 〈◊〉 Advice was desired , which I was not ●●nting in . The Alterations towards a Re●●●ery were not suddain , and consequently 〈◊〉 Expences were enlarged with her Stay , 〈◊〉 ●hat she ran in Debt with her Landlady , 〈◊〉 was forced to send her Sister ( who ●●●e to attend her ) to try her Friends for 〈◊〉 ●ecruit ; which she not quickly speeding 〈◊〉 the Year was so far gone , that she was ●●●●ed to stay the following Winter , but 〈◊〉 kept on bathing , and used a Swing , and ●●●etimes drank the Waters ; and all this as the Weather and her Strength would permit . With long lying she was gall'd upon her Hips and Back , from whence came Ulcers , which when drest by Mr. Chapman , the Apothecary , ( in pure Charity , for she had nothing to pay for Advice or Medicines ) she was not at all sensible of it , though he was forced to use hot , and sharp Applications to prevent Mortification : But before her Sister return'd ( which was not till towards the Spring ) she had recover'd some Sense and Motion in her Limbs , and ( by that time she had made out her Stay to a Twelve-month , or more ) went back to London , much advantaged , tho' not perfectly recover'd , as to Ability to go nimbly ; but her Landlady going up about Michaelmas following , about hers , and some other Debts ( for her Sister had not brought enough to pay off all Scores , and to continue here longer too ) she met her walking in London-Streets , as briskly as ever she did in her Life .

I have been the more particular in the first and third of these Observations , not only for the remarkableness of the Recoveries , but that it may be again observ'd , that The Effects of the Bath do not presently appear , and that the Impatience and Parcimony of Infirm Persons spoil more Cures , than ordinarily the Bath , or the best Me●hods and Medicines d● perform : For had not these two ( the first ●nd last mention'd ) been necessitated to stay ●onger than they were willing , they might ●ither have remain'd still lame , or the Cures ●ight have been imputed to some trivial ●hing they might have done , or taken , af●er their going from hence .

4. Michael King , a Soldier , from Tedbury , ●n Glocestershire ; by a Blow on his Back with 〈◊〉 Halbert in Flanders , going upon a Party ●o guard Pioneers , was disabled for farther ●ervice , ; and had his Discharge , and re●urn'd to his Friends in Tedbury aforesaid . ●e had three or four of the Vertibrae of his ●ack started ; and by reason of that could ●ot stoop , nor go steddily , but was forced ●o wear Iron-Bodices , without which he ●ould hardly sit , much less go , upright . He ●as sent to Bath in April , 1692. and being ●oor , as a disabled Soldier , was admitted in●o the Hospital for Strangers , where it is ●y Province to advise those , whom the ●ayor for the time being , commits to my ●are . I order'd him some Preparations for ●athing , and sometimes drinking the Waters , ●y which , in a Month , or five Weeks time , ●e recover'd so much Strength , as to leave ●ff his Iron-Bodices , and to go without 'em , ●ompetently well ; but the Vertibrae still kept ●ut , and will do , I suppose , as long as he ●●ves .

The Bath infallibly strengthens a weakned part , and gives Ease to a pain'd one , but usually ( without other Assistances ) leaves it in the posture it finds it . Young People by this help have out-grown great Deformities of Limbs ; but I have seldom ( or never ) seen any grown Person to have this part reduced ; nor would I ever consent to have it endeavour'd by force , lest the Spinal Marrow be comprest by it , and the Passage of the Animal Spirits wholly intercepted . For better it is to have an imperfect Motion and Sense , than to be totally depriv'd of both .

I should now here have ended this Chapter , but that in the beginning of it I mention'd some , thus generally weakned , that had also inordinate Motions in some , or all , parts of the Body ; referrable to those Convulsive Motions , which have obtain'd the name of

OBSERV . X.

Chorea Sti Viti ; of which I shall give you some few Instances , and those short ones , and then proceed to some other Subject .

1. Thomas Neale , Nephew to Mr. Hinde , ( Minister of Grettleton , in North Wilishire , near the Fesse ) aged 13 , was brought hither by his Uncle who took care of his Sisters ●hildren , their Father and Mother being ●●th dead ) in August , 85. He had been 〈◊〉 long time before ) subject to various and ●●ange Fits , which the Vulgar imputed to ●●itchcraft ( as usually they do , whatsoever ●●●not common ) . It seem'd to me to be a ●omplication of Convulsion , Epilepsie , and ●●orea Sancti Viti , and ( to be sure ) a high ●●orbute affecting chiefly the Brain , and the ●●rvosum Genus .

Out of the Fits he would be greatly dis●●der'd in his Head ; sometimes talk'd at ●●●dom , sometimes could not speak at all ; 〈◊〉 had , for the most part , Irregular Moti●●s in his Arms and Hands , Legs and Feet ; ●●tered so that they could not trust him to ●●e ( scarcely stand ) alone . His very kind ●●d careful Uncle stay'd with him a while 〈◊〉 see him settled to his Business here , and ●●en left him to my Care and Direction , ●ith Servants to attend him ) five or six ●eeks , or more ; in which time , by drink●●● the Waters , and bathing , and using Anti●●●butick , Antiepileptick , and Chalybeat Altera●●●es , was so recover'd as to walk , talk , and ●●rry himself composedly , and to ride home ●●●ne , and continued from that time well , ●●thout any Relapse , and is since ( as I heare ) ●●come a healthy Man , and marry'd ; but where he lives I cannot learn ; else I would have signified his present State of Body , from his own Information .

2. A Son of Mrs. Gould's , from London , ( then a Widow , since marry'd to a Doctor of Physick of the same Name ) about ten or twelve Years of Age , could neither sit , nor stand still , but some part or other would be in continual Motion . His careful Mother ( having try'd several Means before ) brought him to the Bath in August , 1688. to try what that would do for him , and call'd Dr. Baynard and me to his Assistance ; we put him upon drinking the Waters , and bathing , and several Alteratives , but to little or no purpose .

He was at length , cured , by plunging him several times in very cold Water , and this was done by Dr. Bay●ard's Advice .

3 Richard Tannor , of Longcly , near Chippenham , in the County of Wilts , aged abou● 24 , had a Giddiness in his Head , and an Universal Feblen●ss from the Relaxation of hi● Nerves , went to●tering as if he had been alway● falling ; his Hands and Arms seldom out o● Motion . He came to the Bath for it : an● finding some , tho' but little . Advantage by i● the first year , got to work Journey-work to 〈◊〉 Shooemaker in this City ( ●or he had serv●● an Apprentiship to that Trade ) and b●thi●● and drank the Waters , by my Advice , between whiles , and used ordinary Caephalicks , and Antiscorbuticks , and was , at length , perfectly recover'd . It was eight or ten Years ago that he first came hither , and for many Years following he work'd in Town , purposely for the Benefit of the Bath . I ●aw him many times in the Street , and in ●he Church , standing and going as steadily as any Man that never had such a Distemper .

Had others taken the course that this ●oor Fellow did , in coming every Season , ●or settling themselves upon the ●lace , or ●ear it , till they had been ( as he was ) ●erfectly recover'd , there might have been 〈◊〉 larger Volumn of such Instances as th●se ; ●ut this may suffice to shew where , and ●ow they may have Help , if they will be so wise , as to do as others have done .

4. Since I came to live upon this Place 〈◊〉 the Year , nor the Man's Name , I cannot ●ecollect , but there are here yet living ma●y , and sufficient Witnesses of it ) there was a seemingly , lusty and well-limb'd ●ellow , brought hither for Cure , that could ●un , but not go ; nor stand , unless leaning ●gainst a Wall or Post . He had been ( as ●e said ) a Soldier , but whither Wounds , ●r lying in the Fields , or what other thing ●rought this Distemper upon him , I cannot well remember . When he would remove● from one Place to another , he would se● himself a running , and run against a Wall o● Post , and there stop a while , and then se● his Face to that quarter that he design'd t● be at ( for he could not turn at the corne● of a Street , but must move directly forward and thus he saved the Charges , of being carry'd , or lead . He used the Bath I a●● sure , and I think , drank the Waters , an● was recover'd here .

The Unusualness of the thing drew together many Spectators , and , amongst them some compassionate ones , which gave him their Charities , on which he liv'd he● ( for he brought little or nothing with him till his Cure was well perfected , which w●● not done presently .

5. I shall add one Instance more , n●● for the Recovery , for she was not cure● here , nor did she use the Bath at all , at lea●● not long enough to try what it would hav● done for her ; and , if she had . I doubt wh●ther that or any thing else would hav● avail'd : But I mention it , to shew ho● many , and strange Infirmities , our crazy Ca●casses are here lyable to ; and also to she how ngenio●s an Instructrix Necessity is .

It was a Maid of Priddy , upon Mendip , ●ear Wells , in Somerset-shire . She came hither in Summer , 94 , and was then more than ●20 Years of age . She had ( from her Childhood ) a Weakness in her Right Arm , and Hand ; but to appearance , both were near as full , and as fleshy as the other was ; but when she endeavoured to move it any way , especially upward , or to lay hold of any thing , such odd and antick Motions would be in that Arm and Hand , as if she went about to act the Changeling . If it were a ●ight thing she took hold of , it would ( by the Motion of her Arm and Fingers ) be thrown at some distance from her ; but if ●t were of considerable weight , she could grasp and carry it , hanging downwards , a good way together . This Infirmity render'd her unfit for Service , to help therefore towards a Livelihood ( for her Friends were poor , and wrought for their own Living ) she learnt to knit ( Stockin-making being the chief Trade of that Gountry ) and that with one Hand ; which they that understand the Mystery of that Manufacture , will conclude a very hard thing to do , especially with the most unhandy of the Hands , the Left.

She came hither in hopes to have been admitted into our Hospital for Strangers ; but the Founder of it ( Mr. Billett ) had no kindness for the Infirme of that Sex ( whatever he had for the sound and trigg ) but order'd it for twelve Men only , and that but for three Months in the Year , two in the Spring , ( April and May ) and one in the Fall ( September ) so that she went back without trying what the Bath could have done for her : But it was not very likely ( after so many Years Continuance , and its being perhaps born with her ) to have remov'd such an unusual Infirmity .

6. There hath been mention made in the beginning of the Chapter of the Palsie , of another irregular sort , of which a Herald wou'd have said that he bears his Infirmity Quarterly , Lame and Sound . When the Arm and Hand on one Side , and the contrary Leg and Foot have been affected ; I shall only give two Instances of this , and then proceed to a seventh Chapter .

1. William Louell , of Shaftsbury , in the County of Dorset , Buttonmold-maker , aged 40 , was seiz'd in the Night with a Giddiness , and Amazedness in his Head , in the year 91. Being about to rise , next Morning , his Left Arm and Hand fail'd him , and became useless ; within three Days after , the contrary Leg and Foot fail'd , as the Arm and Hand had done before , and both became unserviceable to him , for which he came to the Bath ; and tho' he stay'd not more than twenty Days ( not having wherewithal to maintain him longer ) yet he receiv'd apparent Benefit , but not a perfect Recovery . I therefore advised him what to do when he came home , and to come again the next Season , when poor Strangers were admitted to the Hospital , and I would get him in for one , but he came not till April , 95. when I found his Left Arm , and Right Leg and Thigh , greatly Emaciated , but had more Strength in them than when he came first in 91.

I recommended him to the Mayor as an Object of Charity , and as one likely to receive Benefit by the Bath ; and he was , by him , permitted the advantage of the Hospital , which is a Lodging and Seven Groats a Week ) for some time ; and by bathing , and some Inward Means ( of which the Waters were a part ) he got considerable Benefit .

2. Thomas Holmes , of the Marine Regiment , aged 24 , born in Friezland , had an English Man to his Father , a Chyrurgeon ; he was set sick ashoar at Portsmouth , and sent to St. Thomas's - Hospital , Paralytick , of the Right Arm , and Left Leg ; and discharged from thence to come to the Bath in July . 95. under the Governors and Stewards Passe ; he here bathed , and found Advantage .

Many such Mortifying Objects have I here seen , and every Year do see ; and the best Use that I can make ( and would have others do the like ) of the consideration of them is , to bless God that it hath not been ( nor yet is ) the case of me , or mine : For it is a distinguishing Mercy only that hath made the Difference .

CHAP. VII .

BEsides the Cripples already mention'd in the foregoing Chapters , there have been many here under my Care , disabled in their Limbs upon accidental Occasions ; and these also have had remarkable Recoveries by bathing and pumping , and drinking these Waters : And these are to be the subject Matter of this seventh Chapter ; I shall referr them to seven or eight chief Heads , and give two or three Instances upon each , and so dismiss the Lame .

Accident 1. The first sort are those , that after violent ( perhaps Malignant ) Fevers , by a Critical Discharge of the Morbifick Matter upon a Limb , have had a Phlegmon , o● Inflammation , with Tumor , and that ( either by ill-management , or the Virulency of the Humour ) hath turn'd to a Mortification ( a thing not unfrequent , to those especially , that have been Scorbutical , and had Plethoric Bodies ) and of these I shall give three Signal Instances .

OBSERV . 1.

Sir John Austin , of Kent , more than 40 Years of age ; after some Days Sickness of an Acute Fever , by a Metastasis of the Putrid Matter from the more noble Parts to one of his Legs , had first great Pain , afterwards Tumor , and Discolour there ; after a while it suppurated , and broke ( whither of it self , or open'd by Incision or Caustick , I do not well remember ; that being done some Months before he came hither ) afterwards it became a Gangrene , and great quantities of Mortified Flesh were taken out at several Dressings ; but by diligent and due Applications , the Procedure of the Mortification was stopp'd , and at length the Wounds were Incarnated , and Cicatriz'd ; but there remain'd upon that Part , not only great Weakness , but Pain also ( at least by Intervals ) . From the Hip downwards the Limb was greatly wasted , so that it was well-nigh one half less than the other : He could scarcely walk his Chamber with Crutches , nor be at Ease when his Leg depended ; and was therefore forced to spend most of his time in , and on the Bed. He was brought hither in May , 88. and apply'd himself to me for directions , how to manage himself in the Use of the Bath .

After due Preparation , and a whiles drinking the Waters , he enter'd the Bath , and in a Weeks time had Ease ; in a Months time changed his Crutches for a Staff , and sometimes walked the Streets ; at six Weeks end I saw him run without Staff , or any Assistance , to get shelter from a showr of Rain ; and at two Months end went away perfectly eased , and trigg ; by degrees the Limb recover'd Flesh , as well as former Strength .

OBSERV . II.

Sir Herbert Crofts was so much under the same Circumstances , both as to Cause and Effects , that it would be but to waste Time and Paper to give a particular Description of his Case . He came hither in August , 92. after a long and tedious time spent , under the Directions of Physitians and Chyrurgions . He had hardly left off the Applications to the Calf of the Leg , and still fear'd the falling down of new Matter to the Part ; so that he ( besides Purging , and other Preparatory Means ) drank long of the Waters , and bathed his Leg in Bath-Water in his Chamber , before we durst adventure him to go into the Bath ; which at length he did with excellent Success , so that he was at Ease , got Strength , and left his Crutches , and was perfectly recover'd .

He came again the next Year , but rather to confirm a Recovery , than to seek one . His very excellent Lady , who was greatly assistant to him the year before , was left behind , expecting every day to ly in , which ( by the way ) was no small Testimony of his absolute Recovery the first time .

OBSERV . III.

Mrs. Hales , Wife to James Hales , of Foleshull , in the County of the City of Coventry , aged 50. was about December , 1687. seiz'd with a Malignant Feaver , and in few Days was delirous , and continued so near a Month. Within a Fortnight after the Feaver had seiz'd her , a Mortification appear'd upon the lower part of the Os Sacrum , extending it self on the Right Buttock ; it was near sixteen Inches round ; great quantities of dead Flesh was taken out at several Dressings , and the other Vlcer was three Months in curing ; but when cured , the Use of her Right Leg was altogether taken away , for which , the Summer Twelve-month following , she was brought to the Bath ( to wit , in June , 89. ) and was committed to my Care. I found her Right Leg and Foot not only useless , but Cold , Dead , and Senseless . After some Preparation she made Use first of the Cross-Bath , not being able to bear a stronger , she being but weak in Body , as well as Infirm in Limb. She afterwards used the Hot-Bath also , and continued Bathing ( as her Strength would permit ) about five or six Weeks , in which time she recover'd Warmth and Sense , but little Strength in her Leg. She came again the next Year , in July , 90. and stay'd as long , if not longer than before . By both times using the Bath she recover'd the perfect use of her Leg , and now walks very well . The Confirmation of this , and the Description of her first Illness , I owe to the kindness of Mr. Septimus Bott , an ingenions and diligent Apothecary and Chyrurgeon , of Coventry , to whose Care and Skill she owed that Strength she had to come to the Bath , for farther Cure of her lost Limb. His Letter to me bears date , Aug. 28. 1695.

Tho' what I am about to add to these three last Observations be not in every Circumstance the same ; yet because they concern the same Limb , and a like Translation of Matter to it ( tho' it proceeded not ●o Mortification ) and impeded , in great measure , their going ; and the Cases not being common , I thought fit to insert them ●ere : And first ,

OBSERV . IV.

Mr. Andrew Chaplain , a Minister , out of ●reland , aged 38. came hither in May , 80. having the Right Leg three times ( at least ) ●s big as the other , not very painful , unless ●y Fits , sometimes ; but heavy and cumber●ome to him in going .

It came to him after a Feaver , which ●etermined in an Ague , that held him some ●onsiderable time , the Leg increasing more ●nd more by degrees ; but no Inflammation , ●o Suppuration in any part of it ; but the ●kin thickned and hardned to a great de●ree , as if crusted over , and rough , more ●han in an Eliphantiasis .

It was chap'd in some places very deep , ●ot unlike the rugged Bark of an old Tree . ●ut of these Chapps sometimes ( upon ta●ing Cold , and in moist Weather , or any disorder ) some moisture came , but not often nor much , but it would then Itch and Smart , more than at other times . Upon going on Board , it was presently better , and after landing in England it ran less , as if the Alteration of the Air had made a Change upon the Distemper . He took some Means , both Purgative and Alterative ; used the Bath five or six Weeks , but with little present Advantage more than that it seem'd to be lightsomer to him ; but it was not considerably less . How it did afterwards I never heard , tho' I earnestly desired it .

OBSERV . V.

In a very like Case to this was one Mrs. Edwards , who came hither out of Wales ; She was about 50 Years of age , and after a F●ver had one Leg most prodigiously swollen ; rough , crack'd , and crusted , as was the former , from the Knee to the Toes ; but hers had this Peculiar in it , that every Night the Linnen Cloths she wrapp'd about it ( which were not a few ) would be in the Morning as wet as dirt ; so wet , that a quantity of Water might be wrung out of them ; and those Cloths , and this Water had the exact smell of Urine , and tinged the Cloths yellow , as if they had been all Night in the Chamber-pot . She staid not long enough ●o make any considerable Tryal of the Bath , ●r the Waters ; being impatient , and dis●leased , that she was not presently well ●fter three or four times going into the Bath ; ●nd being withal too parcimonious , valu●ng her Wealth beyond her Health , she ●astned home , and what became of her af●●rwards I never heard . Guilielmus Fabri●●us Hildanus , in his Observations , Cent. 4. ●●bs . 69. hath the Relation of a monstrous ●●ig Arm ; but , in most Particulars , different ●●om these . It is well worth Enquiry from ●hence , and by what Passages , this Uri●●us Serum ( if not Urine its self , for she ●ade little , or none , the while ) should ●ome to be discharged there .

Mr. Chaplin Urin'd in Proportion to what ●e drank , and for the most part had a con●ant Benefit by Stool ; but when Costive , 〈◊〉 was worse in his Leg. Cooling Hepa●●ks best agreed with him : His other Leg ●●d sometimes a great Itching in it , but 〈◊〉 Swelling , or Discolour . He had observ'd ●●at he had not sweated considerably be●●re this came , for some Years before .

Accid . 2. The second Accidental Lameness shall instance in , is what hapned after ●●ains , either by too long neglecting them , 〈◊〉 ill-managing of them when regarded ; which way ever it be , they have at length occasion'd great Pain and Weakness , and sometimes wasting of the whole Limb , ( but Swelling the Strained Joynt ) nay , some have been forced ( after long , painful , and redious Endeavours for Cure ) to have a Foot cut off , when the Strain hath been on the Ancle-Joynt . Here have been many of this kind recover'd ; I shall instance in but a few , contenting my self to have but named some others .

OBSERV . I.

My Lady Strodes Daughter , near Senn●●● , in Kent , Mrs. Katherine Strode , ( a pleasant humour'd , and , till then , brisk and active young Gentlewoman ) was brought hithe● by her Lady Mother , in April , 84. no●able to set that Foot to Ground that ( long before ) had been strained ; and much mean had been used by Chirurgeons , as well a● Bone-setters , ( how timely , or how aptly I do not know ) but all proved unsuccessful and was therefore ( as to a last refuge brought to the Bath . My Advice was des●red in the manner of using it , and for th● greater Conveniency , she was lodged i● my own House . After Preparation , sh● began by Degrees , putting her Foot in Pail of the Water Evenings only , before she went to Bed , at first , afterwards both Morning and Evening ; and after a whiles thus using it , she went into the Bath , continuing so to do some time , before it was pumped upon , and towards the Conclusion she bathed in the Morning , and was pumped upon the Infirm Joynt at Night , and carry'd immediately from the dry Pump to her Bed , a Flannel being wrapp'd about it as soon as they had done Pumping . This way of Proceeding took Effect ; she had , in a little time , ease , afterwards abatement of the Swelling , then a beginning of Strength , so that leaving off Crutches , she could go by a Staff , and put some Stress to the Lame Foot. She stay'd six Weeks or more the first time , and came again two or three Years following , and was at length perfectly recover'd .

OBSERV . II.

Going some Years after to visit a Sister of hers , that was marry'd to Mr. Serjeant Windham's eldest Son of Dunraven , in Glamorganshire , in South Wales , she encouraged Madam Windham , the Serjeant's Lady , ( who was then , by an accident , in the like case ) to come hither , which she did with like Success , in the year 91 , in July , and hath been here several times since ; having renew'd that Infirmity by new Accidents , and never fail'd in going back , recover'd . She hath since drank these Waters also for an illness of Stomach , with very considerable Advantage .

OBSERV . III.

Mr. William Prusean , of Hornechurch , in Essex , about 16 Years of Age ; and a Neighbour Gentlewoman , a Relation of his , one Mrs. Bonham , both in the same condition differing only in degree , his much the worst came hither in August , 88. after a Consultation of a Doctor of Physick , and three eminent Chirurgeons of London ; at which Consult it was agreed ( after many Tryal before , of other Means ) that they shoul● both come to the Bath , which accordingly they did . They had both Weakness , ●ai● and Swelling in the Ancle-Joint , with wasting of the whole Limb , from the Hip dowe wards ; oceasion'd long before by Strains not heeded timely enough , or ill manage afterwards .

The Young Gentleman's Case was muc● the worse of the two . He had been unde● the Care of a very ingenious Chyrurgeon who belonged to one of the chief Hospitals in ●●ndon , where they have Opportunities of see●●g , and being concern'd in , much , and good ●●actice . He had both with Inward , and ●utward Means , taken a very Methodical , ●●d likely Course for his Recovery ; but find●●g all to fail , ( for his own Satisfaction , as ●●ell as his Patients , and his very good Mo●●er's ) he call'd in two other eminent Chy●●geons , who approv'd of all that he had ●●ne , and proposed some Alteration in the ●pplications ; but that increasing the Swel●●g , he return'd to his former Method ; but ●●at not availing , it was ( as is said ) agreed ●●at he should come to the Bath . At his ●●ming away the Gentleman that was first ●●ncern'd with him , gave me by Letter a ●●ry full , and ingenious Account how he ●●und him , what Method had been used , ●●d his Distrust of the Success of the Bath , ●●o ' he consented to have it try'd , and ●●at he did almost despair of saving his Leg. ●he Gentlewoman's he was not so distrust●● of , and indeed the Event prov'd the later ●●e , for she was much sooner recover'd ●●an he ; she came but twice , and was per●●ctly well ; he was forced to come oftner , ●●t succeeded at last . His Pains abated the ●●st time , and the Swelling did not increase ●●on bathing , which was fear'd ; and some small Advantage he had the first year , which encourag'd him to come Year after Year for several Years following , and got some Ground every Year ; so that the Leg was sav'd , and he enabled to go competently well upon it , without great need of a Staff , or much halting , only in favouring of it , at first , he had setled it in a very ill posture , throwing out his Foot , and not being very well able to move his Ancle-Joynt , but in great measure that also is recover'd , and I am told that he now walks much , and limps very little . He hath not been here these three Years past , but I here now and then of him , and am still inform'd that he recovers every year more and more .

OBSERV . IV.

The Reverend Mr. Robert Parsons , then Minister of Adderbury , in Oxfordshire , since remov'd to Odingeton , near Stow , about eleven Years since , in May , 1684. came to the Bath very Lame , and that Lameness came upon him very oddly , and suddenly . He was ( about six Months before he came hither ) very Healthful , Lusty and Strong , but going up a steep Hill ( when he had been wearied in going before ) an intollerable Pain seiz'd him on a suddain in the Calf of one of his Legs , insomuch , that ( hearing no Gun to go off ) he thought that some Body had shot him with a Cross-Bow ; but being convinced of the contrary by a Friend of his that came immediately after him , he concluded that he had broken something , by overstraining : He fell presently to the Ground , not being able to go a step farther , and the Acuteness of the Pain made him sweat and faint , and very sick at Stomach ; but that went off in a while , and something more at Ease he was , but not able to go . He was carry'd home , and continued weak and lame for a long time , tho' he had the assistance of the most considerable Physitians and Chyrurgeons in England , many Applications were made outwardly ; much Means was used inwardly ; but with very little Success , which put him upon coming to the Bath , where he apply'd himself to me . I directed such Preparations as I thought needful ; after which put him upon bathing , and pumping , the Infirm Limb , and sometimes drinking the Waters , which he continued to do for five Weeks ; yet there appear'd no great Alteration to the better , whilst he was using the Means ; yet it disposed him to , and very much facilitated , his Recovery ; for it brought Warmth and Heat into the Part , which it was altogether destitute of before ; it took off the Convulsive Motions which were before frequent , and violent , ( especially by Night , and when he was first falling asleep ) .

His Thigh and Leg began to get Flesh again , for they were very much Emaciated , and always cold . After he went from hence he recover'd by degrees , and could walk five or six Miles an end without a Staff , and so continued several Years after .

Accident 3. A third sort of Accidental Lameness that hath been here cur'd , hath been from white Swellings on the Knee , or Knees ; with Pain , and Contraction , and Stiffness of that Joynt , but without Inflammation ; of which I shall give two Instances only .

OBSERV . I.

Mr. Bouy , a Spanish Merchant , aged more than Forty , came hither in July , 78. and was recommended to my Advice by his Physician and Neighbour , and my very good Friend , Dr. Croone . He was very lame , and much pain'd in his Right Knee , when he put any Stress on that Leg.

It was greatly swollen , but nothing discolour'd , and the Joynt contracted , so that he could not put out streight that Leg ; it was pufft up above the Knee , and below , as ●ell as in the Joynt , and what thus distend●d the Part ( whither Wind , or Vliginous Matter , or both ) upon pressing of it on one ●ide , it would manifestly be moved to the ●ther . After Preparation he used the Bath , which gave him some Ease , but lessen'd not ●he Swelling ; then it was pump'd upon ; ●fter that the Mudd of the Bath was apply'd ; ●ll which Attempts at length succeeded , and ●e became apparently better . He came a ●econd , and a third Season , and was , in the ●nd , perfectly well ; so that there was no Remainder of Tumor , Pain , or Lameness . He was here in Summer , 1693. with a Friend , for Diversion only , and this last Sum●er , 1695. without any Return of this ●llness .

OBSERV . II.

Mrs. Hull , a Packer's Widdow , in Berry●treet , London , between Thirty and Forty Years of Age , came hither in July , 1690. ●ad the same part affected , but not altoge●her after the same manner : Hers was a ●h te Tumor on the Patella , as big as an Egg , nor very painful but when she kneel'd , ●●r prest it hard against any thing , that did ●ot easily yield unto it . She both bathed pumped , and apply'd the Mudd of the Bath , and had Patience to stay till the Tumor wholly subsided , which was not in a little time , and went well away after Michaelmas .

Accident 4. There hath been here cured a fourth sort of Lameness , which hath seiz'd those that have taken Poyson , especially that of Arsenicke ; ( commonly call'd Rats-bane ) for after the violent Vomitings , and Torments of the Stomach and Bowels , have ceased , either by the Strength of Nature , or the Assistance of Remedies , the Joynts of all ( or some at least ) of the extream Parts , are usually Contracted , and render'd uselefs , and are with difficulty , if at all , restor'd .

Two Instances of such here recoverd , I shall give .

OBSERV . I.

The Wife of Mr. Anthony Neate , of Chippenham , in Wilishire , about Seven or Eight and Twenty Years of Age , after the Loss of two ( and all her ) Children , near upon one another , ( as I remember ) in the Small Pox , grew very Melancholy , and was in a Desponding , if not in a Despairing , Condition ; which the great and profess Enemy to God and Man , taking the Advantage of , tempted her to destroy her self ; ●hich she determining to do , goes to an ●pothecary's Boy ( which knew nothing of ●●r Discontent ) and desires him to let her ●●ve as much Ratsbane , as would be sure 〈◊〉 poyson a Mastiff-Dog , that used to get to her Buttery , and do Mischief , for she ●as resolv'd to dispatch him , and therefore ●arged him to give her , rather too much ●an too little . He lets her have a large ●●ose ; she pays for it , and upon the next ●●nday Morning ( after she had sent all her ●amily to Church ) takes it ; when they ●●me home , they found her vomiting vio●●ntly , and terribly Grip'd in Stomach , and ●●wels : They ( in a little time ) suspected ●hat , upon Enquiry at the Apothecary's , ●●ey found too true , and call'd in a Practi●●oner of Physick , who liv'd upon the ●●ace ; but he ( thinking the Case despe●●e , or not well knowing what to do in it ) ●●fused to be concern'd , and I was presently ●●nt for , tho' at Ten Miles distance . I ●●me the same Night , and caused them to ●●omote ( all they could ) her Vomiting ; ●●d giving her afterwards Oily and Unctu●●s things , and some Specificks to resist ●●at sort of Poyson ; by all which ( in some ●●w days ) the Vomitings and violent Pains ●●re mitigated ; I left her , with this Prognostick , that she must expect the use of some of her Limbs to be taken away , in some little time , but they believ'd it not till the Contraction of her Ancle Joynts , Knees , and Hips , began upon her : Then was I again consulted ( but well nigh● half a Year after she began to be lame ) what was to be done for that also . I advised the Bath , but it was a great while before they could perswade her to come ; and all that while she remain'd a helpless Cripple ; at length she was prevail'd upon to be brought hither , tho' late in the year ; yet that little Stay she then made gave her some Advantage , and that encouraged her to come again the next Spring ; when she stay'd long enough to perfect her Recovery , in Mind , Body , and Limbs .

She was very well afterwards , and had several Children more before she dy'd .

OBSERV . II.

Captain Hatch , from out of Ireland , aged 45 , was sent hither in June , 71. by Dr. Betts , ( my old School-fellow , at Winchester ) and recommended by his Letter to my Care. The Captain had ( for more than Five Months before ) been suddainly seiz'd with violent Vomitings , and Torments of the Stomach and Bowels , from the same sort of Poyson ( as he supposed , and said ) of which he took but very little ; yet that small quantity continued his Vomitings ( by Fits at least ) for three Weeks ; and the Pain of his Stomach and Bowels , five , or more , with some Intermissions . About Nine Weeks before he came hither , a sudden Fit seiz'd him , which disorder'd his Head , and the Night after , by little and little , the Use of his Hands and Arms fail'd him ; and two or three Days after that his Legs became as useless , and so continued till he arriv'd here .

He was , after some time of Rest , and fitting Preparation , put upon drinking these Waters , and using the Bath , and taking peculiar Antidotes , against that particular sort of Poyson ; by all which Means he got great Advantage , and at two Seasons ( or three at most ) recover'd the Use of all his Limbs .

Accident 5. A fifth sort of Accidental Lameness , that I have had under my Care , and hath been here cured , is , what hath ●hapned after Mercurial Oyntments , and Quicksilver Girdles , used for the Itch ; of which , I will give you two Instances of many .

OBSERV . I.

A Daughter of one Mr. Rogers , of Shepton-Mallett , in the County of Somerset , about Eleven or Twelve Years of Age , wa● brought hither by her Mother in May , 74 Crippled in all her Lower Limbs , and Contracted , as is describ'd in Mrs. Rawlins he Case ; Chap. 6. Observ . 8. This Lamenes● ( as her Mother related to me ) came after her being anointed for the Itch , with a Oyntment that had Quicksilver in it . 〈◊〉 could not understand , by her , that it at a●● inclin'd her to Salivation ( tho' I have know some , after such Anointings , to Salivate a● if design'd ) but perhaps where it spends 〈◊〉 self that way , it falls not so much upon th● Limbs : But this young Woman had first Pai●● from the Hips downward ; after that , Stiffne●● and Contraction , but no Swelling ; I o●der'd her both Inward and Outward Mean● ( Purgers as well as Alteratives ) and t●● Use of the Bath ; by which ( at long ru● she was well recover'd , but slowly , a●● after several Seasons coming hither . S●● was afterwards marry'd to Mr. Rus , a Sho●keeper in Castle-Cary , and hath had seve●● Children . She was here in Summer , 9 and used the Waters and the Bath for Scorbutical Distemper , but had no Remain● of that former Lameness .

OBSERV . II.

A Buttery-Maid of Mr. John Eyres , Little-Challfield , in the County of Wilts , about Two or Three and Twenty Years of Age , a straight , comely , Country Girl , till this hapned to her . She had got the. Itch by some Means or other , and making too much hast to be rid of it ; without due Purg●ing , Bleeding , &c. gets a Quicksilver-Girdle , ( a thing too frequently , and too indiscreetly used in the Country ) and after a whiles wearing of it , the Eruptions vanished , but she fell off at the Waste , and was a Cripple from the Loyns downwards , but had no Contractions in the Joynts . I being then Physitian to their Family , she was sent over to me , and by Inward Means , and bathing , she was well recover'd in much less time than the former , not having suffer'd it to settle so long upon her , before she came hither , as the other did .

Accident 6. A sixth sort of Accident that hath render'd a Limb useless , and brought the Infirm to the Bath for Recovery , is Wounds ( or Ulcers that have been forced to be laid open ) ; whither in Hand , Arm , or Leg ; of which , very many Instances might have been brought , but let it suffice that I mention two or three .

OBSERV . I.

The Honourable Coll. Sackevile Tufton , Brother to the Earl of Thanett ; came hither in May , 74. He had , in a Sea-fight , receiv'd a Wound with Contusion and Fracture , upon his Right Hand , by a Splint , that broke the Bones of the Thumb , and Fore-Finger , and Lacerated the Muscles and Tendons of that Part ; a Conflux of Humours falling to it , in the healing , it was forced to be laid open by Incision , more than once , and thirteen Bones , and Splinters of Bones , were taken out at several Dressings ; which put him to a great deal of Pain , and very much retarded the Cure ; but it was at last perfected , but his Hand left altogether useless till he came to the Bath ; after it was healed up , and the Wounds Cicatriz'd , he was very much pain'd in it , by Fits , upon Change of Weather , or any small Disorder . ☞ After Preparatory Means , he both bathed , and pumped upon the Lame Hand , which quickly eased the Pain , and recover'd some Use of the other three Fingers . Be follow'd this Means at several Seasons , and at length , even the Fore-finger and Thumb became in some measure useful , tho● a whole Joynt of the latter is quite lost and the former remains very crooked ; the whole Hand is as serviceable to him , as a maimed Fore-finger and Thumb will permit . He was here in 94 , and 95 , but to drink the Waters only ; but neither bathed , nor pumped , or but very little if at all .

OBSERV . II.

The Right Honourable the Earl of Peterborough , from a Wound ( as I remember ) in his Right Hand , came lame hither for a Remedy in July , 81. His Lordship proceeded in the same , or like Course , and receiv'd Advantage also ; and came a second time , and I think no more ; but the Collonel oftener .

OBSERV . III.

The Son of Mr. Winde , of Tewksbury , ●bout 13 or 14 Years of Age , was sent hither , with a Maid to attend him , in May , ●3 . He had a Lame Hand also from an In●●mmation , and Abscesse , caused by a Flux of ●umours to that Part in a Sickness ; which ●eing necessitated to be frequently laid open ●y the Chyrurgeon that drest him , his ●and after it was heal'd up , not only be●●me useless to him , but several Attempts were made of Return of like Matter to the Part ; to prevent which , I caused him to bathe but little ; purged him now and then ; made him to drink constantly of the Waters , and bathe his Hand , and Lower Part of his Arm , in the Bath-Water at Nights , going to Bed only ; or receive it at the dry Pump upon the Lame Part , as oft as the Pump was going , to supply the Water-Drinkers ; by the Continuance of which Course , for Six Weeks , or thereabouts , he was so well recover'd , as not to return again another Season .

Accid . 7. A Seventh and Last Accidental Lameness , is what follow'd upon Falls , with , or from , a Horse ; of which I shall ( for Brevity sake ) give but two Instances , but those very considerable ones .

OBSERV . I.

Thomas Andrews , Esq of Halson , in Northamptonshire , came hither in June , 82. batter'd and bruised from Head to Foot : by a Fall which he had some time before ; his Horse not falling only with him , but lying some while upon him . He came hither in a Weak , Painful , and very ill Condition , recommended to my Care by Letter from his very careful-Physitian , and Neighbour , and my very good Friend Dr. Danuers , of Northampton .

By the Fall he had , some Bones dislocated , but , I think , none fractured ; they had been well set again , and he let Blood , tho' late ; he was wrapped in warm Sheep-Skins ; kept a while to a Milk Diet , took Balsamick , strengthning things Inwardly , as well as used Outward Applications ; last of all he took Goddard's Drops , which was supposed to do him most Good. Yet after all this he complain'd greatly of Weakness , and Pains in his Back and Hips , but most of all in his Breast , insomuch , that he could not breathe ●reely : His Stomach also , and Lower Belly , ●●ad a share of the Contusion . He being wholly left to my Management , after necessary Preparation , I put him upon drinking ●hese Waters ; after that , upon bathing , and towards the conclusion , upon pumping the most pain'd and weakned Parts

Some things he took Inwardly , but not much , more than the Waters , and at Five ●r Six Weeks end was much at Ease , got ●onsiderable Strength , and return'd greatly ●dvantaged , which encouraged him to come ●gain the next Summer , to confirm what he ●ad got the Year before ; and so several ●easons after , but at some distances . He ●as here in 94 , very well , and lusty ; and that to drink the Waters , rather than bathe .

OBSERV . II.

Much in the same Circumstances , and from a like Cause , and in the same Summer , was a young Gentleman , brought hither by his very tender Mother , who was in great Affliction for him , lest it should bring him into a Consumption , or leave him a Cripple all Days of his Life ; Mr. John Hollworthy , a Gentleman since , and now , ver● well known at the Bath , and coming almo●● every Year , more for Diversion than Necessity ; and to drink these Waters . He ha● over and above Mr. Andrews his Complaints ( which were from the Contusion ) a Paralysis o●● one Side from the Concussion of his Brai●● ( as was judg'd by the Physitians that se●● him hither ) and therefore took often Vel●tile Salts , and Spirits , and many Cephalick● He was indeed very l●me , and in a weak Condition when he came first hither ; yet b● the Means above-mention'd , and drinkin● sometimes the Waters ; bathing and pumping as his Condition would permit , he g●● Ground by little and little , and came som● Years following , till he had recover'd 〈◊〉 better Health , and a readier Use of 〈◊〉 Limbs ; there still remains a Stiffness in o●● ●nee and Hip , which makes him limp a ●●ttle when he goes , which Mr. Andrews doth ●●ot at all .

OBSERV . III.

And now , for a Conclusion to this Se●●●nth Chapter , and to anticipate an Objec●●●n , that I foresee may be made by those ●●at envy the Reputation of the Baths , I ●●all add an Observation or two more , tho' 〈◊〉 intended here to conclude it . The Ob●●ction is ;

Object . They will say that most of those ●me , enfeebled Persons , brought by me for ●stances of Recoveties here , were either ●oung , and Growing , People , or at their ●e Age , which might greatly assist this their ●emedy ( tho' amongst the Recited Cases , ●u will find some ( and those not a few ) 〈◊〉 a considerable Age , and others much de●ining ) therefore I shall give you one In●ance of a Gentleman , past Fourscore and ●hree ; who , after a most severe Fit of the ●ut , which had run all over his Body ●●m Joynt to Joynt , till at length it set●●d upon the lower Parts , and render'd them ●●together useless , so that he could not so ●uch as use Crutches , unless a Servant or ●●o went by him .

It was my Wife's Father , Mr. David Tryme , of Wooky , in the County of Somerset , near Wells . He had , from between Fifty and Sixty , been subject to Fits of the Gout , but at great distances ; sometimes a Year or two , or three , between the Fits ; tho' he hunted , and now and then drank chearfully with his Friends ( as the Gentlemen of that Country did then , and still do ) and rode in all Weathers . When he had a Fit , his main Care was to get Ease as soon as he could , and in order to that , he had ( or rather his excellent Wife , ( who was more than half a Physitian , and Chyrurgeon , to her poor Neighbours ) procured divers Receipts for Plaisters and Oyntments ; with a Probatum est at the end of them . These he ordinarily used when the Pains were violent , and if one answer'd not , went on to another . This did well enough when Strength and Vigor lasted , but at the Age , I but now mention'd , 83. When that good Wife of his had been long dead , and his , no worse , Daughter ( who supply'd her place in those Charitable Offices , as well as keeping her Father's House ) was marry'd to me , that lived at sixteen Miles distance ; and a severe Fit of the Gout seiz'd him ; first , at his Toes and Fingers , and he ( impatient under the Pain ) causing those that were about him to apply what gave him most Ease in the last Fit ; not considering whither it was repercussing or no ; this mov'd the Distemper still upward , and they follow'd it with the same Applications , till he fell into Fainting Fits ; out of which he was , with Difficulty ( and but for a while ) got out , with strong Waters . Then , and not till then , was I and his Daughter , my Wife , sent for .

I quickly perceived what Error had been committed , and gave him brisk Cordials , that mov'd , à centro ad eircumferentiam , from the Heart to the Limbs : This threw out the Gout so violently upon his Hips , Knees and Feet , that he was , for some days , in most excessive Torment , but free from Faintings . He chose rather ( as old as he was ) to bear that , then to run the risque of Dying , by applying again his Plaisters . In a little time Patience and Posset-drink conquer'd the Difficulty , for the Pain ceased by degrees , but left so great a Weakness that he could neither go nor stand , and such a Stiffness at Hips , Knees , and Ancles , that he could not move a Joynt , to extend his Legs , but was lifted up and down by main Strength by his Servants . This was in July , 1659. and he held thus all the following Winter , about the latter of which , calling to see him , ( as I used to do , riding that way to some Country Patients , to whom I was sent for ) enquiring of him how he did , He answer'd me that he was free from Pain , and as well as he could hope to be ; I eat well , and sleep well , but I am a Cripple ; what shall I do for that ? I told him that I knew no Remedy for him unless he would come to the Bath ; which it seems he had formerly been frighted from , for fear of bringing a Fit of the Gout upon him . I told him that if he would use such Preparations as I would advise , and come at the Season that I should appoint , and use the Bath as I did direct , I would undertake it should not bring the Gout upon him . He consented to it ; I sent to him in April following ; he came ; and after Preparation , used the Queen's and King's Bath ; but lifted in and out by two strong Guides ; drank some ( but not often , nor much ) of the Waters , ( for he thought Sack more agreeable to his Age. After three Weeks bathing , going one Morning to see him in the Bath , ( which is a usual Complement we pay our Patients here ) I found him walking between his two Guides , without their Help , and wishing he could go as well by Land as he did by Water : By and by he bid his Guides stand off , saying , I cou●d swim once ; he set himself a swimming , and swam twice round the Cross in the King's-Bath ; so much had that little bathing loosened the stiff Joynts , as well as strengthned the weakned Parts ; He went on to recover ; left his Crutches behind him ; hung them up for a Trophe , and had no severer it of the Gout all his Life after , which was five Years or more , to the 88th . Year of his Age , if not somewhat beyond . And had he not made too much Haste to recover his Eye-sight ( which was almost lost by Cataracts ) he might , probably , have ●iv'd many Years longer .

For , contrary to Dr. Turbervile's Advice , ( who counsell'd him to stay till he had been quite blind , when the Cataracts would have been ripe , and then he would not have question'd but to have h●lpen him to a Guiding Sight , at least , by Couching of them ) . He hearing of one in London , in whose House Stephkin , the famous Occulist , formerly lodged ( Father to my Lady Juy , who also profess'd Eye-mending ) .

This Fellow having seen Mr. Stephkin often perform that Operation , thought himself very able to do it , and set up for himself , ( when his Lodger was dead , ) and had a considerable Reputation for this Operation . This old Gentleman made a London-Journey at 87 Years of Age , or more ; submits to this Fellow's Cure ; who without any kind of Preparation , of bleeding , or purging ; both which should have been done , and he could well have borne , as old as he was ) perform'd the Operation , without any Regard , whither the Cataracts were ripe or no : This brought such a Flux of Humours first to that Eye , ( for he had Couched but one ) then to the other , afterwards to the whole Head , that he could never after have it wholly diverted , but caused him to lead a miserable Life the remainder of his Days , which was not very long ; about a Year and some Months , after his Return from that London Journey ; and that ill timed , and ill-managed Operation .

OBSERV . IV.

Whilst I am reviewing my Papers , in order to the making of them publick , I have the happy Opportunity of adding a Fourth Observation , almost of equal Concern with that immediately foregoing .

Robert Long , Esq of Prior-Stanton , in the County of Somerset , in the 89th Year of his Age , being greatly enfeebled with frequent , and severe Fits of the Gout , as well as with the Decays of an Age , to which , scarce one in Fourscore Thousand attains ; being weak in his Limbs , and tender in his Feet , and stooping under the Burden of so many Years , came to the Bath in July , 95. and stay'd here three Weeks , and in that time was put in the Cross-Bath 14 or 15 times ; which he not only endured well , retain'd a good Stomach , and had no Return of his Adversary , the Gout ( of which truly I was not unapprehensive , and gave him Caution of ) but he return'd home manifestly refreshed , went much more erect and nimbly , and with less assistance , retains a smooth , fresh , and florid Countenance , and is as likely to pass another seven Years , as he was three seven Years past .

Not many more of the sort of these two last Instances ( tho' I assure you I am not without some ) but very many of those Accidental Lamenesses , might have been here added , but I hasten to another Subject ; CUTANEOUS DISEASES , which will be the business of

CAHP. VIII .

AND now , at length , we are come to what indeed had the best pretence to have been first mention'd , and that is Distempers of the Skin , Eruptions , or Breakin gs out , as they are commonly call'd . For if we give any Credit to the received Tradition , the first Cure that ever was wrought here was of this sort ; and upon him that first discover'd these Waters , which was the reason of ( afterwards ) building a City in this place . The Story , in short , is this , believe as much of it as you think sit .

BLADUD , eldest Son to Lud-Hudibras , ( then King of Britain , and the eighth from Brute ) having spent eleven Years at Athens in the Study of the Liberal Arts and Sciences ( that City being in those Days the chief Academy , not only of Greece , but of this part of the World also ) came home a Leper ; whither from that hotter Climate he had conversed in , or from ill Diet , or Infection , it doth not appear , those unletter'd times giving down little or no Account of things ( though of greater moment ) then transacted ; but a Leper he was , and for that reason shut up , that he might not infect others . He , impatient of his Confinement , chose rather a mean Liberty than a Royal Restraint , and contrived his Escape in a Disguise , and went very remote from his Father's Court , and into an untravell'd part of the Country , and offers his Service in any common Imployment ; thinking it ( probably ) likelier to be undiscover'd under such mean Circumstances than greater . He was entertain'd in Service at Swainswicke ( a small Village , two Miles from this City ) his Business ( amongst other things ) was to take Care of the Pigs , which he was to drive from place to place , for their Advantage in Feeding upon Beach-Masts , Acorns , and Haws , &c. the Hills hereabouts then abounding with such Trees , tho' now few , of the two first , remain . Yet there is a Hill , close upon the South Part of this City , that still retains the name of Beachen Cliff , tho' there is scarcely a Beach-Tree left upon it .

He thus driving his Swine from place to place , observ'd some of the Herd , in very cold Weather , to go down from the Side of the Hill into an Alder-moore , and thence to return , cover'd with black Mud. Being a Thinking Person , he was very sollicitous to find out the reason why the Pigs that wallow in the Mire in the Summer , to cool themselves , should do the same in Winter ; observ'd them farther ; and following them down , he at length perceiv'd a Steam and Smoak to arise from the place where the Swine wallow'd . He makes a way to it , found it to be warm ; and this satisfied him , that for the Benefit of this Heat the Pigs resorted thither .

He being a Virtuoso , made farther Observation ; that whereas those filthy Creatures , by their foul Feeding , and nasty Lying , are subject to Scabs , and foul Scurss , and Eruptions on their Skin , some of his Herd that were so , after a while , became whole and smooth , by their often wallowing in this Mud.

Upon this he considers with himself , why he should not receive the same Benefit by the same Means ; he trys it , and succeeded in it ; and when he found himself cured of his Leprosie , declares who he was ; his Master was not apt to believe him , at first , but at length did , and went with him to Court , where he ( after a while ) was owned to be the King's Son , and after his Father's Death succeeded him in the Government , and built this City , and made these Baths . An old Manuscript Chronicle that I have by me , ( tho' it hath much larger Stories of other Kings before , and after , him , even from Brute himself ) hath this only of King BLADUD .

When Lud-Hudibras was ded , BLADUD his Son , a gret Nigromancer , was tho made King ; and he made the Wonder , and the Mervils of the Hote Baths by his Nigromancy , and he Regned xxi yer , and after he dy'd , and lith at the New-Troy .

How true the Story above may be I ●ow not , but I am sure there is nothing ●●possible in it , nor very improbable , and very Jot as likely , as that Charles the Great ●●ould find the Baths at Aix-la Chapell by ●●e Tread of his Horse , when he was ri●●ng a hunting , as Monsieur Blondell relates : ●nd it may be the Pigs had a Share also 〈◊〉 discovering the Neighbouring Baths , at ●●orcett , the same Author saying that they ●●re call'd Thermae Porce●anae , from the wild ●●igs frequently coming down from the ●eighbouring Mountains ; perhaps to warm ●●emselves , as ours did into the Alder-Moore . ●ut whatever be thought of this or that , I ●o know that for more than forty Years ●●at I have lived here , there hath not one ●ast , wherein there hath not been more ●●an a few Iustances of very great Cures one upon Leprous , Scabby , and Scurfy Per●●ns ; and more perhaps might have been at least sooner ) done , if they had bathed , ●●s he did in Mud and Water together . But ●●e nicety of our Age is satisfied with nothing but fresh Baths ; whereas in many ●ases ( and this particularly ) the Mud is as effectual ( if not more so ) than the purest of the Water .

So many Cures on these kind of Distempers are yearly done , that this Virtue of the Bath is so well known , that it seems almost Superfluous to bring many Examples of it . However , that this Head may not be alone , without its particular Instances , I shall give some few Eminent ones , and proceed to the King's-Evil ; which tho' it doth not always break the Skin , yet sometimes it does ; and when it does not , by swelling the Lips , and Glandules of the Throat and Neck , and sometimes the Joynts of the Fingers and Hands , it becomes a Disfigure , and therefore not altogether improperly brought in , in this Chapter ; and indeed is of equal ( if not greater ) Difficulty to be well cured , with any of the other , and requires as much Time and Patience , for the Performance of it ; and yet I have seen several recover'd by bathing and drinking these Waters , and using some Specificks withal ; and many more alleviated , and put in a better way of Recovery , if not perfectly restor'd ; three or four Instances of which I shall add also ; but first of the Leprous kind .

OBSERV . I.

Thomas St. Lawrence , Esq ( for he was known here by no other Title , tho' he was ●●ndeed a Baron of Howith , and therefore Lord How●th in the Kingdom of Ireland ) a ●oung Gentleman of about fifteen or sixteen Years of Age ; he was sent hither in May , 79 , by Dr. Meara , an antient Physiti●●n , then practicing in Dublin , but had for●erly lived ( for some Years ) in Bristol , ●nd had great Practice all about this Coun●●y , and in this City too , when I came first 〈◊〉 live here .

He recommended this Patient to the Use 〈◊〉 the Bath , and my Care , and Directions , ●ith this Description of his Case : ' That for seven Years past , he had been afflicted with a perverse Scabb , tending to a Leprosie , which had hitherto yielded to no Methods , nor Medicines ; and therefore was ●●sent to experience this as a last Refuge ; advising withal a diligent Preparation by Bleeding , Purging , and a cool attempering Diet , and drinking the Waters , and bathing in their Turns . I first caused him 〈◊〉 be let Blood , then purg'd him with Ca●●lanos , and made him drink the Waters for Week , or ten Days ; then purg'd him as before , and blead him again ; after which ; he was put first into the Cross-Bath , then into the Queen's and King's . In the mean time he used Alteratives , wherein the Powder of Vipers bore a considerable Share . He was let Blood , in all , three or four times , purg'd as often , or oftener ; drank the Waters , and bathed in their turns , for five or six Weeks , and was prescrib'd a regular Diet , Cooling and Attempering Salt , and sharpe Humours ; I cannot say he kept very strictly to it , for he took those Freedoms which young People are apt to do , that consider not of what Value Health is , and therefore are readier to gratifie their Senses than their Reason ; yet , for all this , he was perfectly recover'd , and held well many Years after , as I was inform'd by some Friends of his but of those Parts of the Country , where he liv'd .

OBSERV . II.

A poor Fellow from Coleshill , in Warwickshire , came hither in the year 84 , and wa● permitted to use no other than the Leper's Bath , ( which is fill'd with the waste-Wate● of the Hot-Bath , and not so often change and cleansed as the other Baths are ; an● therefore , perhaps , having some of the M●● mix'd with it ( as was intimated before ) cures these Eruptions more effectually and speedily than the others do . He was allow'd a Covert ( rather than a Lodging ) close by , where they lye upon Straw , and have no Allowance to maintain them , but what the Charity of well-disposed People gives them . This Man was so much a Leper , that I never saw any come nearer to the Description of that Disease in Leviticus , than this Case did . As most Physitians that have written of Psoaras , distinguish Leprosies into that of the Greeks , and that of the Arabians , so we may , I think , add a third , that of the Jews too , for it seems to me ( as there describ'd ) a peculiar Distemper ; it could never else have infected Walls and Houses . It was the Advantage of this poor Fellow , that he was so very bad ; for at that time there lodged in my House , and was my Patient , a very worthy Person of Honour , the Earl of Plymouth ( formerly Lord of Windsor ) who discoursing me one day at his own Table , about Cures done at the Bath , asked me if I had ever seen here any one that was truly a Leper , as is describ'd in the Old-Testament .

I told his Lordship that I never saw any one that suited with all the Particulars there mention'd , but there was one , now in Town , at the Leper's-Bath , that came the nearest to it that ever I had seen any . His Lordship desired that he might see him ; in the Afternoon I sent for him ; and after much Enquiry how it began , and how long he had been in this Condition , &c. he gave him Half a Crown , and so weekly for six or eight Weeks , in which time , by drinking the Waters , and bathing , and some cheap Alteratives , he was greatly recover'd , and went back so well , that the Summer following I had a Letter of Thanks from the Parish , written by the Minister of the Place , Mr. Gresill , ( a Reverend Divine , and a Prebend of Litchfield , ) wherein they thanked me , not only for assisting him with my Advice , but also for laying him in the way of my Lord of Plymouth's Charity ; without which , he could not have stay'd long enough to have perfected his Recovery : For Continuance in the Use of Means , is absolutely necessary to the Cure of all Stubborn , and Inveterate Diseases ; but especially those of the Leprous Kind , as will be evidently manifested by the following Observation .

OBSERV . III.

A Woodmonger of Stanes , ( his Name I cannot recollect ) brought a Son hither , about Twelve or Thirteen Years of Age , who from his Infancy was subject to a Vitelligo , 〈◊〉 upon first sight of it I judg'd it to belong to that kind of Eruption ) . It would be out sometimes more , sometimes less , but always something , in greater or lesser Splotches ; but mostly upon the Neck , Elbows and Knees , sometimes in the Face and Head , Arms and Thighs . A branny white ●curf fell aways , more or less from it , and 〈◊〉 was no small Disfigure to him ; which ●with the fear that it might at length be●ome an exquisite Leprosie ) put his Father ●pon bringing him hither for Cure. He ap●lying himself to me for Directions ( being ●dvised so to do by some that had formerly ●een my Patients ( perhaps ) in the like ●afe ) and resolving to stay here with him ●ll he was well , desired me to hasten his ●ecovery what possibly I could . I told him ●●ch Distempers did not use to be quickly mov'd , especially when it was born wich ●●e Patient , as this seem'd to be with his ●n ; and for that reason he ought not to ●pect a sudden Recovery . Cleanse him probably it might , by a Week or two's bathing , for the present ( tho' with some it brings it out more at first ) but the whole Mass of Blood must be alter'd , as well as the Skin heal'd , before there could be Hopes of his continuing well .

The Father stay'd a Month or more , and then would have taken back with him his Son , in Hopes he might have been better after he had been gone hence . There still remain'd Signs of the Spots , tho' the branny Scurf did not rise so much , not so often , as before . I ask'd his Father whither he did not put his Son to a Boording School ? He told me he did : Why may not you then , said I , do that here as well as in Surry , or Middlesex ? And if you will 〈◊〉 do , I will order it so , that his taking the Waters , Physick , and Bathing , &c. shall no● much hinder his Schooling ; and do not doubt but that if you return ( or send for him ) this time Twelvemonth ; or rather Michaelmas next come Twelvemonth , you will see him perfectly recover'd , beyond the fear of a Relapse , which I can not premise now , if you take him away presently . He consider'd of it , took my Advise , le●● his Son here a Twelvemonth ; and though I could not keep him regularly to the drinking of the Waters , ( but bathe he did every Night , almost , after he had done Schooling , and willingly took Physick sometimes , because that gave him a Play-day ) yet he return'd recover'd , and had been so some Months before he went hence , and continued ( as the Proverb says ) as whole as a Tench , and as sound as a Trout .

OBSERV . IV.

Mrs. Dorothy Beddingfield , about Twenty Years of age , having had a Scrophulous Tunour under her Chin for some Years , but never brake , nor was discolour'd , was sent hi●her in June , 75 , by the joynt advice of Sir Thomas Browne , Sir Thomas Wetherly , and Dr. Edward Browne , and by them recommended to my Care , and to lodge in my House . She had , before this , taken of the Decoction of Guaicum , Sarsa , Scrophularia , Rad. Chelidoniae , Min: Gladiolae , &c. and ●ometimes Chalybeat Medicines , as I understood by Dr. Browne's Letter , which he ●ent with her ; which also told me , that at ●●ken , in Germany ( where he had been in his ●ravels ) they drank the Bath-Waters in these Cases with Success ; and therefore proposed ●er drinking of these , as well as bathing .

After purging she began upon drinking ●he Waters , and with them took Diuretick Alteratives , wherein the Powder of Millipedes was an Ingredient . After a whiles drinking she bathed also , and wash'd the Tumours with the Bath-Waters , at Night , those days that she drank them . She continued this Course a Month or five Weeks , in which time the Swelling manifestly abated . Whither it went on so to do , to her perfect Recovery , I could never hear .

OBSERV . V.

My Lord James Butler ( then eldest Son to the Earl of Ossory , and since , ( upon the Death of my Lord Duke , his Grandfather and at this time , Duke of Ormond came hither in June , 77 , with a Chyrurgeon to attend the dressing of his Wound , which was upon the last Joynt of one of his Thumbs : it was by all judg'd Scrophulous . He drank the Waters mostly , but sometimes bathed , ( at least that Hand , both Night and Morning in his Chamber ) . His Lordship continued here five or six Weeks , or more ; the Wound digested better upon it ; afforded a more laudable Quitture ; was more disposed to healing ; all which encouraged his Coming another Season , and was at length perfectly cured .

I have not had the Honour to see his Grace these many Years , but have been inform'd that he holds perfectly well , of that Distemper .

OBSERV . VI.

Mr. Benjamin Mildmay , aged Ten or Eleven Years ( second Son to the Lady Fitz-Wal●er ) out of Essex , was brought hither by the good Lady his Mother in June , 81. He had then ( and some Years before ) several Sores running upon him , and discharging a clammy Viscous Matter , with some Blood , seldom any white , or well digested , Quitture . After a fitting Preparation , he both drank the Waters , and bathed , and took peculiar Alteratives , Traumaticks , and Antiscorbuticks , and found considerable Advantage the first Year , which encourag'd my Lady his Mother to send him a second time , in July , 82. ( with a Neighbour and Friend of her Ladyships , that came to use the Bath for a Lameness ) and that render'd him in a manner well . Whither he hold the Advantage he receiv'd here , I have not had the Opportunity to know , having not seen , or heard of him these many Years .

OBSERV . VII .

In much the like Case ( but upon the Hand only ) was a pretty Boy of Monsieu● Du Puy's ( then Servant to the Duke of York ) he was about Nine Years old . His Illnes● first came after a Sqat upon his Hand ; to which fell a Humour , and made it a Running Sore , which yielded to no Chyrurgery , and therefore was judg'd Scrophulous . He had been touched more than once , which he could not want the Opportunities of living so near the Court. His Father came do●● with him Two Years following ; he both drank the Waters , and bathed ; took Vulneraries , and other Alteratives , and was greatly advantaged by his first Coming , and a●● the second , perfectly cured ; and ( as I have been inform'd ) without Relapse : But 〈◊〉 have not seen him since he went from hence for he was immediately sent over into France , where ( if living ) I suppose he ye● continues .

CHAP. IX .

HAving thus dispatch'd those Distempers , that have had Cure here , to which , both Sexes are equally lyable ; and having given Instances of both upon each Head , we now come to those Maladies that are peculiar to the Female Sex.

And here , I hope , it will not be expected , that , in every Case , I should name the Persons , as I have done hitherto , for the most part . The Modesty of their Sex , and the Respect we owe them for it , challenge an Exemption from publishing their Names , at least in some of their Infirmities . And since God and Nature hath given them the heavier end of the Staff , in bearing the Burthens of this Life , we ought ( in good Manners , as well as in Justice ) to make it as easie to them as we can . Where it will well consist with Decency , I shall adventure to name some , but in some other Cases I shall desire to be excused ; for I do not forget I had a Mother , a Wife , and two Daughters , to whom I owed , and ( I hope ) paid , Duty , Respect , and Love , and can hardly forbear to perform it to their Memories : I would therefore publish nothing , concerning that Sex , that I did think they would dislike , if they , or any of them , had lived to read it . And farther , as old as I am , I would not , in the least , offend any of that Fair part of the Creation , but would die , as well as live , in their good Opinion .

Womens Diseases are either such , as they are subject to when they are young , or when more adult ; when marry'd , or when unmarry'd ; when Childless , or when they have had Children .

I shall therefore divide this Chapter into five Sections , and give some few Instances upon each . The first of ,

SECT. I.

The Virgin Disease , the Green-Sickness , where will be occasion to speak of the want of the Catamenia , and with this is many times joyn'd the Hysterick Passion , or Fits of the Mother , and of which I have seen very many here recover'd , when all ordinary and usual Methods and Means have fail'd . Nay , the same Apperitive Medicines , that have avail'd nothing before , have here , with moderate bathing , and sometimes drinking the Waters , been very effectual . Of this I shall give a few Instances of many that I could produce . And since it hath been their Misfortune , rather ●han their Faults , to be thus affected , I shall venture to name their Names ; and first ,

OBSERV . I.

Mrs. Elizabeth Eyles , from the Devizes , in ●he County of Wilts , aged 16 , being very ●ar gone in the Green-Sickness ; and having Mother-fits withal , was sent to my House by ●er Relations , for Cure. I had then consi●erable Business in those Parts , when I at●ended a Riding Practice , and was consult●d for her at her Father's House ; and I pre●crib'd several things , but nothing prevail'd ; ●or which Reason she was sent hither , to try what they would do , with bathing , for with●ut it they signified little ; tho' the same Means had been very beneficial to others , ●hat seem'd to be under the same Circum●ances .

She came hither in June , 57 , Pale , Thin , ●nd Stomachless , Faint and Tyrie , upon ●●e least stirring , and very often Hysterical . ●ut under all this of a Meek , Governable , ●nd Excellent Temper , and would chear●●lly take , and do , every thing that was pre●rib'd her ; which ( as to Medicines ) was ●ery little different from what she had taken ●efore , viz. Peptick-P●wders , Anti-Ca●hec●cks , and Hystericks : These , with bathing , ( for she drank little of the Waters ) in a● Month , or Six Weeks time , restor'd her to a good Stomach , a fresh Colour , and to those Customary Benefits which young Women of her age ought to expect , and hope for ; and upon which the Mother-Fits wholly left her .

She was , afterwards , marry'd to a Kinsman of mine , Mr. Samuel Pierce , now of Alston , near Kings-bridge , in Devonshire , and lived several Years with him ; as good 〈◊〉 Wife as she was a Patient , and left him Three Children when she dy'd , which a●● still living ; the very kind Husband , and Father , continues a Widower , tho' it be mor● than Twenty Years ago , that he sadly parted with her .

OBSERV . II.

A Daughter of my Lady Berisford's , o● of Ireland , aged 19 , was brought hither b● her Lady Mother in June , 93. My Lady 〈◊〉 chief Business into England was her sa●●● Daughter's Recovery , which she despair● of in Ireland ▪ She call'd , ( and took Advice ) in London , but stay'd not long there but hasten'd to the Bath ; for ( besides othe● Symptoms , that usually accompany th● Virgin Disease ) she had a great Weakne●● ●n her Arm wrists . This the modest young Lady easily acknowledg'd to me , but would ●dmit of no farther Discourse ; I was fain ●herefore to apply my self to my Lady her Mother , from whom I understood that she ●ad her Catamenia very early ( at Twelve Years of Age ) and that they seldom whol●y fail'd her ( at least for any long time together ) from the first ; but in colour , and ●uantity were not as they ought to be . Besides the usual Discolour of the Face , Want of Appetite , Spirits , and Strength , & c. ●s have been describ'd , in the Preceeding Observation : She was more than ordinari●y troubled with Vapours , and strange Fits , 〈◊〉 doubtless Hysterical ) which would swell ●ut the Sternon as big as a large Fist , by ●egrees , and fall again accordingly , as the ●it went off . I put her first upon drinking ●●ese Waters , with Apperitives and Hystericks ; ●fterwards bathed her , and interchanging ●etween whiles , drinking and bathing , she ●ay'd Seven Weeks , and at the end of that ●●me went off so well , that she seem'd to ●eed nothing more to be done for her , by 〈◊〉 Physitian . I hope my Lady , her Mother , 〈◊〉 by giving her to a good Husband ) pre●ented a Relapse .

OBSERV . III.

Mrs. Elizabeth Wayte , about 20 Years of Age , having a great share of this Tyrie Distemper ; came hither in August , 82 , with a Sister of hers , to be helpful to her , as well as to keep her Company . Besides that she look'd Pale , Yellow , and Black under the Eyes , &c. with the Green-Sickness : She seem'd also to have the Jaundice , Scurvy , and Dropsie ( for her Feet and Legs swell'd ) and she had Itchings upon her Arms and Legs , was short-breath'd , had distended Hypochond●rs ( especially the Right ) was Hot and Dry , inclining to a Hectick . Upon any Disturbance ( from little sudden things ) apt to Tremblings , and Palpitation of the Heart , and Giddiness in the Head , &c. This Illness began Five or Six Years before , not being well purg'd after the Small-Pox . She cou● not now walk the length of her Chamber , without panting , and sinking under the Burthen of her own Emaciated Body . She greatly complain'd of the Palpitation of her Heart , a Symptom incident , more or less , to all that labour under this Virgin-Distemper , and indeed all Cachexies , and great Obstructions ; whether in Men or Women ; whither Young or Old.

Of which I shall have occasion to speak particularly in the second Book , when I come to treat of Drinking of these Waters chiefly .

This young Gentlewoman was so dispirited by her long continued Illness , that she could hardly bear the working of a gentle Purge , which was given her as a Preparation for drinking the Waters , and bathing . She began with the first , and that in small Quantities ; afterwards bathed in the Cross-Bath , and took Deoppilatives and Anticachecticks , ●nd improv'd so well upon them , that in Five or Six Weeks time she could walk the Town , and into the Meddows , and at length ●ecover'd a good Stomach , and a fresh Co●our in her Face , and some Flesh upon her ●ones , and all her Swellings fallen . See●●g her a Year or two after , I found her as ●ump , and as brisk , as any of her Sisters , ●hich were all comely young Women .

OBSERV . IV.

I shall add a fourth Observation upon this ●●bject ( tho' I thought to have given it off ●re ) because there is something in it dif●ent from the former , which is a depraved ●●petite . For I am apt to think that it is ●●t so much the eating of Oatmeal , Wheat , Salt , Mortar , and other such Trush , that usually brings this Distemper upon young Girls , but the Diseases rather depraving the se●ment of the Stomach , puts them upon longing after uncouth things , as breeding Women sometimes do . This seem'd to me to be apparent from the following Observation .

A French Man ( and French Merchant Mensieur La Chambre , his Wise coming to the Bath , for a great Lameness , in August , 88 ( of which Infirmity , she was at two Season● very well recover'd ) brought with her a Daughter , of about 13 Years of Age , which look'd much of the Complexion of the things she used to caress her self withal and was faint , and tyrie , and heavy-headed , &c. Her Mother ( willing to stop 〈◊〉 Gaps ▪ with one Bush ) as I came one day 〈◊〉 visit her , told me her fault , ( for the Distemper shew'd its self ) and ask'd my Advice , which I gave , and she follow'd . After a Vomit , and some Purgings , I put he● upon drinking these Waters , which she stuc● to very close , and they passed exceedingly we●● w th her ; I caused her to bathe too , toward the Conclusion ; and in a few Weeks time sh● would rejoyce more to see a Shoulder of Mutt● well roasted , than a Handful of Mortar o●● of the Wall , or a Plate of Oatmeal , the usu●● Viands she formerly delighted in . In short , the Waters wash'd the ill Ferment out of the Folds of her Stomach , which depraved her Appetite , and renew'd the true Genuine Acidity , or Dissolvent-Menstruum , which causeth Hunger , and promoteth Digestion : or , if you would rather have it in the terms of a late Author , Dr. Coward , the Spiritus Volatilis Oleosus , which he takes to be the true Instrument of Concoction , and Nutrition . And the Bath getting new Life and Vigor into her Limbs , she became better colour'd , active and strong , and fed upon what produced good Nourishment : For when I call'd , a Year or two after , to visit her Mother , at their House , in Fanchurch street , in London , she was become a Healthy young Woman .

SECT. II.

Thus much for Virgins , we come now to Marry'd Women , and we begin with those which never had a Child , till render'd fruit●ul by the Bath : And this is an Effect of ●athing , so very well known already , and ●o generally assented to , that when any one ●omes hither that ●s Childless , they pre●ently say that she comes for the common Cause . 〈◊〉 instance , in all that have sped in this ●rrant , since my coming to live here , were to fill a Volumn , bigger than all these Observations were intended to make .

I have given an Account of two already , that having no such Design in their Coming hither , have , praeter spem , unexpectedly , prov'd fruitful afterwards . One was Mrs. Duff●waite , Chap. 4. Observ. 8. the other Mrs. Biscoe , in Chap. 6. Observ. 7. in Mrs. Waller's Case , to which I referr , and shall add two or three Instances more , and so pass on to the next Section .

OBSERV . 1.

Mrs. Hawkins , of Marlborough , in the County of Wilts , Forty Years of Age , having been marry'd Thirteen or Fourtee● Years , and never had been with Child , i● all that time ; and probably giving ove● the hopes of ever being made a Mother was Lame and Ill , and came to this Plac● for Cure. Her Case requir'd long , ar● much bathing , which she patiently endur'd and had not only Recovery of the Distemper she came for , but also , afterwards , ha● five Children at some Years distances .

OBSERV . II.

My Lord Blessington's Lady , Daughter to ●he Countess of Montwroth , from the Kingdom of Ireland , a very weakly and sickly Person , having been some Years marry'd , and ne●er had a Child , came to the Bath in June , ●0 . for Health , as well as for Children ; and ●●d both drink the Waters , and bathe ; and sed Remedies suitable to the Symptoms she ●omplain'd of ; and , by the Blessing o● God ●pon the Means , she not only recover'd a ●etter State of Health , but afterwads be●ame a Mother of Children .

OBSERV . III.

Madam Heskinstyles , a Dutch Merchant's ●ife of Amsterdam , but Daughter to Sir ●ohn Eyles , of the Devizes , in the County of ●●ilts , having been some Years marry'd , and ●●t Conceiving with Child ▪ being of a ●●t , and Plethorick Habit of Body , ( which ●●ually is not the aptest to have Children ) 〈◊〉 me to the Bath in June , 86 , and drank ●●e Waters , tho' not altogether so regularly 〈◊〉 others did , and bathed about Five or Six ●eeks . Not long after she return'd home , 〈◊〉 prov'd with Child , and had a Daughter , which lived , and was here with her Mother in 93. What Children more she hath had , I do not well know .

SECT. III.

The third sort of Womens Cases proposed to be spoken to , is of those that have had a Child , or Children , but have left off bearing for some time , and have renew'd Conception upon using the Bath . Many and great Instances have been here had of this particular Cases . I shall content my self to have mention'd a few that may be enquir'd into , and po●sibly may be believ'd ; the rest must be silenced .

OBSERV . I.

Mrs. Clement , a Citizen's Wife of Brist●l , about Forty Years of Age , had been a Mother of Children , but was so unhappy as to see them all buri●d ; and after Nine Years ceasing , to conceive with Child , and giving over the Hopes of it ; being afflicted with Rheumatic Pains , came to the Bath , in the year 87. She lodged in my House , for the Conveniency of a Gallery , which I ha●● leading into the King and Queen's-Bath the fittest for most Purposes , because in one or o● ●her of them , you find the several degrees ●f Warmth , which best suit with all Cases ●nd Tempers of People . ) She follow'd her ●athing diligently , for a Month or Five Weeks , ( till she found Ease of her Pains ) ●hen return'd home ; and tho' she had so ●ong intermitted being pregnant , and depair'd of ever being again a Mother , yet , 〈◊〉 a little time , she conceiv'd with Child , ●nd had , at her due time , two Boys at a Birth .

OBSERV . II.

A worthy Gentlewoman , of the Family ●f the Guises , in Gloucester-shire , but Wife to Thomas Horton , Esq of Comend , in the same County ; after Seven Years interval , from ●aving a Child , and concluding that she ●ad done breeding , having past the Two ●nd-fortieth Year of her Age , came to the ●ath for a Lameness , occasion'd by a Fall ●om a Horse ; she stay'd a due time for the ●ecovery of such an Infirmity ; went home , ●nd quickly Conceiv'd upon it , and had a ●on , who lived to be a proper , hopeful , young ●entleman , but dy'd at Twenty-five Years 〈◊〉 Age ( a Student at the Inns of Court ) 〈◊〉 ( the fatal Distemper to young People ) ●●e Small-Pox .

OBSERV . III.

Mrs. Dorothy Davers , of Monkes , in the Parish of Corsham , in the County of Wilts , aged 38 ; having had eight Children before , and staying Six Years from being with Child , and seldom well in all that time ; and being now more than ordinary ill of a Scorbutical Cachexie , ( insomuch , that she was judg'd to have both Jaundice and Dropsie ) with some Pains and Weaknesses in her Limbs ) came to me for Advice , and to be here under my Care and View , in order to her Recovery . Amongst other things , I order'd her the Use of the Bath , and with it Deoppilatives , and Antiscorbuticks , upon which , she greatly recover'd , went home well , and was soon after with Child , which she brought to perfection ; and it was a Son , which liv'd about Three Months . A Year or two after that , being very ill again , and fearing a Relapse into her former Sickness , came hither a second time to take my Advice . I order'd her some Physick ; and because her Blood was Excessive Salt , and Sharp , put her upon drinking the Waters mostly ; upon her Return home she was again with Child , and had a Daughter , tho' a small and weakly one , but liv'd , and is ●ow Thirteen or Fourteen Years of Age. This Gentlewoman had ( after this ) two Miscarriages , and last of all , at the Forty-●ourth year of her Age , had a lusty strong Child , which yet lives , and hath outgrown ●er Bath-Sister , at Ten Years old . The first ●f these is Mrs. Margaret , the other Amie ●avers .

You have , in this one Gentlewoman , a ●ouble Instance of the Efficacy of these ●aters ; that is , both Outwardly and Inward●y used , in reference to the Case in Hand , ●oth ways producing the same Effect .

SECT. IV.

The Fourth Section will be taken up with ●he Enumeration of some Instances of Wo●en , that have often been with Child , but ●ave as often Miscarry'd , and at length 〈◊〉 by the Use of the Bath , and such Appro●riate Means , withal , that best agreed ●ith the Constitution of those that suffer'd ●bortion ; and the Reasons of their not re●aining to the due time , their Conceptions ) ●ave been afterwards enabled to go tho●ough with their Burdens , and bring forth ●●ving , and life like Children . And this also 〈◊〉 already so well known , that it seems a ●eedless thing to give particular Instances of it ; but ( to continue the Method already begun ) I shall annex three or four .

OBSERV . I.

Mrs. Sherrington ( a Grandchild of an Eminent Person of our Faculty , and a Fellow of the Colledge of Physitians , in London , Dr. Sammon ) after very many Miscarriages , was sent to the Bath , and committed to my Care , by a Letter from her Physitian in London , Dr. Slare ; whose Opinion it was , that she would hardly go thorough with any Child , because she had very weak Nerves , which appear'd by a Trembling of her Hands ; and thence he concluded , tha● all Nervous , and Membranous Parts , were equally enfeebled ( the Womb amongst the rest ) and consequently not well able to perform their Offices : A probable Conjecture enough ; and indeed it becomes an honest , prudent Physitian , to fear , and foretel the worst of Events . She came hither with her very kind Mother , Madam Willett , in September , 89 , took needful Preparations for the Waters , and the Bath , with some strengthning Alteratives , and continued this Course Five or Six Weeks ; return'd to Fullham , where they then liv'd , and was quickly with Child after , which she brought to perfection , it proved a Daughter . But within a Year after that , had a Son to her Daughter ; and , in little more than another Year , a second Son.

The Son 's dy'd quickly , one or both of the Small-Pox ; the Daughter is yet living , as I am inform'd by her Mother whilst I write this ; she being now in my House with her Husband , Will . Sherrington , Esq drinking these Waters for a Scorbutical Atrophy , joyn'd with Hypochondraick Melancholy , Jan. 96.

OBSERV . II.

The Honourable Cravon Howard , Esq his Lady ( formerly Madam Ogle , one of the Maids of Honour to the Dutchess of York , at her Highnesses first coming into England ) after she was marry'd , was frequently with Child , but never could bring any to perfection , but at the end of three , four , or five Months , did still miscarry ; so that tho' she had been Nine times , or more , Impregnated , yet never carry'd any to the full time . She was at length told , that many in the like Case had found Remedy by using our Baths ; to which , at long run , she came , and used them regularly a Month or Five Weeks , and by them recover'd so much Strength in those weakned Parts , that she retain'd the next Conception ( which was soon after she return'd home and brought it to perfection , and it was a Daughter ; which liv'd , and became a proper young Woman . What Children , between , she had , I was not inform'd , but that she had afterwards a Son born alive , but ( by what Distempers , or Accident , I know not ) both Mother and Son dy'd within the Month.

OBSERV . III.

Something the like Case , was that of my Lady Killmurry , ( now Countess of Huntington , formerly a Vennables , and nearly related to the Barons of Kinderton . ) Her Ladyship , upon her first Marriage , was subject to Miscarry , and did three times at least , but did not delay so long her coming to the Bath , as did the Person last mention'd . She was sent hither , and recommended to my Care , by Dr. Hollins , and Dr. Fowke , two worthy Physitians of Shrewsbury , and my very good Friends : Her Ladyship used the Bath but one Season , and that but for a Month or Five Weeks ; and presently upon her Return home , Conceiv'd with Child ; went out her full time , and became a Mother of a living , and a lively Son , who was ( after his Father's Death ) and yet is , Lord Killmurry , now about 14 Years of Age. Her Ladyship , after this Son , miscarry'd again twice or thrice , and then came a second time to the Bath , and had the same Success ; for in a while after was with Child , went out her full time , and had a Daughter , which yet lives .

SECT. V.

Before I quite dismiss this Subject , I must beg leave to make a small Digression , which will take up a Fifth Section , of the Womens Concerns .

It is to give some few Instances , that they that have occasion to use the Baths , need not forbeat coming ( tho' with Child ) for fear of an Abortion ; many having used them under those Circumstances , and found no Inconvenience by it . The occasion of this Digression , is a Passage in Mr. Guydott's Thermae Britannicae , amongst his Nocumenta Thermarum Bathoniensium , Pag. 361. where he gives a great Caution to Women , newly with Child , not to bathe , lest they presently miscarry ; and gives an Instance ( out of Dr. Maplett's Epistles , as he says ; but that Epistle was never made publick , ( tho' he himself caused some others of his to be printed ) in my Lady Bassett , of Clarton , and had the Confidence ( out of Malice , or Ignorance , probably the former ) to put my Name in the Margin , as that Alter Medicus mention'd ( as he says ) in the Epistle , wherein he is so unhappy ( as well as unjust ) in taking up Relations upon Trust ( as he does other things ) that there is no-nothing of all of it true : For that Lady Bassett was never with Child , nor was Dr. Pierce her Physitian , till some Months , if not Years , after that time : For Dr. Highmore , of Shirborne , advised her Ladyship , at that time , to the Bath , and prescrib'd Remedies for her , as Mr. Chapman , the Apothecary , and his Bills ( which I have by me , taken off from his Fyle ) can testifie . He giving this needless Caution , by which , some , which may have present Need of the Bath , may be discouraged from using of it ; I think it worth the while to give some Examples of Women with Child , young with Child ; in the first Month , and Months ; that have both bathed , and drank the Waters , without any likelihood of Miscarrying ; and have gone on with their Reckonings , and have not only brought forth lusty Children , but have been better in breeding them , and in their Month , than they have been with former Children .

OBSERV . I.

Mrs. Howard ( Daughter to Sir Francis Blake ) out of Yorkshire , a comely , and excellently well humour'd Gentlewoman , came hither with my Lady her Mother , in May , 1690 , for a Weakness in all her lower Limbs , from the Loyns downward , occasion'd ( as was supposed ) by taking Cold in her Lying in . I was sent for to advise her in the Use of the Bath , which ( after due Preparation ) I put her upon ; not without Enquiry , how it was with her , in reference to her being , or not being , with Child ; that I might ( as is my usual way to do ) manage my Direction accordingly , as to her manner of bathing .

Both she her self , and my Lady , her Mother , confidently asserting , that they had no reason to think her a breeding , she began , and went on , to bathe as others did , that had so much Need of it , as she had ; but at three Weeks , or a Months , end , coming to visit , as I used to do , my Lady ask'd me , what if her Daughter should be young with Child ? I answer'd , if there were reason to think so , she must , in some things , after her manner of bathing , but wholly to give it off , sh● needed not . She went on to use the Bath and sometimes oftner in a Week , and longer at a time than I advised her , till she ha● compleated Six or Seven Weeks , and ha● recover'd the Weakness , which she cam● for . She went strong and well from hence and continued so , and was ( as I understood by some of her Relations here , the Summe● following ) deliver'd of a lusty Girl at he● due time . It appear'd by her Reckoning that she had newly Conceiv'd when she came from home .

OBSERV . II.

Mrs. Floyer , ( a Brother's , or near Kinsman's Wife of Sir John Floyer's , a Doctor o● Physick , in Litchfield , was sent to the Bath by Dr. Slare , in May , 91. chiefly to drin● the Waters , but sometimes to bathe withal having often miscarry'd , and being miserably Hysterical ; insomuch , that in the Letter to me , wherein he describes her Case , and delivers her up to my Care ; he gives a great Caution about her taking Purging Medicines , lest they should raise Vapours , he not daring to give her any thing stronger than Lenitives for that reason . She was young with Child all the while she was here , drinking the Waters , and bathing , as appear'd by her Quickning , and Delivery of a Son , one of the strongest Children she ever had . She past her Month better than formerly she had done , which was all imputed to the Benefit she receiv'd by these Waters . She came hither about the latter end of May , and was deliver'd of that Son , ●bout the latter end of January following .

OBSERV . III.

My Lady Cooke , Wife to Sir Thomas Cooke , ●n East-India Merchant , from London , came ●ither in June , 91. with several of her Children , and Relations , who used the Bath ●hore for Diversion than Necessity . My Lady had a great Mind to bathe also , not ●or Company only , but for some Pains her ●adyship used to have in her Limbs ; but ●he was doubtful to do it , knowing her self 〈◊〉 be young with Child . Her Ladyship ●●erefore sent for me , to have my Advice 〈◊〉 the Case . I told her if she pleased to ●se the Cross Bath with that Moderation , as 〈◊〉 the frequency of going in , and time of ●aying there , as I advised , she might safely 〈◊〉 it , and not be in Danger of Abortion , which Advice her Ladyship took ; bathed more than fifteen times , after she was about Two Months gone ( as appear'd by the time of her bringing a fully-ripe Child into the World. ) Dr. Slare , who saw it at Three Months old , thought it as healthy , strong , and as likely to live , as any her Ladyship ever had before , which were not a few .

OBSERV . IV.

My Lady Scarburgh , ( Sir Charles his Lady ) came several times to the Bath for a Lameness after Rheumatisms , Gout , &c. and was still committed , by my old Acquaintance and Friend , the Doctor , to my Care and Advice . She once came when she was with Child ( as appear'd afterwards ) but she would not , by any Means , believe her self to be so , though it was suspected by the Doctor , her Husband , my self , and others ; Her Ladyship therefore bath'd on , even to Excess ; being earnestly set upon the Recovery of her Lameness . She had been some Months gone with Child , before she came hither , and would hardly believe it when she quickned , and felt the Child stir pretty strongly within her , but imputed it to Wind. She continued bathing some time after she thus felt it , and yet Miscarry'd not .

She being something reliev'd in her Limbs , went back to London , and at her due time was deliver'd of a Daughter , which they call'd the Bath-Girl . She may be yet alive for ought I know , having never heard any thing to the contrary .

OBSERV . V.

Mrs. Hinchman ( Wife to a Merchant of that Name , Son to Dr. Hinchman , first Bishop of Salisbury , afterwards of London ) being very ill ; greatly pain'd , and indisposed , came to the Bath in the year 75 , and stay'd most part of the Winter . Tho' she had been the Mother of several Children , and might have had Reason to suspect , that some of her Illness , at least , might have been from breeding ; yet ( having been better with all her former Children , which were four ) she imputed all to a more than ordinary Distemper , and came to the Bath for it ; bringing her Directions , and much of her Physick with her . She purg'd once a Week with extractum R●dii , and blead every now and then . She purg'd with those strong Pills , but the Sunday before I was sent for to her , and was let Blood the Monday to Nine or Ten Ounces , She had bathed ever since she came to Town , three , four , sometimes ( when the Weather serv'd ) five times a Week , and mostly in the Hot-Bath , where she was Tuesday near Two Hours ; Wednesday she went in again , but had not been there past Half an Hour , but her Pains came upon her ( which she call'd Collicks ) and increased so fast , that they took her out of the Bath , and sent for me in all haste . I finding the Pains very different from Collick Pains , ask'd her if she was sure she was not with Child ? at which Question she was very angry , and importuned something speedily to ease her Chollick . That , I told her , I would do , but begg'd leave to send a Woman to her , that might inform me how Affairs went in those Parts , where it was not fit for me to try . I sent that Woman , which happen'd to be almost next door to her Lodging , and went directly to my Apothecary's , with Intention to prescribe a Clyster , and an anodyne Draught , which I presently went about ; but before I had half done , there comes up a Messenger to me , to tell me , that I might save my Pains , for the Gentlewoman was delivered of a Daughter , as well as of her Collick ; a lusty Child ▪ and at the full time ; who , for ought 〈◊〉 may be yet alive . Two or three Years after , going to see them in the Bishop of London's House in Aldersgate street , she was well grown of her Age , and healthy . I have not since heard what became of Mo●her , or Daughter .

And no wonder that the Cautions and orderly Managery of Women with Child , in bath●ng , and drinking these Waters , have such ●●fe and successful Effects , when our Women Bath-Guides ( for they are not all old Wo●en , and past Child-bearing ) go daily into ●he Bath , from first to last , to attend their ●adies , and Mistresses , and to carry about ●eak Children ; and take no Hurt by it .

I have known some of them to have stay'd ●ive or Six Hours at a time ; nay , some to ●ave stay'd Eight or Nine Hours in a Day , 〈◊〉 Five Hours in the Morning , and Three or ●our at Night ) and seldom or never any ●●e of them Miscarry'd , unless their Hus●ands chance to quarrel with them , and ●row them down Stairs .

So that you see that this Caution was not 〈◊〉 well grounded as to be conclusive against ●●e bathing of those that were ( or thought ●emselves to be ) with Child ; and yet , for ●her Reasons , needed the Use of the Bath ; ●●t that it may ( by good Advice , and careful Management ) be as safely done , as when free from being so .

SECT. VI.

And now we return from this Digression , to the last ( and I think worst , and , of late , most frequent ) of Women's Cases , which will be the Business of this sixth Section .

Well might Hyppocrates say in his Book De Locis in Homine , that in Women's Distempers , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Omnium morborum causae sunt Uteri . If those Parts in Women are not the Cau e of all Diseases incident to that Sex , to be sure they are greatly their Aggravation ; and the Diseases of those Parts are the worst they are lyable to : and some of those we are now upon , will easily be co●fest to exceed all others in point of most Dismaying , Uncomfortable , and Painful Circumstances , and are ( too frequently ) more difficult to be cured ( if at all curable and for which they are truly to be pittied ; and the rather , because it is not always their Faults , ( too frequent and various Venery ; Lascivious Thoughts and Imaginations ) that bring upon them the Beginnings of these Distempers ; but it is their very frame , and make that , lays them lyable to it ; Nature making that part a Sink , and Drain to the rest of the Body , which is manifestly evinced from this , that some very young Girls , that never experienced Venery , nor ever entertain'd the Thoughts of it ( at Eight , Nine , and Ten Years of age , in which Cases I have been sometimes consulted ) have been severely afflicted with , and long kept under , this enfeebling , and troublesome Symptom , we are now about to treat of , which is the Fluor Uterinus ; to which they usually affix that milder Ep●thite of Albus , but with some may have that of Luteus , Viridis , &c. The most innocent of these Colours hath but bad Effects , to wit , a Decay of Strength and Colour ; Aptitude to miscarry ; the Falling down ( sometimes falling out ) of the Womb ; but when it changes Colour , and becomes Acrimonious , fretting , and corroding ; nay , virulent , ( as often times it does , it excoriates the Part , causes Uleers , which often degenerate into Cancers . All which I have had here under my Care , and in some of them these Waters ( together with other Means ▪ have proved effectual , to their Palliation at least , if not their perfect Cure. It is not expected , I hope , that in giving I●stances in any of these Cases , I should name the Persons , as I have done in others , describe them I will as near as I can , give a true Account of the Process in their Cure , and the Success of it , and trust to your Courtesie to believe me , without a particular Enquiry .

OBSERV . I.

A Gentlewoman of Three and Forty Years of Age , a Neighbour , within Five or Six Miles ; of a Sanguine Complexion , but had a Salt Scorbutical Blood ; which appear'd some Years before , by the breaking out of a Vitelligo , at some Seasons , chiefly upon her Elbows , Knees , &c. She had about Midsummer , 1679 , a Sudden and Violent Eruption of the Whites , which exceeded in quantity her Customary Benefit . This continued very troublesome and excessive , all the remaining part of the Summer , and the Winter following ; tho' she took all sorts of Astringent and Strengthning Medicines , which are usually well known by those of that Sex , especially Midwives , and Nurse-keepers , who recommend them , one to another , with the Stamp of a Probatum .

It would be sometimes , for a while , les●en'd , but it never wholly ceased : In the Winter she had Pain , Weakness , and Stiff●ess at Knees , Hips and Ancles . Her Bones ●lso seem'd to be sore , tender , and weak ; ●●e seem'd tyr'd after Rest , and was , seem●●gly , more weary in the Morning when she ●rose , than when she went to Bed at Night .

The Pains and Weaknesses of her Limbs ●rought her to the Bath in May , 1680. and ●●e apply'd her self to me for Advice .

I first put her upon drinking the Waters , ●hich did her great Service , in taking off ●●e Sharpness of the Matter that came off , ●nd something lessening her Pain ; tho' it ●●ttle abated the first , in Quantity , yet in Quality it made great Alteration , for it ●nder'd the Parts less smarting , and ten●er .

For the Pains and Weakness of her Legs , 〈◊〉 well as the Eruption upon her Elbows and ●nees , there was a necessity for her to bathe , ●●d that pretty frequently , but she drank the ●aters between whiles . The bathing ( as ●●e order'd it ) did not increase the Fluor , ●●ho ' some have forbidden it in that Case ) ●●t rather by moderate Sweating , ( lessen●●g the quantity of Humours ) that also ●as lessen'd , in some measure ; but neither ●●at , nor the peculiar Remedies she took withal , did wholly stay it . Upon her going off therefore ( which was at the end of Six Weeks , when the Cutaneous Eruptions , and the Scorbutical Pains and Weaknesses of her Limbs were remov'd , I put her upon taking a strong Decoction of Woods , Ivory , Harts-Horn , &c. which she kept close to , drinking no other Liquor for Seven Weeks o● Two Months , after she came home ; which perfectly recover'd her , so that she remain● well to this day ; and of which she yet retains so grateful a Remembrance , that every Year , about Christmas , she sends me a Present , such as her Dairy and Orchard afforded the Summer before .

OBSERV . II.

Another , in the like Case , as to the Whites ( but having nothing of the Vitelligo , no● Pains , nor great Weakness of Limbs , abou● Five and Twenty Years of Age , and no● long marry'd , but complaining more o● Smarting in those Parts , especially upo● making Water , ( which argued Excoriation in the Vagina Uteri ) came and drank the Waters , but bathed but little , and took Balsami● Astringent Pills withal , used Injections of th● Bath-Water , Three Weeks , or a Month , an● receiv'd considerable Advantage by it .

OBSERV . III.

A Citizen's Wife of Bristol , aged 37 , ha●ing , for a longtime before , been very ill of ●his Distemper , as was last describ'd ; but ●ndeed worse than either of the former : For what was at first white only , was af●erwards yellow , then greenish , after that ●uskish , towards a black , and now inter●persed with red , which manifestly declar'd ●n Excoriation at least ; and approaching to , ●f not a confirm'd , Exulceration . She having try'd various Means and Methods at ●ome , came at length to the Bath in June , 61. where she heard I was then settled ; she having formerly been my Patient in Bristol , ( where I began my Practice in the Year 1646. ) She sent for me ; I enquiring what she had already done , would not put her upon the same things again , but made her to drink these Waters , and sometimes moderately to bathe ; and in the Bath , to in●ect the Water with an Instrument I got purposely for her , and taught her the Use of ; and which ( in many Cases , but this especially ) I have since caused to be used by many . This did something towards her Recovery , but not enough . I therefore advised healing Balsamick , and gently ▪ Astringent Means , to be taken Mornings with the Waters , and in the Evenings , Mel-Rosarum , an● sometimes Mel Elatines , with some of the Bath Water , to be injected warm , with a Metrencheta . This ( after the other ) did the Business , and in about Two Month● time , she return'd well to her Family .

OBSERV . IV.

A Tradesman's Wife , of Cirincester , aged 30 ; Twelve Weeks after her being deliver'd of a Child , came to the Bath in September , 66. applying her self to me for Directions what to do , gave this Account of her Case .

About a Fortnight after her Delivery , she was taken with a violent Pain in her Right Flank , with some Swelling , which increased for Two Months , and in that time became a large , and a hard Tumour , and at last very tender to the Touch ; at the end of Ten Weeks , a green and very faetid Water was discharged per pudenda ; and this continued when she came hither . It seem'd therefore , manifest to me , that ( whither by any Injury done her in her Delivery , by the Midwife ; or any thing left behind , that should have been brough● off , or Cold taken after her being laid ; or a Conflux of Humours from ●he rest of the Body , to that , ( then enfee●ed ) Part , or from what other Cause it did ●ot then appear but ) an Inflammation , ●hirrous Tumour , and Abscesse there was ; ●nd very great Cause was there to fear , lest 〈◊〉 would become Cancerous . I caused her ●o be let Blood both in the Arm , and by ●eeches in the Haemorrhoid Veins , I prepa●ed her for the Use of the Bath , and Waters , ●●y a Purging Apozeme , which she continued 〈◊〉 Week or more .

I then order'd her first to drink the Wa●ers for some Days , afterwards to bathe ; ●nd at last to the Injections of Bath-Water , ●nd Mell-Rosarum , and Mell-Elatines , ( as in ●he former Case ) and continued her , by Turns , thus to do , till the Hardness abated ▪ ●he Tumour subsided , and the Gleete ceased , ●nd she perfectly recover'd ; all which was ●n about Two Month time . She had seve●al Children afterwards ; she is yet living , 〈◊〉 Widow , and a lusty strong Woman of her ●ge ; which is now on the wrong side of Threescore .

Many more Instances of this kind might ●e given ; but it may suffice to have men●ion'd one of each degree of these Uterine Fluors . The first is bad ; the second worse ; ●he last is worst of all ; yet all receiv'd Advantage here . I dismist the two latter , wit● Directions for a Drying , Vulnerary Drin● which they continued for some time afte● they went home ; and after that hung , 〈◊〉 the same Ingredients , in a Barrel of middlin● Ale , and drank no other Drink for a time but afterwards return'd to their accustom● Diet , and held well with it .

CHAP. X.

THE Women having in the Precee●ing Chapter , been taken Care so we now come to those we enjoy by the● their Children , which ( next to their M●thers ) become the greatest Happinesses , Afflictions of this present Life : Whi● well , alive , and Virtuously enclin'd , th● greatest of Comforts ; when sick , dead , 〈◊〉 ( which is worse than either ) Lewd and D●bauch'd , the greatest of Discomforts . Wh●● concerns them with the Bath , is referrab● to very few Heads , viz. Lameness and Il●ness from a bad Nurse : The Rickets , a●●usual Consequencies of it , which are Bac●wardness in Growing ; Weakness , an● Crookedness of Body , and Limbs , an● Hardness and Bigness of the lower Belly . 〈◊〉 shall give some few Instances upon these Heads , and so conclude this first Book , which treats chiefly of the Outward Use of these Waters ; Bathing .

And first of the Inconveniencies of an ●ll Nurse . It is not the Healthiness , and fresh Looks , and good Consistence of the Milk only , that should direct in the choice of a Nurse ; but the Honesty , Faithfulness , and Veracity , that would oblige her to deal truly and faithfully with those that pay her Wages ; and timely to declare it , if she chance to be breeding , whilst she suckles a Child . The want of this true , and plain , Dealing hath been to me a great Care and Trouble : For the only Grandchild that ever 〈◊〉 had , or am like to have , who was born ●n my House , and solemnly given me , ●y my only remaining Child , my dear Daughter his Mother , and put out to as likely a Woman , to breed it up healthily and well , as this Country afforded , was well-nigh spoil'd , by her being with Child , and concealing it Three Months or more , before she would own it ; tho' she was often assured by the Grand mother ( my Wife ) and my self , that if she had the least Reason to suspect her self to be breeding , she should wean the Child , and should still go on to keep it , and should have the same weekly Pay for it , a● if she still suckled it ; but it seems she had no● Faith enough to believe us , but for fear o● having it taken away , and her Pay to cease she kept on giving it suck , till she had gon● . Thirteen , or Fourteen , Weeks with Child● with two Children , ( as it appear'd afterwards ; ) this so corrupted the poor Child's Blood , that it put him into frequent Fevers ▪ out of which he narrowly escap'd more than once , brake out all over his Body , especially Head and Face ; at length the whole Matter was discharged upon his Righ Hip , Thigh , and Leg , which swell'd it a● big as his Middle ; offer'd to break at several Places , being hot , inflamed , and discolour'd . The best that we hoped for was that it might not break on a Joynt , and so leave him a Cripple : But with Pultesses , and other Applications , and some gentle Purgatives ( such as a Child of his Age was capable of taking ) it was at length discussed , and in great measure carry'd off ▪ but the Leg render'd so weak , that he could not move it , but as he lifted it up with the other ; and whereas it was much bigger than the other before , whilst swell'd , it was now gone much less .

It continued a long time so weak , that ●ll he was four years old , and more , we ●●uld not venture him to go alone .

This while some concluded him to have the ●ickets , others the Consumption ; but very ●eak and valetudinary he still was . An ●ssue was made in his Arm , at a year and 〈◊〉 quarter old . We often thought him ●owing aside , one Shoulder thrusting out ●●ther than the other ; to remedy which , ●●d to prevent its going farther out , we got ●●m a Neck-swing , which being constant●● used after Bathing ( for we began to bathe ●●m , as soon as his Swelling was well off ) 〈◊〉 is took off those Fears , and rendered him ●ry straight , and in time , he got strength 〈◊〉 his Leggs also . As soon as his Inflam●ations ceased , we began , and continued ●●s Bathing Spring and Fall , as his Strength ●●uld bear , till he perfectly recovered . In ●●e Seventh , Eighth and Nine Years of his ●ge , he had three great and acute Diseases ; ●●st the Scarlet-Feaver , next the Measles , ●●d thirdly , the Small-Pox , which last , ●eing very well purged after it ) cleansed ●●n effectually , and gave him a new habit 〈◊〉 Body . At ten years old he was sent 〈◊〉 a School , and had no considerable illness ●ere , in five or six Years time ; though ●out the latter end of that time , he suffered his Issue to heal up , without giving any notice to me ( or any Body else ) of it , an● ( Blessed be God ) without any alteration i● point of Health . He hath now been a● Oxford these two Years , and hath not ha● any considerable Sickness , since his goin● thither , and hath more than compleated h●● Eighteenth Year , and is likely to become 〈◊〉 Man , though not a tall one ; yet , I hope Virtuous one .

OBSERV . II.

Miss Jeppe , the only Child of a dea●● and tender Mother , a particular goo● Friend , and Patient of mine . This Chi●● was left Father-less and Mother less , whe●● not much above two years old ; but to th● Care of an excellent Grand-mother , by t●● Fathers side . Mrs. Baber of Sutton-Cou●● within the Parish of Chew-magna , in th● County of Somerset , who perceiving th●● her ( then , only ) Grand-child , very we●● in the Limbs , far gone in the Rickets , a●● enclining to grow aside ; after the tryal 〈◊〉 various means , sent her to the Bath , co●mitted her to my Care , and placed her 〈◊〉 my House , in the year , 166● . She w●● then so weak and ill , that we could put 〈◊〉 into the Bath but very seldom , and use b●● very little Inward means .

Such as she was capable of , and could ( without much disturbance ) be made to take , she had ; Aperitives , Hepaticks , and Pectorals . What was wanting in her frequent Bathing , was supplyed by her longer stay , continuing here till the approach of Winter ; in which time she recover'd so much Advantage , as to encourage her careful and tender Grand-mother , to send her again the next Summer ; and so a third , if not a fourth . Whilst she Bathed , we used her to a Swing , which recovered her Crookedness : Her Leggs ( as she got Health and Strength ) became more and more straight and strong ; and the hardness and distention of both the Hypochonders , especially that of the Right Side on the Region of the Liver ( which Symptoms should have been mention'd before ) fell by degrees , and became laxe and equal . In short , she at length perfectly recovered , and became competently healthy and well ; grew indifferently tall , and was at length Marry'd to Edward Clarke , Esq of Chippely , in the lower part of Somersetshire ; and by him hath many Tall , Strong and fine Children of both sorts , and is yet alive , and will I hope continue so to be , and to see them as well disposed of , as she her self was .

OBSERV . III.

Madam Skippewith ( Wife to a Gentleman of that Name , that lived in Chancery Lane , London , afterwards , Sir Thoma● Skippewith brought hither a Son about Te● Years old in July 68 ; he had had the Rickets in his Infancy , most severely , but wa● now ) as to his inward health ) much recovered , only there remained great Crookedness in his lower Lymbs , so that he wen● very odly , not only throwing out his Leggs and his Knees striking one against another by reason of their looseness , and that o● the Ancle Joynts ; but the very Shin-bone were crooked , bending outward like a Bow or rather , wreathed or twisted . After du● Preparation , he was put into the Bath 〈◊〉 which he bore very well , being otherwise lusty and strong , and continued the use of 〈◊〉 a considerable time .

He learn'd here to Swim , by my Advice that he might the more effectually stretc● out his Lymbs , which thing , I think , contributed a great deal to the good effects h● had by his being here . He apparentl● got strength whilst he was under these means went much better , his Joynts being not 〈◊〉 loose : He , in time , by these helps , gre●● ●ut all that Weakness , and very much the Crookedness too ; insomuch , that coming ●ither ten or a dozen years after , to see his ●ister , the Lady Williams ( to whom I had ●he Honour to be Physician ) I knew him ●ot , till I was told that he was the same Person that had been under my Care here ●t the Bath .

OBSERV . IV.

A Son , and ( if I mistake not ) the only ●on of Sir Joseph Ash , was brought hither ●y my Lady his Mother , in 77 , in a very weak Condition , both Inwardly and Outwardly ; in Body , and Limbs . My Lady ●onsulted first an eminent , and worthy Per●on of our Faculty , Dr. Highmore of Shir●ourn , who happen'd then to be in Town with a Person of Quality that used the Bath . He finding the Child to be so very weak , and ( as he judged ) Hectically in●lined , disswaded my Lady from bathing of ●im , and advised her to go speedily out of Town , for the Bath would kill him Her Ladyship hearkned to this Advice , and in ●rder to her removal , comes to Mr. Chap●an the Apothecary , to pay him for some ●ittle things that were had from his Shop , ●nd told him what Dr. Highmore had advised : He replyed to her , Madam , Dr. Highmore is a very worthy Person , and a grea● Man in his Profession , but understands no● what may be done at the Ba h , so well a● they that live constantly upon the place and have seen , and observed , the successe● that have been had by it , in very strang● and weak Cases , and some not unlike thi● of your Sons ; therefore , before you leav● this Country , pray advise with Dr. Pierce , who came hither for his own Health , an● hath been a constant Inhabitant here , fo● more than Twenty Years past . Her Ladyship not well knowing what new Course t● take next , having tryed so many before and this being a last Refuge , and willing to d● the utmost to save an only Son , hearkene● to his Advice ; and after she had diverte● her self a while at Mr. Samuel Ashes , ( a Brother of Sir Josephs ) and perhaps sent , th● while to have her Husbands consent , cam● back again to Bath , and then I was call●● in to the young Man's assistance , and foun● him not only seemingly Consumptive Thin , Pale and Hectical , and ( if I misre●● member not ) in a Diarrhaea , but also relaxed in his Joynts , growing aside in his Body and crooked in his Leggs ; to help which they had put him all in Armour , Cap-a-Pe●● Iron Bodise , half Boots , with a Sprig of Ir●● ●o keep in his Ancles from turning outward , and the same at Knees , from turning inward , with a device , to allow for the bending of each Joynt , both braced on with Leathers , which being drawn together with Laces , were brought to what Straightness they thought fit , or he could bear ; without which , he could neither stand nor go ; nor with them but feebly , tho' at that time he was Seven or Eight Years old .

In this deplorable Condition , and under that uncomfortable Prognostick ; after some fitting Preparation , did we venture to bathe him , but very moderately at first , and in a very temperate Bath ; encreasing the time of his Stay , and the frequency of his going in , and the Strength of the Bath , as we found he was able to bear it . It pleased God so to succeed this bold Adventure ( for such every Body thought it ) that he got Ground upon it , and stay'd Six Weeks by it , that Season , till the Winter came on ; which he passed very well , and not only kept what he had here got , by his bathing , but in some measure improv'd it ; so much , as to encourage his Lady-Mother to bring him again the Year following , and several Years afterwards , till he recover'd Strength , got a better Habit of Body , and State of Health , and needed this Means no more . He was here in Summer , 94 , to all Appearance a healthy and indifferently well-grown Man , and a Barronet . I think he hath his Father's Name as well as his Honour , and is Sir Joseph Ash , of Norfolk . He came then for Diversion only , with his Sister's Son , Mr. Windham , of Norfolk , and stay'd but Four or Five Days .

OBSERV . V.

In a very like Case to this ( as to Weakness and Distortion of Limbs , altho' not altogether so much indisposed , inwardly ) was the Son of a Scots Gentleman , that belong'd to Duke Hamilton , Gershom Carmitchell , whose tender and careful Mother brought him hither in September , 78. supported with Irons , as is above describ'd , and very weak , and crooked in his Shins , Ancles , and Knees , and had been long under the Care and Management of those Body-menders , that take upon them to make the Crooked Straight .

He was something older than Mr. Ash ; taller I am sure , and bigger he was , and needed not so much Caution , altogether , in entring upon , and continuing in , the Baths , but after Preparation was put into the Queen's and King's-Bath , and continued it for a considerable time the first Year , with no small Advantage , and Alteration to the better ; and this caused him to come a second , and a ●hird , and I think a fourth Year , till he was so well recover'd , by outgrowing his Weaknesses and Distortions ) as to leave off ●●is Irons , and to be settled at a School , and ●fterwards was sent to the University of Glas●oe , where he remain'd in good Reputation ●n this past Year 95 , as I was inform'd by ●y Lord Arran , and the Countess of Dun●onnald , ( Son and Daughter to the now Dutchess of Hamilton ) on whom I had the Honour to attend , as their Physitian , whilst ●hey were then here at the Bath .

OBSERV . VI.

Misse Adison , from White-Haven , in Cumber●and . very lame in the Lower Parts , from ●he Hips downward , in which she had not ●he Sense of Feeling , much less the Power of Motion , when she was first brought hi●her by her Mother to the ●ath , ( which was ●ome Years ago ) but by slow degrees , be●ng brought hither several Years following , ●●e got Warmth , Sense , and some Strength ●n them , so much as to be supported with ●rons , which she was not capable of using ●t first .

She was ( by often bathing , and some Inward Means withal ) at length enabled to leave them off , as well as to put them on , and to have no farther Need of the Bath . What afterwards became of her I do not know , but her Father , I heard , remov'd from White-Haven , to some Imployment in London . The last time I saw her at the Bath , was in 91.

OBSERV . VII .

A little Son of Coll. Farwells , of the Tower , about Five or Six Years of Age , was sent to the Bath , and recommended to my Care by Dr. Gideon Harvey , ( Physitian to the Tower ) in May , 91. Being sent for to him , by the Nurse that came with him , when he first came to Town , he was sitting upon a Table , when I came in , and appear'd to me so well , as if nothing ail'd him ; he look'd so plump and fresh , and very well colour'd ; but when the Nurse set him down , there appear'd not only a Weakness at the Small of his Back , but Contraction of all his Lower Limbs , from the Hips downward ▪ insomuch , that they were so far from supporting him , that he could not , of himself extend a Leg , nor suffer it to be extended to its due length , by another . He would crawl up and down upon a Table , or the Floor ; being active enough , and willing to play ; but , not having a ready Use of his Lower Parts , could not , but was Scramm'd , drawn up altogether . He eat and drank , and slept pretty well , and seem'd to be recover'd of all Inward Illnesses , and other Remainders of the Rickets , except this of his Lower Parts .

After a whiles rest , and some Preparation , we put him into the Bath , at first twice a Week , afterwards every other day ; at length four days in the Week , and sometimes every day , except Sundays ; ( when the Baths are shut up ) and all this was done without any great Disturbance to him . In the first Month or six Weeks there was very little sensible Alteration to the better ; at length we observ'd that he could erect himself a little ( and truly but a little ) more than at first , and suffer'd his Legs to be drawn out , in the Bath ( which we made the Guides do ) with less Complaint than formerly . After Ten Weeks Stay he return'd , and got Advantage by degrees , insomuch , that when he came hither the second time ( which was with my Lord Lucas , in August , 93. he was able to run about , and to play at Trap , and Top and Scourge , with the Boys . He bath'd then also , and took Physick between whiles , and continued it till my Lord's Return , which was not till October following . He manifestly got Ground this second time , whilst he was here , recovering a more expedite Use of his Lower Limbs , and standing more upright . What Improvement hath been made since I have not heard , but do presume , and hope that ( if no accident , or other Illness intervend , and that he went on as he began here ) he may , by this time , be perfectly recover'd , and I the rather think so , bec●use they have not sent him hither a third time .

Many great , and remarkable , Instances more might be here given , of Children's Recoveries , by the Help of the Bath , out of these , and other such Weaknesses ; concomitant with , and consequent to , the Rickets , and particularly that which they Vulgarly c●ll Liver-grown ; when they are tought , and big-belly'd , and Hardness remain upon the Region of the Liver , Spleen , or Mesentery . Many in such Cases , by bathing in the Cross-Bath , and taking Inwardly some Aperitives the while , have been perfectly recover'd of these Distempers , as well as Lameness , and Crookedness in Body , and Limbs .

Many have been sent hither , with Success , to promote their Growing only .

H●r Grace , my Lady Dutchess of Beaufort , hath formerly sent several of her Children hither upon that very score , and one of her Grace's Grand-children , my Lord Marquess of Worcester's eldest Daughter , was here two , if not three Summers following , by Her Lady-Grandmothers Encouragement .

CHAP. XI .

WIth this Tenth Chapter , I should have ended this first Book , but that I find it needful to add an Eleventh , tho' a short one . There having been ( in the preceeding Observations ) frequent Mention made of pumping , and applying the Mudd of the Bath , it is necessary that something be said of both these , before I go on to the Inward Use of these Waters , by drinking them , which will be the business of the Second Book . And first of Pumping .

SECT. I.

Before Pumps were erected , they use● Bucketting , which was perform'd , by taking up Water in Buckets , nearest the Springs by the two of the tallest , and strongest o● the Guides , who stood close upon the largest Spring , and lifting up the full Bucket as high as they could , they let the Wate● fall leisurely upon the Part affected , by which it was thought that greater Impression was made , and the Warmth , and Virtue of the Water , reach'd farther in , tha● bathing alone could do , even in the hottes● Places of that Bath . This they usually did in Sciatica's , Palsies , Cold and Wither'd Limbs ; Stupors , Dullness of the Head , Deafness , &c. After the Pumps were brought into Use , this way of Embrocation ceased the Water coming by them more immediately from the Spring , and therefore hotter ▪ and with more intire Virtue , and falling with equal , if not greater , Force upon the Part affected , and consequently penetrating farther , and carrying in the Efficacy and Virtue of the Water into the most Innermost Parts .

After Pumps had been for some Year● used , in the Baths only , it was found inconvenient for those that had hot Entrals , and were subject to Gravel and Stone in the Kidneys , and to Women that were apt to Vapours , to bear the Heat of the Bath , and Pumping together ; therefore an Expedient was found , by raising the Water somewhat higher , to pump the Extream Parts ( the Head , and from the Knees downwards ) without going into the Bath at all ; and this was call'd Dry-Pumping , because the rest of the Body remain'd dry , whilst the Head or Feet , &c. were at the same time sufficiently embrocated . In what Cases it hath been , and is usually , thus employ'd the foregoing Observations , have in some measure already shewn . But in Cases of violent Head-ach , removable by no other Means ; Deafness from Colds , taken in the Head , &c. it may be convenient to add some few Instances ; and first of the long-continued Head-ach .

OBSERV . I.

The Lady Viscountess Stafford , ( a Descendent of the great Duke of Buckingham , of that Name ) came hither in August , 68. with my Lord her Husband ( of whom mention is already made , both in the Preface , and in Chap. 2. Observ. 4. )

Whilst my Lord bath'd for his Lumbag● , my Lady , after due Preparation , pump'd her Head for a most inveterate Head-ach ▪ which had ( for many Years before ) been very afflictive to her ; being seldom , long together , free from it . Her Ladyship first try'd it in the Bath , but both at a time was more than could well be borne by a Person of so weak and tender a Constitution , as was her Ladyships . She usually therefore drank the Waters in the Morning , and sat under the dry Pump at Night ; and thus she continued to do three or four times a Week , all the time they stay'd here , and was greatly advantaged by it .

OBSERV . II.

A second , in the same Circumstances , was an excellently good ( as well as a fine ) Lady , then Lady Roberts , afterward Countess of Radnor , and now Wife to the Lord Cheynie ; being greatly afflicted , came hither with my Lord her Husband , in August , 73. and then try'd what the Pump would do towards her Recovery ; but my Lords Business calling him away too soon , her Ladyship could not use it long enough , to produce any considerable Effect , and therefore came again the next Year , and had ●en but a Fortnights time , ( whilst my Lord ●ank the Waters at Castle-Cary , for the Re●ainders of a Colica-Pictonica ) . This very ●orthy Lady ( to dispatch her Affair the ●oner ) drank the Waters every Morning , and ●●mp'd her Head at the Dry Pump every Night ●hich her Ladyship bore better than I ex●ected , and had great Alleviation by it .

OBSERV . III.

Mrs. Bowler , of the Isle of Wight , a very ●eak and infirm Woman , came hither in ●ugust , 88. and had ( among many other , ●nd great Complaints ) so violent a Pain ●nd Weakness in her Head , that she could ●ot endure the least Noise or Motion in ●er Chamber , without great Disturbance ; ●er Head seeming to fly in pieces , as she sually express'd it . her kind and tender ●usband , who with no small Difficulty , ●nd Trouble , brought her hither , sent for ●e to advise concerning her , being encou●g'd thereunto by his very good Friend , ●nd mine , Sir Robert Holms , then ( and long ●●ter ; to his dying day ) Governor of the ●le of Wight , I was not a little troubled ●hat Course to take with her ; she needed both drinking , bathing , and pumping , but had not Strength to comport with either . By gentle degrees therefore was she put upon all , but stuck mainly to the latter , pumping ▪ upon her Head , first in the Bath , afterwards at the Dry Pump : She not only bore it well , being thus manag'd , but , at long run , receiv'd so much Benefit by it , that she return'd home ( for that Season ) so much advantaged , that she came again a second , and a third time , and was at length recover'd to a great measure of Ease and Health , tho' her Life was often dispair'd of , in this long continued , and deplotable Illness of hers .

SECT. II. Pumping for Deafness .

So much for Head-ach , I shall now give an Instance or two of Deafness , from Cold Causes , cured by Pumping , and then proceed to the last thing , proposed the Use of the Mudd .

OBSERV . IV.

William Warner , Esq from Bandon-Bridge , in the Kingdom of Ireland , came hither in May , 82. to take Advice , and use the Bath , ●●r several Distempers , but chiefly for a very ●●eat Difficulty of hearing , which was ( for ●ome Years before ) settled upon him , and ●ad , of late , greatly increased ; insomuch ●●at he could hardly hear at all .

He first used Means proper for the other ●ymptoms he complain'd of ; and at length ●uck to the Pump , both in , and out of the Bath ; ●y which he manifestly recover'd , and con●nued to hear much better , till after a Re●●rn a while into his own Country ; and ●assing there one Winter or two , the Deaf●ess return'd , as he afterwards told me in ●89 . when the Dispersion from Ireland was so ●reat , that he , with many others , upon ●nall warning , were forced to fly into Eng●and for Refuge ; and so ourning with a Gentleman , near this City , all the time of his Banishment , was so kind , as sometimes to ●isit me .

OBSERV . V.

Mrs. Hughs , a Gentlewoman , from ou● 〈◊〉 Wales , between Thirty and Forty 〈…〉 Age ; came hither in June , 91. so very 〈◊〉 ●hat they that conversed with her were for●●●●o do it by Signs , and to have 〈◊〉 Tongues at their Einger-ends . She used 〈◊〉 Pump a great while , before she found any kind of Alteration to the better , but a length , ( using Inward Means withal ) sh● got , by degrees , a Competent Hearing , bu● then though her self well too soon , and return'd home with half her Errand .

Whither she improv'd in it afterwards ( as was her Hopes , and many , in diver Cases , do ) I never had the Opportuni● to know .

Thus much of the Use of the Pump , the● remains nothing now , to finish this fir● Book ; but to say something of the Mu●● of the Bath , which also hath ( in some Cases a considerable Use , besides that of Gildi● Silver , and making Bath-Guineys ( as the● call them ) of new Mill'd Shillings , which also it effectually does . In many Case this Mudd is apply'd by way of Catap as●● ( as in some of the foregoing Observatio●● is in imated ) but chiefly in hard whi●● Swellings , and Contractions of the Limb ( where it may be conveniently apply'd or where a Cullus or Slimy Matter is wedg into a Part or Joynt ; or when Wind 〈◊〉 stends it , and so causes a painful , and hi●ders a due and ready Motion of that Limb

It hath been useful also in Scurfs , an● Scall'd-Heads ( as they vulgarly call them when a hard , and scaly Scab over-runs t●● whole ( or part of the ) Scalp ; the Appli●tion of this Mudd , like a Pultesse , till it ●ow dry , and then washing it off with the ●ath-Water , and applying fresh warm Mudd ; ●r some considerable time , greatly promotes ●e Cure of these unseemly Distempers .

To be more particular in the several Cases bove instanced in , would be to leave no ●om for a second Book , which is design'd ●r like Instances of Cures done , chiefly 〈◊〉 drinking these Waters . To which we ●ow hasten .

The End of the First Book .

Bath Memoirs : OR , OBSERVATIONS IN Three and Forty Years Practice , AT THE BATH .

WHAT CURES Have been There Wrought , by Drinking these Waters , ( chiefly ) by God's Blessing on the Conduct and Directions of Robert Peirce , Dr. in Physick , and Fellow of the College of Physitians in London , a constant Inhabitant of Bath , from the Year 1653. ( when he came thither for his own Healths sake ) to this present Year 1697.

The SECOND PART .

BRISTOL : Printed by and for W. Bonny ▪ and H. Hammond , Bookseller at Bath , and the Devizes ; and are to be Sold by most Booksellers in London , and the Country , 1697.

Bath Memoirs , BOOK II.
CHAP. I. Of Water-drinking in general .

HAving , in the first Book , given Instances of Diseases cur'd here , chiefly by Bathing , I come now to do the same , of Distempers ●emov'd chiefly by Drinking these Waters : Tho' many ( and most that now come hi●her ) usually do both , yet have I known ●ome ( and those not a few , of late Years ) ●hat have drank the Waters several Weeks ●ollowing , and not entred the Bath at all , ●nd have gone hence well recover'd of the Distemper they came for .

Now because many People ( and some very knowing Persons too ) have looked upon it as a new thing , and but of late brought into Use ; I think it not inconvenient to premise some Account , when , and how , and how long , the Bath-Waters hav● been drank ; and next , briefly to recite ( i● general ) what may be expected from a●● orderly , and regular , Course of Drinking 〈◊〉 them here , upon the place ( which two thing shall be the Business of this first Chapter )

Afterwards I shall proceed to give Instances of particular Recoveries , in severa●● D●stempers , that have been had , in m● time , under my Conduct and Directions by the drinking of these Waters , chiefly as I have done in the first ●ook , by thos● attained by backing 〈◊〉 ●nd first .

1. Water-drinking i● general hath bee● more used in this last Age , then it was i● many before ; and indeed Medicine , an● Medicinal Processes , have been lyable t● the Change of Fashions , as well as Cloath● and Coaches , Meats and Drinks . The●● is scarce a County in England , that hath n●● now a Medicinal Water , that is not , at som● Season of the Year , frequented ; and som● there are that have been formerly famous , an● are now neglected , and scarcely any mention is made of them ; witness the once famous Water of Wellingeborough , in Northamptonsh●re , whose Reputation hath been indee● the more lessen'd , by having Astrope , neare ●●o Oxford ; which last was found out , or ●●rst reputed , by Dr. Willis ; and is since ●rown so Famous as ( almost ) to Emulate Tunbridge its self .

There is , Eastward , from hence ten Miles , ( in Wiltshire , three Miles from the Devizes ) at Seene , a Chalybeat Water , fully ●●s much ( if not more ) impregnated with ●he Mineral , as is that of Tunbridge , yield●ng as deep ( if not a deeper ) Tincture , as ●hat , with Oaken Leaves , and Bark , or Gauls . ●nd for Two Miles Eastward , from thence , ●here is scarce a Spring ( and some Ponded Water also in the little Ditches , on the South ●de of the Hill , as far as Poulshott and Pot●ru ) but Partakes of the same Mineral ; ●nd give a like , but fainter , Tincture .

We have also Southward from us ( about ●6 or 18 Miles ) a Purging Water , not in●●riour to that of Barnet , North-Hall , or Ep●me ; it is at Awford , near Castle-Cary , in the County of Somerset , which was first disco●er'd by Mr. Thomas Earl , Minister of that ●lace , and communicated to me in the year ●670 , by Letters ; which Letters I have still ●y me . Upon his Request I made tryal of 〈◊〉 and encourag'd the Use of it . I made 〈◊〉 known first to ( my good Friend , and Fel●w-Labourer in the Drudgery of a Riding ●ractice ) Dr. Highmore , of Sherborne ( which is within Seven or Eight Miles of the Well ) as we met abroad with a Patient , with whom we were joyntly concern'd , and who needed such a Purging Water . He and I both sent several Patients'to it ; and he sometimes went thither himself , at the Drinking Season ; so that it became , for a time , very Famous , and was , ( and is sometimes , to this day ) sent for , and sold publickly , as low as Exeter and Plymouth , even to the Lands end ; for they bear Carriage very well , and keep ( in an open earthen Vessel ) a considerable time ; but stopt close , they stink in a few Days .

At length the Promiscuous Use of it , in all Cases , without due Preparation , Care , and Caution , render'd it injurious to some Consumptive Persons , who dying ( almost upon the spot ) lessen'd the Reputation of it , tho' very good Use , hath been since , and was before , and is , and may be still , made of it . It hath been often sent for hither , and great Advantage hath been found by it , especially in Bilious Gholicks , and the usual Effects of them , Loss of Limbs : These Waters a while drank , and the Bath regularly used after them , never yet fail'd to perfect a Recovery in that Case .

But it may be thought , by some , that the mention of these last Waters may be foreign to our present Business ; but when they consider that I do it , to shew how possible it is that a Water once famous , may lose its Reputation , and the Use of it be discontinued , when others creep up in the room of it ; and that it is as possible that any one so defam'd , may again recover its lost Reputation , and may become as famous , if not of more Use , than it was formerly ; they may alter their Opinion .

Indeed I think this to be the Case of the Bath-Waters ; for that they were drank above an Hundred and Twenty Years ago , appears by a Book of one Jones , a Physitian ; ( which Book I have by me in 4to . Printed at London , for Will . Jones in he year 1572 , intituled the Baths of Bathe's Aide ; and dedicated to Henry , Earl of Pembrooke ) in the 28th . Page of the day ; the Manner and Quantity , &c. to which Book I referr the Reader , that desires farther Satisfaction in this particular . I heartily wish it may not ( but I am much afraid it will ) be so again ; that the Irregular , Unseasonable , and Unadvised Use of them , ( which too many are already guilty of ) and Drinking of them at distance , do not again diminish their Reputation .

But as to the Antiquity of their inward use , this I know ( and did at my first coming to live here ) by the Information of the ancientest People that were upon the Place ; and that were Born and Bred here , ( and there were two , a Man and his Wife , one or both of them , Bath Guides to the King's-Bath ( Newmans by Name ) that made Ninescore between them ; for what one wanted of Fourscore and Ten , the other exceeded . )

These People lived , and were conversant about the Bath , long before any Pump was set up ; they , and many others of great Age asserted , that these Waters had been drank time out of Mind , for two Purposes , ( i.e. ) to quench Thirst , and to keep Soluble . They that used the Baths for cold Distempers , as Palsies and withered Limbs , &c. were forced to continue long in them , and to sweat much , which rendred them both Thirsty and Costive ; to both , which the Waters were a known Remedy ; for it had been long observed , and is now very well known , that a draught or two of the Bath Water quencheth Thirst better , and more effectual then double the quantity of Beer or Ale , or any other usual Beverage ; and when by spending the moistures in long and much Sweating , the Bowels were heated , and dry'd , ●nd rendred Constipate : a large draught of ●his Water , with a little common Salt , would infallibly give a Stool or two . This was then ( and long before had been , ●one could remember when it began ) the ●ommon custom of Bathers , which I my self ●ave been an Eye-witness of , above three●core years ago . ( being a School-Boy here ●ome time , before I was sent to Winchester ) 〈◊〉 have seen others Drink , and have drank ●●y self of it , not from the Pump , nor from ●he Water that People Bathed in , but from 〈◊〉 Contrivance which had been erected , ●ime out of Mind , before any Pump was ●hought of ; and no Body then living could ●ell when it was first set up .

It was a Pyramidal Stone , ho low in the ●iddle , artificially placed over one of the ●arger Springs , on the South-East part of that Wooden Conveniency , now standing in the King's Bath , and was taken away to make ●om for that Structure , ( and great Pity it ●as that ever it was remov'd . )

A Square Wall was made about this ●pring , the hollow of which was about 18 ●nches Diametre , and near upon the same Depth . The Top Stone had a Mortice ●roportionate to the Tenant of the Pyra●idal Stone which went in , and held so close , that none of the Extraneous Water ▪ could get into its hollow ; and the Strength of the Spring was so great , that it forced its self up thorough the Cavity of the Pyramidal Stone , which was a Foot and more above Water , when the Bath was at fullest . This Water discharged its self a● a Copper Spout , about three Inches above th● highest Water-mark , and to this Spout som● set their Mouths ; and drank ; others pu● Cups , and received the Water sincere from the Spring , and used them to the purpose● before mention'd .

This was the chief , and usual , Inward Use the Waters had been , and were put to when I first came hither , for my own Health sake , in the Year 53. But there were som● Physitians , even then , ( chiefly those tha● had travell'd , and had been at Aken , in Germ●ny , Aquisgrane , ( Aix la-Chapell , the Fren●● call it ) and at Bourbon , in France , an● some that had conversed with them , tho●● they themselves had never travell'd ) tha● encouraged the Inward Use of them , 〈◊〉 sweeten the Blood ; but the Advice wa● taken , and follow'd then , but by very few

Sir Thomas Brown , of Norwich , my worthy good Friend , with whom I had the Honour to correspond by Letters ; after th● Death of those autient Physitians I found here ( many Years before he himself dy'd ) ●n a Letter to me , bearing date , July 12th . ●677 . in which he recommended to my Care , Mrs. Bridget Reade , of Suffolk , and ●roposed her Drinking the Waters , as well ●s Bathing , for a Chlorosis , Cachexia , &c. had ●hese Words .

‛ If my old Friend Dr. Bave had taken more Notice of my Counsel , the drinking of the Bath Waters might have been in Use long agoe ; for above thirty yeare since I writt unto him , to bringe the drinkinge of them into Use , accordinge to the custome of many other Baths beyond-Sea , which he very well knew , but would not hazard his Credit in such a new Attempt ; which notwithstanding had not been an Innovation , but rather a Renovation , or renewing a former Custom .

Amongst others , that greatly encouraged ●he drinking of them , was Sir Alexander Fray●er , chief Physitian 10 King Charles the II. He waiting upon His Majesty , and Queen Katherine , in 63. ( whose Court was then ●t my House , the Abby , in Bath ) I had the Advantage of being first known to him , ●nd it was the first time that ever he had been here . He then made several Enqui●ies concerning these Waters ; and writ to ●he afterwards about them , to which Letters I gave answer ; he at length concluded , that they were from the same Mineral , with those of Bourbon , where he had formerly been waiting on the Queen-Mother , and whither he had sent many Patients ; but now resolv'd to send all that needed such a Remedy , to this Place , and save them the Expence , and Hazard of a Voyage by Sea , and a long Journey afterwards by Land ; for that he was fully convinced , that these Waters would do as well as those , and perhaps better , because in our own Climate , and therefore , probably , more suitable to English Bodies . He from that time sent several Persons ( and some of great Quality ) hither , and recommended them to my Cate , and came at length himself with his Countryman , the Duke of Loutherdale ( purposely to drink these Waters ) in the year 73. The Duke , for more than ordinary Corpulency , and Scorbutical Distempers ; and he himself for an old Cough , and Cachectick Habit of Body , and both went off much advantaged ; the Duke loosing a large Span of his Girt ; and Sir Alexander getting more Breath , and a fresh , and better colour'd Countenance ; being pale , and sallow , and black under the Eyes , when he first came down . It was he that occasion'd the erecting of the little Drinking Pump , in the middle of the King's-Bath , but done at the Charge of the City , from whence most , if not all , of the Water , that was , about that time , drank , ●as for . But afterwards ( the number of ●ater-Drinkers greatly increasing , and the ●enefit by it being more remarkable ) the ●●y Pump ( as it was till then call'd , but ●●ce the drinking Pump ) was fitted purpose●● to that use , and the Pavement made be●●re , it , for the Reception , and better Ac●●mmodation of the Water-Drinkers , as it is 〈◊〉 this day .

And here by the way it may be observ'd , ●at these Waters were thus drank long be●●e Mr. Guydott came to the Bath , or ever ●●w it ; tho' he Arrogates to himself the ●inking of them ( in his Epistle to the Pre●ent , and Censors of the College , prefixt to ●s Thermae Britannicae in these Words ; ‛ Me●thodum bibendi istas aquas Thermales , secun●dum Artis & Rationis regulas primitus à me ●excogitatam ( verbis absit invidia ) where it ●●uld have been said , Verbis abest Verritas . ●t this En-passant .

2. The second thing I promised , before came to particular Instances , is briefly to form what ( in the general ) may be ex●cted from an orderly ▪ and regular Course 〈◊〉 drinking of them , and in what Particu●s , they seem to have the Advantage of the cold Waters , that are now , mostly , in Use .

They do , then , all that the Cold Waters can do and somewhat more ; they correct all Saleness , Sharpness , and Sowreness of the Blood , and Nervous Juice ; they open Obstructions ; and therefore are useful in all Cachectick and Scorbutick Habits of Body ; in Co●lick Pains , Rheumatisms , and Couts , of all sorts ; Sharpness of Urine , and Eruptions on the Skin . In short , it sweetens the Blood , and Nervous Juice , in all Cases effectually , and Attempers both ; any way degenerated from what naturally they ought to be .

Their usual Operation is betwixt those of Epsam and Tunbridge ; for whereas the former purges most , and the latter passeth chiefly by Urine ; this commonly gives two or three Stools extraordinary , and passeth the Remainder by Urine . Yet they have a different Operation upon different Bodies with some it purgeth most ; for I have had some Complaints , that they have wrough● too much by Stool ; with others too little but there is great odds in the manner o● drinking of them . If they are drank very fast and come not up again , they purge most and pass soonest ; if taken slowly , they ar● longer ●n passing , and are discharg'd mostly by Crine .

When the Stomach and Bowels are chiefly in fault , a quick Passage is best ; when the whole Mass of Blood is to be alter'd , a slow Passage does most good ; so that if the whole Quantity drank in a Morning , be either , or both ways discharged before more be taken , it may better answer the end it was drank for , than a quicker Passage would do .

Next ; these warm Waters have three considerable Advantages over the Cold ones . First , Their actual Heat makes them more agreeable to the Stomach ; and Secondly , They have a Balsamick Healing Virtue , which none of the cold Waters can have ; and Thirdly , They may be drank at all Seasons of the Year .

They help ( with other Means ) to cleanse , and open the Obstructions of all the Intrals , particularly the Spleen , Liver , Pancreas , and Mesentery , and therefore fit to be used in Hypochondraick Melancholy ; Jaundies , Scurvy Schirrous Tumours , lest after long Agues and Feavers , ( vulgarly call'd in these Parts , Ague-Cakes . ) Their Balsamick Virtue makes them useful in Inward Ulcers , Erosions , and Excoriations . And they certainly strengthen the Nerves , and Nervous Parts , Inwardly taken , as well as Outwardly apply'd , and therefore in Nervous Asthma's ( as well as humorous ) very useful .

There is this also considerable in the Bath-Waters , which makes them fit to be drank at all Seasons , and in all Weathers that they are always the same ; the greates● Glut of Wet doth not make the Spring larger , nor the longest Drought lessen it So that it may be from thence argued , tha● the Mineral is not more diluted by Rains and consequently the Water made weaker nor heightning by Droughts , and thereby made stronger , which is the Case of man● of the cold Waters , of both sorts ; bot● the Purging , and the Diuretick ones .

I have lived in this City constantly no● more than three and forty Years , in which time there have been many and great Alte● rations of Seasons , and Excesses both as t● wet and dry ; by the first frequent Floods and Innundations ; by the second , such sear city of Water , that Cattle have been forc'd to be driven some Miles to a River , to b● water'd ; all Ponds , and lesser Rivulets , being dry'd for some Months together , and some Springs , and Bucket-Wells within few Miles of this place have fail'd , that were not known to want Water in many Year● before ; yet in neither of these immoderat● Seasons , by the strictest Observation I could make , or could be observ'd by the Bath Guides , whose Business it is to empty and cleanse the Baths , and stop them , that they might fill again ) there did not appear the least Difference , but in the wet Seasons , the Bath was not fill'd a Minute sooner , nor in Droughts was it longer in filling . A manifest Demonstration , that the Source of these Waters ( whatever other Springs have ) is not supply'd from Rains , or any Extraneous Moistures , and therefore not likely to be considerably alter'd by them . I have known them drank , as well in the midst of Winter , as in the height of Summer , and with equal Success ; as will appear in some of the Cases hereafter mention'd , upon which I think it is now time to begin .

CHAP. II.
OBSERV . I.

AND that I do with one so singular ; that I hardly knew to which of the following Heads to referr it : It best suits indeed with that of the Palsie , and should have been there inserted , but that this Cure was perform'd by drinking these Waters , and not by bathing .

The Case is that of Capt. Oliver Nichlis , ( afterwards Lieut. Coll. and formerly ( when very young ) Page to the Duke of York , and after that , one of the Gentlemen of His Majesty's Bed-Chamber , when he came to be King James II. ) He was Captain of a Company ( I think ) in Queen Dowager's Regiment , when he was first committed to my Care , which was in July , 1680. by a Letter from his Father , my very worthy Friend , and old Acquaintance , Maj. Nichlis , of Awborne , in Wilishire , and then Governour of Portsmouth . I may spare mentioning the Causes of his Distempers ( tho' the old Gentleman did not in his Letter to me ) and give only the Effects , viz. in what Circumstances he was when he came first hither .

His Left Arm and Hand were numb'd and deadish , and therefore well-nigh useless ; and all that side , indeed , more Infirm than the other . His Mouth was drawn to one fide ; his Left Eye almost sunk into his Head ; his Memory decay'd ; his Speech imperfect ; insomuch , that few could understand him , nor could he write legibly . He had not Strength in his Right Arm and Hand , to throw the Jack-Bowl half over the Green ; not could he get on Horse-back without help . All these Weaknesses were the Effects of very strange and violent Fits ( between Epi●●tick and Convulsive ) of which he had had ●●ry many , and was still lyable to the Re●●rns of them .

One thing in those Fits was peculiar ( and ●ay excuse the placing of it before the Pec●ral Distempers ) that one side of the Thorax 〈◊〉 I think the Left side ) would be lifted up ●onsiderably higher than the other , and so ●ontinued till the Fit went off ( which was ●ot quickly ) and no sign of breathing all ●●at while . He had been under the En●avours of several Physitians before he ●●me hither ; first , and chiefly , Dr. Wallgrave , ●●terwards had a Consultation of four more , ●yn'd with him , Sir John Michlethwaite , Dr. ●●ower , Dr. Short , and Dr. Stockeholme , whose Directions were brought down with him , for ●●y better Information ; which I perused ; ●nd after a Fitting Preparation , put him up●● drinking of these Waters ; which he did ●ixteen Days following , they agreeing , and ●assing , well with him all that while ; he ●covering some Strength , as well as Sto●ack . The Weakness of his Limbs ( he ●inking it long before they were restor'd ) ●ut us then upon bathing of him , but that ●o way agreed with him , taking away ●hat little Appetite he had before recover'd , ●●y drinking the Waters ; so that we gave it off , after he had been but twice or thri●● in , and return'd to the Inward Use of the●● again , which he kept steady to ; and taki●● some Alteratives , and gentle Evacuatio●● between while ; in Three Weeks or a Mon●● longer found a manifest Advantage ; getti●● Ground of all his Symptoms .

He could get on Horse-back witho●● help ; and left us with a Resolution to ●●turn to the same Means the Year follo●ing ; but finding himself daily better a●● better , deferr'd it to the year after that , a●● came in July , 82. He came the third ti●● in July , 83. the fourth time in September 8●● and in September again , 85. and in Augu●● 86 , and in May , 87. All which times 〈◊〉 drank the Waters three Weeks , when lea●● sometimes a Month or more . He on●● drank them One and Thirty Days follo●ing ; and very seldom bath'd , unless som●times for half an Hour , to wash himse●● He was here twice in 87. with the Ki●● and Queen , in October , being then in Wa●●ing ; whither he then drank , I cannot say .

Seven several Years I am sure he dra●● them ; and always upon the place ; and st●● improv'd more and more . He had a pe●●fect Exemption from his Fits the first tim●● and recover'd his Strength by degrees a●terwards : Insomuch , that he was at leng● marry'd to the Lady Moneux , and was here with her Ladyship in July , 92. ( for her Rea●on only , and not his ) he himself being so ●ell as to tell me , he wanted but two things ●n all the World ; of which , Health was not ●one . I was told by a Kinsman of his , last Summer , that he then continued healthy and well , and lives now at Greenwich with his Lady ; who ( tho' she had Miscarry'd more ●han once , and for that her Ladyship came then to the Bath ) had not yet brought him a Son , which was one of the two things he wanted .

And now having begun our Water-Drinking with this Exemplary Cure , ( for ●indeed it deserv'd to be one of the first upon that very score ) we now proceed to the ( more properly ) Pectoral Distempers , the Diseases incident to the Parts contain'd in the Thorax , the Middle Cavity , and there first those incident to the Instruments of Breathing , the Lungs ; such are old Coughs , Asthma's , &c. and afterwards what more immediately concerns the Heart , to wit , its Palpitation , &c.

In my more than Forty Years Practice , which I have exercised in this Place , I have had several under my Care , in all the three Degrees of Difficulty in Breathing , the Dysp●aea , Asthma , or Orthopnaea ; and these , some Humerous , some Nervous , some mix'd tho' most that we meet with , are of th● last sort , viz. partly Nervous , partly Humerous . In all these the Waters have bee● very helpful ; and it is not without reaso● that , probably , they should be so ; for i● the Humerous Astma , when tough and vi●cous Phlegm , inpacted in the Bronchia Pu●monum ( whither falling from the Head , a● some suppose , or strain'd thro' the Bloo● Vessels in the Lungs , as others think . ) Fo● tho' Defluxions have been exposed under th● harsh Title of Deliramenta Catarrhi , becaus● our most accurate Anatomists ( with whic● this last Age indeed hath not greatly abounded ) have not found a direct Passag● for those Rheums from the Head , to the Lung● yet there are no mean Men that think , tha● the whole Texture of the Body is Vascular ; to which Opinion , the great Father 〈◊〉 our Faculty , Hyppocrates , encourageth , whe● he saith , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ( transpirabile , & transfluxibile ) In a living Body , all Parts are permeable by Wind and Water ) were it not so , how can we account for th● sudden Metastasis of Morbifick Matter , whic● we often see ?

If we allow the first Matter of this tong● Phlegm , not to come from the superiou● Parts , but to be strain'd through the Bloo● Vessels in the Lungs , by the Laxeness of ●hose Vessels , and the Acrimony of the Blood : ●r whither the Nerves that serve for the ●otion of the Lungs , be Relaxed , or other ●ays enfeebled , or Convulst ? Which of ●hese ways ever it be , those Waters may do ●onsiderable Service , by rectifying the ●lood , and Nervous Juice ; by diluting that ●ough and Viscous Matter , impacted in the ●ungs , and consequently fit it for easier Ex●ectoration . And in the Nervous Case , when either from Weakness , or Convul●ive Motions ( as in a Suffocating Catarrh ) of the Nerves , the breathing is deprav'd , or impeded ; then by strengthning those Nerves and Nervous Parts ( which cer●ainly these Waters do , both Inwardly , and Outwardly used ) they become advantagious also , and if so they cannot but be helpful two , when from a mixed Cause .

These are , I think , the usual Causes , assign'd for Pectoral Distempers ; yet before I end this Chapter , I think I shall give an Instance of an Asthma ( and one of the highest Degree I ever yet saw , at least by Fits ) that proceeded from neither of these Causes .

Reciting the Observations I have in these Cases , made ( where ( as in all the rest ) you are to expect bare Matter of Fact , but in true , tho' plain terms ) I shall begin with an Honourable and Worthy Person .

OBSERV . II.

The Lady-Dutchess of Ormond , ( Grandmother to the present Duke ) aged more than Sixty , when recommended to my Care ▪ by Sir Alexander Frayser , and Sir Charle● Scarborough , in September , 73. Her Grace came hither for a long continued Cough , and Asthma , and bore her Journey down but ill , insomuch , that she could not begin the Use of the Waters in some Days after she arriv'd here , but was forced to be set upright in her Bed , Day and Night , in which Place and Posture she at length began upon them , and that but in small Quantities at first . But bearing them well , and with some Advantage , we increased the Dose by degrees ; and passing them better than was expected , she drank them on , for a Month at least , with little Intermission , and with so much Relief , that she expectorated more freely , and could lie down in her Bed ; her Appetite encreased , she rested pretty well , and could , sometimes , walk the Chamber , and into her Dining Room , long before her Grace went hence ; and bore her Journey back without great Complaints .

Passing the following Winter ( the Sea●●n in which such Distempers usually re●●rn and increase ) much better than others ●●fore . Her Grace came again the Sum●er following in June , 74. and several ●●●es afterwards ; in August 76 , and in the ●●me Month , 77. Her Grace was here a●in in 83 , still to continue , and improve ●hat Advantage she got at her first coming .

OBSERV . III.

Mr. Comin , from Chelmsford , in Essex , ●ged more than Forty , was recommended ●o my Care , and sent hither for Cure in July , 72. by one Mr. Swallow , a Physitian ●f those Parts . He was highly Scorbutical , Hydropical , and Asthmatical . He was very ●ike to die upon the Road ; forced to stay ●pon the way at several Places ; first , at Lon●on , where ( if I remember well , he told me ) ●e consulted Dr. Browne . Next , at Braynford , and there sent for Dr. Bedingefield , of Thistleworth . He stay'd also at Reading , where he had the Advice of Dr. Meara .

They all diswaded him from coming forward ; one telling him that the Bath would kill him , being pernitious in a Drop●ie , and not beneficial in the Asthma .

He was indeed prodigiously swell'd fro● Head to Foot , but maugre all , he woul● proceed , and did ; and at length ( tho' wit● great Difficulty ) got hither , but under suc● Circumstances , that I wish'd him back again doubting that he would disrepute the Plac● and Means , by dying here . However , a●ter Vomiting , and Purging him , and supporting him with Cordials , ( wherein Aq● Asthmatica Quercitani was a chief ; and Aq● Raphani composita bore a sh●re also ) I p●● him upon Drinking these Waters , whic● passed sooner , and better than could te● have been expected , considering that he could use little or no Exercise wit● them , by reason of the Shortness of h● Breath , the Weakness and Bigness of h● Limbs and Belly . But beyond Expectat●on he got Ground daily , of all his Symptoms , insomuch , that having caused h● Cloaths to be taken less , and procuri●● Shooes of a smaller size than those he brough● with him , he could walk , and breathe fre●ly : He got an Appetite , even upon h● bathing , which usually lessens it , for the pr●sent ; he therefore interposed that wit● Drinking the Waters , and was by both manifestly reliev'd ; so that in Six Weeks , 〈◊〉 Two Months time , he went back , recover'● to a miracle . He came a Season or tw● afterwards , but rather to confirm what he had got , than upon any new occasion .

OBSERV . IV.

The Lady Mary Kirke , about Forty Years of Age ; for many Years past subject to a most severe Asthma , even to the highest Degree of it , an Orthopnaea ( being often forced , many Days , and Nights following , to keep up in a Chair , or to be bolster'd upright in her Bed ) she drank the Waters here upon the Place , several Years following , with great Advantage , insomuch , that in the Winter , 93. her Ladyship had few or no Returns of those severe Fits , which usually ●eiz'd her in Cold , and Wet Seasons . She came down ill indeed in Summer , 94. but ●t was by an unhappy Accident ; a Fire happening in , or near the Inn where her Ladyship lay in Marlborough , which forced ●er out of her Bed in the middle of the Night ; which Fright ( for she was subject to Hysterick Fits also ) and Cold together , ●ut her into a great Disorder ; yet after a Weeks time she recover'd it , and set upon ●he drinking of the Waters , as formerly , and ●athed sometimes by my Lady Elizabeth ●ittleton's Encouragement , who said ●●e was recover'd of an Asthma , chiefly by bathing , which few else ( that I have bee● concern'd with ) can say ; she did well , and went away that Year also much advantaged And now whilst I am looking up thes● scatter'd Observations , to put them int● some Method , in order to the publishing o● them , Jan. 21. 1695. I received a Lette● from her Ladyship , in which she says , tha● for the whole Winter past , ( which to ever● Body else hath been very severe , and a●● complain of , but her self ) she had not so muc● as felt an Oppression at her Breast , muc● less a Cough , that kept her from sleeping or a Meals Meat : that she went out in a●● Weathers , and stay'd sometimes till Nin● a Clock at Night , and rests not the worl● for it .

Her Ladyship came last Summer also , 95● and stay'd till the latter end of October , an● bathed , even in the H●t-●ath , as well as dra● the Waters , and did very well with it .

OBSERV . V.

Sir Edmund Vallers , Knight-Marshall aged 62. was sent hither , and recommended to my Care by Dr. Shert , and Mr. M●lens , the Chyrurgion . He had an Ulcer upon his Leg ; upon the well nigh healing u● of which , he became Inwardly indisposed was Scorbutically affected , and Asthmatick . He came first in June , 82. and drank the ●aters with no small Success , both as to his Inward Indispositions , and the Eruption of that ●ot and sharp Humour in his Leg. The ●●●matick Fits return'd not so often , ●or so violently as formerly , and the Ulcer ●as less painful , and almost skinn'd over , ●o it had been a Trouble to him for ma●y Years before ; the drinking of these Wa●rs abating the Acrimony of the Humour , ●●d lessening the Quantity ( they passing ●ell both by Urine and Stool . ) He bathed ●●so his Leg in his Chamber in some of the ●●th-Water , every Evening , after the first ●eek ; and this disposed the Ulcer to ci●●trizing .

He that year , return'd very much better , ●●t as his second Coming , for he was ●●re Two or Three Years following ha●●ng drank the Wat●rs ( and done as at the ●●t time ) for a Month or Five Weeks , ●●th like Success , as we all thought . Whi●●t the Humour formerly discharged at that ●●uption in his Leg , return'd upon his Lungs ? ●●o ' he was purg'd between whiles : ) Or ●ther the drinking of the Waters had in●ased the quantity of his Blood ( though what 〈◊〉 discharged seemed proportionate to wh●● 〈◊〉 drank , or whither ( which is most likely ) his taking a more than usual Freedom with 〈◊〉 Friends , at going off ? ( for he had determin● his Return the next day . ) He was seiz'd 〈◊〉 the Night with a violent Asthmatick Fit , somuch , that I was call'd up in haste ; a● other Endeavours not succeeding , a Chyr●●gion was sent for , who took from his A●● about Twelve Ounces of Blood , and 〈◊〉 ( with what Means he had used befo●● brought him out of that Fit , and rend●● him so well , that he prosecuted his Jo●●ney next Morning , and got safe , and 〈◊〉 home , without any Return of the Ast●● by the way .

OBSERV . VI.

A very worthy and good Lady ( wh●● Name I conceal , because I have not 〈◊〉 Ladyships Leave to make it publick ) ●●●tween Thirty and Forty Years of A●● came hither in August , 93. very much disposed ; being ( from Troubles and 〈◊〉 quiets of several sorts and from an H●●ditary Disposition to such Distempers ) a little Scorbutical , Hydropical , and A●●matical .

Her Ladyship had been under the D●●tions of a very worthy Person of our session , in her own Country , as we●● 〈◊〉 several of the Colledge of Physitians in ●ondon , but still remain'd lyable to the Re●rns of the same Symptoms , under which 〈◊〉 had , for some Years past , labour'd ; ●●d therefore came to drink these Waters , as 〈◊〉 a last Refuge .

Her Ladyship quickly began upon them , ●●d as soon perceiv'd Benefit by them . After Fortnights Drinking , I permitted her Lady●ip to use the Cross-Bath , which agreed so well ●●th her , that she was troubled that she had ●●t gone in sooner . It had indeed a diffe●●t Operation upon her , than it used to ●●ve upon most others ; for whereas with ●any it hinders ( next day at least ) the ●●ssing of the Waters ( by heating the Bo●● , and diverting the Serosities to the Pores 〈◊〉 the Skin ) it promoted it in her , and gave 〈◊〉 much more Lightsomeness , and Free●●m , in breathing ; so that henceforward , 〈◊〉 the whole time of her Stay ( which was , ●deed , too little ; but a Month in all ) her ●●dyship drank and bathed Alternis vicibus ; ●●d found so much Advantage by it , that 〈◊〉 came earlier the next Year , about the ●ginning of May , and stay'd longer ( Three ●onths , or more ) and had greater Advan●ge by it . I have observ'd the same Ef●●cts , from moderate bathing , the better pas●●g of the Waters by Urine , in some others , 〈◊〉 not in many .

OBSERV . VII .

Mrs. Mary Whitaker , a Virgin , aged Thir●ty-nine , from Potterne , near the Devizes , 〈◊〉 Wilishire , came hither , May 2. 1681. Sh● had been troubled all the Winter befo●● with a violent Cough , insomuch , that ●●spit Blood ; in January she was seiz'd wi●● the Falpitation of the Heart , to a great degree so violent , that she inconsider'd all her oth●● Symptoms , and look'd upon her Difficul● of Breathing to be the Effect of that , whe●● as it seem'd to me to be more likely , th●● the Nervous Asthma , for such I think he to have been caused the Palpitation , ●●ther than the Palpitation caused the Asthm● ▪ The Cough continued still , but became mo●● violent in April , but with little Expect●tion . When she came hither she was ●●ceedingly short-breath'd , and wheesed , 〈◊〉 they vulgarly term it here , when the W●●pipe makes a Noise in Breathing . Up●● stirring never so little , especially up Sta●● she look'd black in the Face like one h●● strangled , and her Heart beat , as if it wou●● come out of her Body .

She was always Hot and Feverish , sw●● much , and had a quick and labouring P●●● Most of these Disorders were upon her bef●●● ●ame from home , but they were greatly in●reased in , and after her Journey , ( though ●ut a short one , of 14 or 15 Miles ) so that ●●e was not fit for any , but refocillating ●leans , to palliate the most urging Symp●●mes ) till after two or three days rest .

She had been l●t Blood before , and there●ore would not permit it to be done a second ●ime ; tho' I thought she needed it very ●uch , and therefore urged it , with some ●arnestness .

I began with gentle Pills over Night , ●nd caused her to drink the Waters next ●orning . The Pills , after Three or Four Days , were left off , and the Waters taken ●lone , on with Sal-Prunella . This she con●●ned to do , but with Pectorals between ●hiles , and Raregoricks , for her violent Cough , ●nd Weakness , a Month or Five Weeks , ●nd was by it perfectly recover'd , and is ●ive to this day , for ought I know ; I am ●re she was in October , 94. when I had a ●●tter from her , and I have since , by enqui●● heard , that she was alive , and well .

OBSERV . VIII .

Sir Robert Cravon , Knight , Nephew to 〈◊〉 Earl of Cravon , Master of the Horse to ●e Queen of ●●●mia , in the 40th . Year of his Age , came hither in September , 72 , fo● a stubborn Asthma , that had eluded sever● rational Courses of Physick .

He was a comely Gentleman , of a middling Stature , well shaped , large chested fresh and well colour'd ( except when in 〈◊〉 Fit , of a Ruddy Countenance , and in th● Intervals of his Asthmatick Fits one woul● have judg'd that he had ail'd little or nothing . He had been under the Care of th● most eminent Physitians , both at the Haga● and at London , and was at last sent hithe● to try what these Waters would do fo● him . There was sent with him a State o● his Case , which I have still by me , but no● Name to it , nor can I recollect , if he did tell me , who it was from . He soon began upon drinking these Waters , and had dran● them , with little Interruption , Three Weeks or a Month ; and , as he and we all thought with no small Advantage ; for he had seldomer his Fits , and could walk a Mile o● two . Presuming upon this seeming Amendment , his Lady and he walked one day to the farther end of Lansdowne , which is Two Miles from this City , and were surpriz'd with an Approaching Storm ; to avoid which , they return'd home ward faster then ordinary ; he put himself , by it , into a great Heat , but brought not presently his Fit upon him . He was wet also with part of the Storm , which ●ell before they could reach quite home ; his gave him a Cold ; that renew'd his Fits , ●nd put him into a Fever , of which he dy'd , ●fter Ten Days , or a Fortnight , I was ●orced to leave him to the Care of another ●hysitian , being sent for to a Patient in the Country . His Case being very unusual , and ●aving puzzled most of the Physitians that ●ere concern'd with him , I was , at my Re●orn , which was the same day he dy'd , ve●y importunate to have him dissected , which , 〈◊〉 length , I very hardly obtain'd , of his La●y , leave to do .

What was most remarkable in the open●ng of him , in reference to the business in and , was as followeth .

1. It was the fattest Corps I ever yet ●aw open'd ; cutting near an Inch thick in ●at , all down the Breast and Belly : All ●he Intrals prodigiously Fat , yet was he not ●●t all Ventricose .

2. The Heart , and all the Vessels from it , over'd with Fat.

3. But what was chiefly observable , as 〈◊〉 our purpose , was that upon throwing ●ack of the Sternon upon his Face , the bet●●r to examine the Pectoral Parts , there ap●ear'd a large flap of the Glandulous Flesh , ●nd Fat , intermixed , of more than a Hands breadth , and half , in length , and of th● breadth , and thickness of an ordinary Plum● Hand . This Flap lay upon both Lobes o● the Lungs , and cover'd them , at least where the Lobes divide . Raising it up , I found i● did not adhere to the Body of the Lung● but seem'd to be the Thymus enlarged .

4. There was also about Two Inches above the Heart , round the great Ascending Artery , a Substance which ( at first view ) look'd like another Heart , and almost as big but upon farther Search was found to be a Callous , as well as Clandalous Substance , interspersed with Fat , ( as was the former ) a● big as Three or Four large Wallnuts , which after it was dry'd in a Paper in my Pocket for I kept it a long time to shew it , and 〈◊〉 at last , by lending of it , lost it ; It weigh'd , after it was thus dry'd , and look'd like Glue , above an Ounce . This encircled the great Artery , without compressing it , and seem'd to be an Accresceney to it ; for when it was so dry'd , there remain'd a Cavity in the Mass , thro' which the Artery passed , and all look'd , almost transparent , like so much Glue .

Riverius ( in his Praxis Cap. de Palpitatione Cordis ) says , that such like Tumors , and Tubercles , upon the Arteries , are one cause of the Palpitation of the Heart ; and instanceth out of Galen de Lacis affectis , that such a ●e was found in Antipatrus , the Physitian ; ●●d says farther , that Dodoneus also observ'd ●●e like upon the great Artery . It is worth ●●nsidering whither the Convex part of this ●●bstance might not compress something the ●●onchia , where they divide , and so add to ●●is Asthma .

In short , I at last cut off the Trachea Arte●●a as close to the Throat , as was possible , ●nd took out the Lungs and Heart , and all ●●gether , and with a small pair of Bellows , ●ew up the Lungs ; which when I did mo●erately , that Flap kept equal upon both ●obes , but when I gave a greater Blast than ●rdinary , it fell in between the two Lobes ●f the Lungs ; which I thought gave reason ●o conjecture that to be the Cause of his ( otherwise ) unaccountable Asthma ; which ●y Fits he had to the highest Degree ima●inable , not only upon taking Colds , but ●pon talking carnestly , or laughing , or any ●udden Commotion , and would look black ●n the Face , like one more than half strangled .

I once dined with him , in my own House , ●at Sir James Long's Table , when in the midst of Dinner , upon talking freely , and laugh●ng , he fell into a Fit , and rose from the Table . I went out with him into the Hall , whence ( after a little whiles striving , without out any considerable Expectoration ) he return'd back into the Dining-Room , as well as when he first sat down , and made an end of his Dinner .

Could this have been known to have been the reason of those Fit , nothing but often Bleeding , and Purging , and half Starving , could have been his Remedy . There were more ( and those considerable ) Observables in the opening of this Body , that manifested too much nourishing , but they appertain not to the present Subject we are upon .

OBSERV . IX .

Sir Henry Andrews , of Laftsbury , near Newport-Pagnal in Buckinghamshire , aged 71 , came first to the Bath in 87 , for a Scorbutical Asthma . His Lady had formerly been here , and drank the Waters with Advantage for an old Cough , and more than an Inclination to a Consumption ; of which she , at length , dy'd . The Relief she had , for a time , put him upon the Tryal of this Remedy ; which he did the first year with so much Success , that he came again year after year for a considerable time , and would have gone on so to do ( having still had Relief by it ) had no other accidental Illnesses rendred him weak , and unable te bear so long a Journey .

He was alive ( but very feeble ) in November , 94 , as I understood by his Servant , whom he commanded to see me , he then sending him into these Parts .

He bathed as well as Drank the Waters ; his Lady drank only . He had , besides his Asthma , the Morphew , upon his Back , Breast , and Shoulders ; and some Weakness in his Limbs also .

OBSERV . X.

The Lady Marchioness of Antrym , in the Kingdom of Ireland , aged 62 , was sent hither in July , 92 , and recommended to my particular Care by my good Friend , Dr. Theodore Collidon . Her Honour had been troubled many Years with a Cough , and Shortness of Breath , and was , ( in many Circumstances ) as the Lady Dutchess of Ormond ( before mention'd ) but not altogether so bad .

Her Ladyship drank the Waters mostly , bathed but seldom ; continued here Five or Six Weeks ; and being much advantaged , went back to London , and was so well the following Winter , that she was encouraged to come a second time , which her Ladyship did in May , 93. and prosecuted the like Course she had done the year before , with equal ( if not better ) Success .

Her Ladyship went directly hence int● Ireland , to her own Seat at Antrym , from whence I had the Honour of her Rement brances , and an Account of her continuing well , by a Servant of hers that came h●● ther in Summer , 94. to drink again these Waters in a Pectoral Case also ( a confirm'● Phthisis . ) He assured me , that her Honour continued the Benefit she here receiv'd th● Two Years before ; and acknowledged he● better Health to be from the drinking o● these Waters .

OBSERV . XI .

A worthy Citizen's Daughter of London Mrs. Sherwin , a Virgin , between Thirty and Forty Years of Age , having lain under a Complication of Distempers , many Years before , came at length more that once , to the Bath . She was here in May 79. and took the joynt-advice of Dr. Baynard , and my self . She was Scorbutical , Asth matical , Hydropical , and Hypochondraick . But the Pectoral Distemper , at length urg'd most , and became a manifest Vomica Pulmonam . She discharged , by the help of these Waters , vast quantities of Corrupt Faetid Matter by easie Expectoration , which for a while greatly palliated , but could not cure , her Disease ; for in October , 83. she dy'd near London , under Dr. Baynard's Care , who as at the Dissection of her Body , and gave ●●e some Account of the Observables in it , ●mongst which chiefly , the monstrous big●ess , and the corrupt State of the Liver , and the total Decay of the very Substance of the Lungs ( which was one Bag of Puru●ncy ) appear'd to be the Cause , both of ●er tedious Sickness , and her deplored Death .

Many more Instances might be given upon 〈◊〉 this Head , but it would then enlarge too ●uch what is intended only for a Specimen ●f Recoveries here gain'd .

CHAP. III. Of the Palpitation of the Heart .

THE next Distemper of the middle Region , ( the Cavity of the Breast ) ●hat our Water-drinking hath been concern'd ●ith , is the Palpitation and Trembling of the ●eart ; of which Disease , Physitians have ●onjectured very different Causes .

1. Some thinking it to be from the unqual Consistence of the Blood ; for when ●he Grumous Parts are passing thorough the Ventricles of the Heart , in the Circulation , there is more struggling requir'd , than wh●● that which is thinner , and of equal Co●stence , is carry'd on , without Interruptie●

2. Others referr it to Vapours , affecti●● those Nerves that are more immediately co●cern'd in the moving of that noble Muscle .

These two Causes may probably a count for the occasional Tremblings , a Inordinate ( and seemingly Convulfive ) M●●tions , of the Heart , and the intermitting the Pulse , or the Irregularity of it .

3. What is constant , and more freque● hath been ascrib'd to a Polipus , ●enerat in one or both of the Ventricles ; whi●● way ever it be , I have had very signal I●stances of this Symptom ; and some ha●● had considerable Recoveries here , thou●● others have not been so successful , yet sh●● I not forbear to mention , even them al●

OBSERV . I.

I shall begin with one of the worst ●o● ( I think caused by a Polipus ) who had n●● much Advantage whilst he was here , a●● his Relations gave me little , or no account 〈◊〉 him , after he went hence . It was the S●●● of one Mr. Potterell , an Apothecary of Okeha●● in Rutland-shire ; who 〈◊〉 about Four Yea before they thought fit to send him hithe was seiz'd with a violent Pain in his Head ; from whence it fell into his Knees , and other Joynts , and sometimes into his Bowels ; it would , in a moment , move from Place to Place ; at length , a strange and unusual Palpitation of the Heart seiz'd him , which held him a considerable time before he came hi●her . This Symptom had alter'd the shape of his Ribs , ( especially on the Left Side ) and Sternon very strangely ; for they bulged out to a great bigness , as if designedly done , to enlarge the Cavity for the freer moving of the Heart , being confin'd before ; the Motion indeed was very inordinate and strange .

It was not chiefly for this that his Pa●ents brought him hither , but for the Weak●ess of his Limbs , which the Rheumatism had seft upon him . He was about 14 Years of Age , and came in July 74. After Preparation he bathed , but that did not agree so well with the Inordinate Motion of his Heart , as it did to the Feebleness of his Limbs , it rather increased it ; I therefore put him upon drinking of the Waters , which did not do so very well neither , because he could not use due Exercise after them , yes some allay it did give to that ( I thought the more considerable ) Symptom .

They had try'd all manner of Means before to no purpose , and therefore allow him the longer time of Stay here , to try th● utmost of this ; which he follow'd for Fiv● or Six Weeks , as his small Strength woul● permit , but I cannot say , with much Apparent Success nor can I remember well wha● ( or whither any ) Account was afterward given me of it . But the Motion of his Hear● was so very great , and so surprizing ( as 〈◊〉 if had been a Dog or Cat pent into a Room and forcing a way out ) that I could not for bear the mentioning of it .

OBSERV . II.

Likest to this was the Case of Mr. Georg Harrison , ( Son to Dr. Harrison , Master 〈◊〉 St. Crosses , near Winchester ) aged 18 or 19 His Father and Mother came with him hi● ther in Summer , 92. He was then a Stu●dent in Oxford , of Corpus-Christi-College He had been from his Infancy subject t● Coughs , and Asthmatick Distempers , occasion'd ( as I was inform'd since by some o● his Relations ) by his Nurse , her patting upon him a Quicksilver-Girdle for the Itch which she her self had ( or suffer'd other to do it ) infected him with , when ver● young , and sucking at her Breast , and probably without acquainting his Mother , or any of his Relations with it . This laid the Foundation of a great deal of Illness ; in his Pectoral Parts , especially , which renew'd every now and then upon slight Occasions . At this time ( and for some Months , if not Years , before ) he had a great Palpitation of the Heart , and Difficulty of Breathing , especially upon any Motion of his Body , more than what was very easie ; he could not bear the Agitation of a Coach , much less endure the Trotting , or Ambling , of a Horse , but had often chosen to perform large Journeys on Foot , rather than adventure the Disturbance of either . In this Condition he arriv'd here ; and my Advice being desired , I put him upon drinking of these Waters , after due Preparation , which he went on with for a Month , or more , with that Advantage , that his Breath was freer , the Palpitation well-nigh ceased ; he could ride home , and did , and from his Father's House to Oxford in a day , from whence he wrote me a Letter of this his Recovery , which continued the following Winter , and till he came a second time , the Spring following ; and after that a third Season , to confirm rather the Advantage he at first obtain'd , than upon any new Occasion , or Relapse .

OBSERV . III.

Richard , Earl of Tyrconnell , in the Kingdom of Ireland ; was advised to come hithe● to drink these Waters , by Sir Thomas Wither●ly , and Dr. Wallgrave , ( afterwards Sir William . )

His Lordship came hither in April , 86. and by a Letter , from the last mention'd recommended to my House for Lodgings and to my self for Advice . He had been a long time , Hypochondraick and Scorbutical , but for some Months past ( especially in the preceding Winter ) was seldom free from the Palpitation of the Heart , and an intermitting Pulse , and a decay'd Appetite , and ill Digestion ; which greatly dismay'd him . After the tryal of several Remedies ( particularly a long Chalybeat Course ) they sent him hither to drink the Bath Waters ; and the earlier in the Year , because his Lordship was appointed to go for Ireland in Two or Three Months for which reason ( that he might lose no time ) I presently order'd his Lordship Quercitan's Tartar Pill , over Night , and to drink two Quarts of the King's Bath Water next Morning . He did this Three or Four Nights following , which prov'd a sufficient Preparation for his fatther drinking of them alone , without Pills , which he did , but increased the Quantity , by degrees , to Five Pints ; and at last to Three Quarts . His Lordship continued thus to do ( interposing now and then a gentle Purging , and but Two or Three times bathing ) Five or Six Weeks ; and at the end of which time he went hence chearful and well , and with a good Stomack ; the Palpitation almost wholly abated , and the intermitting of his Pulse scarcely discernable .

OBSERV . IV.

Coll. Charles Norwood , aged 66 , having been , to a considerable Age , a strong and healthy Man , and jolly enough ; was in the King's Army in the time of the Civil War ; and after the Return of King Charles II. imploy'd abroad ; was Governor of Tangier , for a while ; but not long after his Return from thence , gave over Marshal Imployment , and lived upon his Estate . Whither by his living in Africa , ( a hot Country ) or some other Accidents , he had several Indispositions upon him , amongst others , this of the Palpitation of the Heart in a very great measure , so that it became very troublesome to him , and he apply'd himself to several Physitians for the Removal of it ; and was at length advised ( or enclin'd of himself ) to drink these Waters . He came hither in Summer , 78. and desir'd my Assistance , in directing him how to manage himself in the Use of them .

After due Preparation ( by Bleeding , Purging , &c. ) he began upon them , and drank them about Ten Days , and would then needs try how the Bath would agree with him , having some uneasiness in his Limbs , ( at least as he pretended , being willing to try all things . ) Bathe he did , tho' I foretold him , it would rather increase than diminish that Symptom for which , chiefly , he came hither . He found it too true ; gave it quickly over ; and return'd to his Water-drinking ; which in a Month , or Five Weeks time , remov'd the Palpitation ; got him a better Habit of Body , which was continued for some considerable time : But at last he was seiz'd by a Quartane Ague , which stuck long upon him , and at length left many ill , Scorbutical Symptoms behind it , for some of which he made an Issue in his Left Arm , to which a very great Quantity of Sharp and Virulent Matter tended , much more than could be discharged at that small Orifice ; and therefore brake out all round about it ; for which also he came again to this place , but to little or no purpose ; it became at length Chyrurgeon's Work , and he often went from one to a●other , till at long run , it mortified and ●ill'd him .

OBSERV . V.

Though Mrs. Mary Whittaker , and Mrs. Elizabeth Wayte , have been both already mentioned , the first in the preceeding Chapter , of the Asthma , Observ. 7th . The other in the first Book , in Chap. 9th . Observ. 3d. where instances are given in Green-Sickness , &c. yet may they both be deservedly mentioned again , having both ( with other Symptomes ) this also in a very high Degree .

Mrs. Whittaker had it so violently , that to this day , she believes it to have been her chief Distemper ; and made her to inconsider Cough , Asthma , and all other her Complaints , and to lay the blame upon this only ; and though Mrs. Wayte was not unsensible of her Tyryness , and Dispiritedness , and want of Stomach , &c. yet would she very often , and much , cry out , upon this Troublesome , and dismaying Trembling , which she always had at her Heart , but especially when she stirred never so little . However they both ( as hath been already in due place said ) were very well recovered by these Waters , of this Symptome also , with the rest they then laboured under .

More particulars might be here also added , but these few may suffice to shew what these Waters have done in this Case , as west as in many others . We therefore proceed to a

CHAP. IV. Dropsie .

HAving dispatched the Diseases incident 〈◊〉 the Parts contained in the Breast , 〈◊〉 come next to those of the Lower Region , the Parts contained in the Abdomen , and there first of the Infirmities of the Liver , the chief of which will easily be allowed to be the Dropsie .

Though Physicians have always forbidden Spoon-meats , as well as much Drink ; nay suspected even Liquid Medicines in Hydropical Cases ( which , by the way , gave occasion to the humorsome Dr. Butler of Cambridge , ( as is storyed of him ) to give the following ( then thought extravagant ) Advice to a poor Patient , that had not wherewithal to pay his Apothecary's Bill , that he ●●ould go home and not drink in a twelve-●onth ; the poor Fellow being willing to ●●e well , did so , and at the years end came ●erfectly recovered , and thanked Mr. Doctor ●or his good Advice . ) Though , I say , Li●●ids have always lain under a Suspision , in ●ydropical Distempers , yet I am not without ●ome instances of profuse Dropsies recovered ●●y drinking these Waters , and bathing , mode●ately , between whiles .

OBSERV . I.

I shall begin with a Tipling Butcher of ●his City , one of the first Patients I had , af●et my coming to reside here ( for young Beginners in the Practice of Physick , must ●ay the Foundation in Charitable Cures . ) His going too often to the Ale-house , rendring him unable to go longer to the Market , to buy fat Cattle , he turned Sherriffs Bayliff , ●nd then drank on upon the poor Prisoners Cost , till at length he had distended his Carcass , as much as he had before extenuated his Stock . He was swellen from Head ●o Foot , by an exquisite Ascites , and Ana●arca , and ( as is not unusual in that Distemper ) was excessive thirsty ; the more he ●rank , the more he craved for Drink , and the less he discharged by Vrine . I prescribed first some cheap Hydragogues , among which you will easily Guess Jalope to hav● born a considerable share ; after thus Purging ( indeed chiefly to save the Charge 〈◊〉 an Apothecaries long Bill , as well as t● quench his Exorbitant Thirst , which th● Bath water infallibly does in all Cases beyond any other Liquor . ) I put him upo● drinking these Waters , which past so we● by Urine , that in Ten days he apparent●● got Ground , by loosing Girt ; and thus r●● peating , once a Week , his former Purg●●● in about six or seven Weeks time , he wa● reduced to his Pristine Shape . Then o●dering him some ( not very chargeable ) Bi●ters , to strengthen his Entrals , dismist hi●● perfectly Cured . He held so a Year 〈◊〉 two , if not more , I think two or three But Oh! The dear love of Drink , he we●● on with his beloved Tipple , till he ha● brought himself to the same pass as before and without consulting me again , the Apothecary and he repeated the same things and was recovered the second time ; and after that a third , if not a fourth , till a● length he had ( with his continued drinking and some Bangs , and Bruises , to which Bayliffs are liable when they arrest Debters so corrupted his Entrals , that he dyed o● an inward Imposthumation . His Nam● ●as George Russel , he hath some Relations ●●t living here , he was upwards of Forty ●●en he became my Patient .

OBSERV : II.

Though Mr. Comin of Chemlsford in Es●●x . be already mentloned amongst the Asth●●tick Patients , yet he cannot well be here ●ft out ; for indeed it was a moote Poynt , ●hither he was more Hydropick or Asthma●●ck , only it may be said , that the Dropsie 〈◊〉 his Breast might aggravate , if not cause ●●is Asthma .

He was indeed exceedingly swellen from Head to Foot , and was recovered by Ba●hing , and Drinking these Waters ( as is ●lsewhere more at large related ) beyond all Expectation of those he came from , and of ●s he came to ; and sooner then his , or our , ●orwardest hopes could have suggested to us . He continued free , a great while , from any Relapse , and may be yet alive for ought I know .

OBSERV . III.

Mr. Treagle a Grocer in Tanton , about Forty Six Years of Age , having been a long time Hydropical , Scorbuticai , ●a●hectick , and Nephratick ; and finding no Advantage 〈◊〉 the Courses he had been put upon at hom● was Counselled to come hither , and R●commended to my Care , by a Friend 〈◊〉 his , a Gentleman of those Parts , one th●● had the Year before , been my Patient h●● and was then High Sherriff of the Coun●● He accordingly came in May , 55 , with h●● Leggs and Thighs greatly swellen , and 〈◊〉 weak as hardly able to support himself 〈◊〉 He had large , red , and livid Spors in both 〈◊〉 made very little Water , and that highly Ti●●ctured with Cholar , as in the Jaundice . Hi● Countenance , and Whites of his Eyes , sharing in the same discolour , and under all thi● horribly Desponding , and Melancholy . I● these Circumstances , I scrupled at his Bathing , fearing his Liver was not sound , i● which Cases the use of the Bath is not s●● justifiable a Remedy . But he coming ( as he , with some earnestness , urged ) purposely for it , was in haste to be admitted to it . And for Drinking the Waters ( which I as earnestly pressed ) he had been too much used to Strong Ale and Cyder , ( and sometimes Wine and Hot Waters , I doubt , to keep up his Spirits , ) to be casily perswaded to so insipid a Liquor . However I did at length , with some Difficulty prevail for a Weeks Deliberation upon Bathing , and in that time , purged him , made 〈◊〉 to take of an opening Apozeme , Cha●●●●ats , Hopaticks , and Antiscorbuticks , and the ●aters between whiles .

These Things changed his Countenance ●●d the Colour , and quantity of his Water 〈◊〉 some Measure ; and then ( though some●●●ng sooner then I would ) into the Bath 〈◊〉 would go , and did , but not into the ●●●it●st parts of it , and thus ( continuing Al●●●atives , and Deoppilatives , and now and ●●en a Purge , ) Drinking and Bathing be●●een whiles , he mended also the Shape ●●d Colour of his Leggs ; got Strength in ●●em , and returned ( at Five or Six Weeks ●●d ) to his own Home , very much advan●●ged in all Respects . To continue the Be●●fit already received , he carryed some of ●●e same Remedies with him , and Directi●●s for a Diet-Drink , which he thanked me ●●r some Years after .

OBSERV . IV.

Much in the like ( if not a worse ) Con●●tion was one Mr. Appletree , an Inn-keeper 〈◊〉 Crookhorn , in the South part of Somerset●●●re , commended to my Care by Dr. Tur●●rvile , the Famous Occulist . He was about ●0 Years of Age , and was brought hither in May 56. He had , besides the Sympto● mentioned in the last Observation , a viole●● Cough , and his lower Lymbs were more 〈◊〉 nervated , insomuch that he could not sta●● upright ; much less go at all . He bo●● Drank the Waters and Bathed ; took Pect●rals , as well as Antiscorbuticks and Hepa●ic●● He returned after Five or Six Weeks , wi●● some Medicines with him , and came aga●●● in September following ; the better to 〈◊〉 cure his Recovery , before the approach 〈◊〉 Winter , which he past , not only witho●● Relapse , but even then got more Grou●● of all his Symptomes ; whereas former 〈◊〉 they usually increased , and were more a●flictive to him , at that Season .

Whither he came hither a third time , 〈◊〉 cannot well remember ; but I had sever●● times Information , that he continued w●●● enough to go about his Business , in a●● out of his House , and probably to Drin●● with his Guests , which he was not backward in , when well , and too much 〈◊〉 which was thought to be the cause of th●● his Distemper . How many Years after h● Lived ; and of what at length he dyed , have not been informed .

OBSERV . V.

A poor French-Man , whose Name , Age , ●●d other Circumstances , I could not get ●●e knowledge of , ( at least did not mind to 〈◊〉 it down in the Papers , out of which I ●●ck these Observations ) came hither in Ju●● 61 , ) far gone in an Anasarca and Ascites ) 〈◊〉 to a last , ( at least a cheaper ) Remedy ●●en others he had tryed before ; for when 〈◊〉 came to him , he complained how much 〈◊〉 had cost him , and in how many Hands ●e had been , and to little or no purpose , ●●d so sued , in Forma Pauperis , for further ●dvice . Before this he ( as many others of ●eater Abilities , to give Fees , and to pay an ●pothecaries Bill , often have done , and still ●o ; how discreetly let the World judge ) ●ad put himself upon Bathing , which did ●im more hurt then good , till I assisted him with my Advice , to which I was call'd by ●ome Charirable Persons that pityed his ●odiscretion , as well as his weak Condition . For since the Death of Dr. Venner 〈◊〉 which was in 60 ) I have had the Honour , as well as the Trouble , to be the Physician to poor Strangers ( a Charity of a Pr. decessor of the Present Lord Scudamores ) Yearly chosen by the Mayor and Aldermen of this City , on the 15th . of April , to who● continued Kindness I owe my more th● Thirty Years Election to that Province .

When I came to him , I soon found 〈◊〉 Error in Bathing first , and pre●ently p●● him upon Drinking the Waters , to co●● him , for he had greatly inflamed himse●● and augmented his Thirst . I also orde●ed him an Hydragogue Powder ; upon a C●py of which I find this Marginal Note ( f●● in those days , and sometime since , I ke●● Copies of some Prescriptions ) Cujus 〈◊〉 abundè d●jecit serosum humorem , & illico det● merunt manus , Pedes , & totum Corpus . 〈◊〉 short , he went away recovered ; and it 〈◊〉 no wonder that I never heard of him sinc● when so few of our own Country-Men thoug● but at small distance from us ) scarce giv● any account what Benefit they receive , 〈◊〉 how long they retain it , which I think t● be a Fault , that deserves a Reproof , an● hath been no little hindrance to the Printing of an Yearly Catalogue of what Cure have been done here , which hath been s● often talked of , even by some of those tha● have been guilty of this Omission I wa● going to say Ingratitude .

Mr. Warner ( then Mayor of the City of Winchester ) aged 50 , came in June , 77 , recommended to the Bath , and me , by Sir Robert Holms , then Governour of the Isle of Weight , and Burgess in Parliament for ●hat City . He himself had often experien●ed both , these Waters , and my Advice , ●n almost all the Cases already ( and to be ) mentioned .

He had been here when swell'd in a Scor●utical Dropsie , and when extenuated by an Atrophy , when batter'd and bruised in Sea-Fights ; when disabled in all his Lymbs by 〈◊〉 Colica-Pictonica , &c. Having both Bathed ●nd Drank the Waters , and found Advan●age to himself by both , he now advised ●his his Friend to the same Means , and As●istance . He came hither greatly infeebled ●y a Fit of the Gout or Rheumatism ( to which he had been , for some Years subject ) ●nsomuch , that he neither stood upright , ●or endeavoured to go , but with Pain and great difficulty ; his Legs and Thighs were much swellen , and discoloured with large Scorbutical Spots . He made a Lixiviate Wa●er , and that in small quantities ; had little 〈◊〉 Appetite to Meat , but drink he could more then enough .

I began with some gentle Purgatives , then put him upon drinking the Waters , and after convenient time , permitted him to Bathe ; his Legs and Feet first in his Chamber , after that , suffered him to go into the more moderate Bath , the Queens , the Heat of the King 's being apt , sometimes when indiscreetly used to inflame the Blood , and heat the Bowels , and sometimes to cause a Fit of the Gout , to those that are subject to it , by stirring the Humors , and exasperating the Blood , and Nervous Juice , but by duly preparing him , and moderately Bathing and interposing the Drinking of the Waters , he escaped that Danger , and his Swellings abated , his Pains were asswaged , and strength in his Legs and Feet were in great Measure restored , so that in less then two Months time , he went back greatly advantaged in all Respects , and continued so to be the next time Sir Robert Holmes came to the Bath , which was ( I think ) the next Year after . I have since heard ( by enquiry ) that he is still Subject to Fits of the Gout , if yet living .

OBSERV . VII .

Madam Mompesson of Upton near Batcombe 〈◊〉 Somerset-shire , aged near ( if not more ●●en Fifty , being naturally of a tender ●onstitution , and a thin and slender habit 〈◊〉 Body ; from her Childhood subject 〈◊〉 Rheumes , Catarrhs , and Coughs , and high●● Scorbutical ; her Blood hot , sharp and thin . ●he was in Winter 88 seized wi●h a sudden ●nd exorbitant Bleeding at the Nose , which ●ould not be stopped by any outward Appli●●tions , though several were attempted , in●●much , that they that were about her ( to ●●vert the course of the Blood were forced 〈◊〉 Bleed her frequently in the Arm , and ●oot , &c. hoping by taking some Blood else●here , to save the loss of a greater quan●●●y at the Nose .

It was at length , this way stay'd , but the ●●ss of so much , both by the Distemper and ●●e Remedy , had so enfeebled her Liver ; ●nd to continue the Circulation the Ves●●ls had admitted so large a quantity of ●rude Juices , that in a little time , she be●●me H dropical ; for which ( in April ●●llowing ) she was brought to this ●ace , and I was Consulted for her Reco●●ry . With this Ascites and Anasarca she had a constant Cough , and that ( by Fits ) was violent , not unlike to a suffocating Catarrh , so that we often feared , from thence a return of the Haim rhage ; but by palliative Means it was prevented ▪ and afte● some Purgings , she began to drink the Waters , and took Chalybeats , and Hepaticks with them , which course she continued till he● Swellings began to abate , and that in 〈◊〉 Months time was considerably done , th● Waters passing sometimes by Vrine more then she Drank . With the Preparation o● Steel were given milder Antiscorbuticks , and some Pectorals , which apparently lessening al● the Symptomes , and rectifying her Blood ( which appeared by the change of her Countenance , she was at Five Weeks end ) permitted the Cross-●ath , at first but half a● hour at a time , then increasing by Degrees ) to an hour , but I never suffered hi● to stay longer then that , at any time . Thi● occasioning an easie Diaphoresis , her Swellings wholly subsided , her Cough abated , her Appetite increased , and her Strength renewed . So that she returned home for a Month or two ( in the hot Season of the Year , ) and came again about the latter end of August , and renewed the Co rse above mentioned , with some Alterations , and prosecuted it for another Month ; then returned home , and past the following Win●er without any Relapse ; and the Husband ●ave me the Reputation of an excellent Doctor , for a Joynture-Wife .

She came again the two following Sum●ers 90 and 91 , to confirm her Recove●y ; after that she came no more . But in February 93 ( after Seven or Eight Days Ill●ess ) dyed of a Pectoral Distemper , suppo●ed an Abscess in her Lungs . I was sent for ●o her , but it being late in the Day , and ●t Sixteen Miles distance , and the Ways ●nd Weather bad , and not being well my ●elf , I sent my Apothecary with Directions , ●ut she was dead before he came ; dyed ca●ting up the Imposthume .

I might here add several other Instances of this kind , but I forbear , least the Book be inlarged beyond its intended Bulk .

CHAP. V. Diabetes .

THE Distemper next of kin to the the Dropsie , is by all acknowledged to be the Diabetes , and therefore call'd Hydropad Matulam , the Piss-pot Dropsie . In both one and the other an Inundation of Water overflows the Microcosme ( as Noah's Floo● did the Macrocosm ) but with this difference that in the former , by reason of its clamminess , the superfluous moistures are not easily carryed off , and in the latter , by reason of their thinness ; they run out too fast , and carry off with them , not only what should turn to nourishment ( as a Land Flood doth the Compost from a decliving Ground ) but ( as that also doth sometimes , the Mold i● self , even to the bare Rock ) this Pissing Evil Dilutes and Colliquates even the Flesh and Solid Parts , and with them ( in little time too , sometimes ) runs out even Life i● self . 〈◊〉 I do not remember that in any of the Works of the Founder of our Faculty ( the Divine Hippocrates ) any mention is made o● this Disease : and no wonder , for in the Age he lived , great Abstinence and Modesty was used , and unmixt Dyet , and Milk and Water their chiefest Beverage . What comes nearest to this Distemper in his Works is in the third Section , De morbis popularibus , whose Title is Constitutio Temporis Pestilens ; where he says , that some ( in that Disease he was describing made more Urine then they Drank , not by a Critical Evacuation , but with Colliquation , Disturbance and Payn , and yet no judgment of the Disease follow'd . This therefore seems to be a Symptome only of that malignant Feaver he there treats of ; and not the true Diabetes .

Our Father Galen , acknowledges that he never saw but two in this Distemper , and therefore did not think it worth his while to write of it , in his Book de Locis affectis . The Disease being so unfrequent , it would be of little or no use to young Physicians , for him to treat of it . Few others of the ancient Physicians say much of it ; but we in our Days especially in great Cities , where various Viands , high Gusts ; and forced Meats , much Wine ( and that for the most part adulterated ) are in use and frequent Debauches ( with Women as well as Wine ) are indulged ; we have found more frequent instances of this , once rare Distemper . 〈◊〉 in my time , have seen , and have been concerned with some , and heard of others ; and ( what concerns more our present Business ) these Waters also have been used ( even in this Case ) with no mean Success in the Palliation , at least , if not the perfect Cure , of this ( otherwise suddenly ) melting Distemper , as may appear by these few following Observations .

OBSERV . I.

The Right Honourable Robert Lord Brook ( whose Case hath been talked of , all the Nation over , and on which , all the Physicians then living ( of any considerable Note ) in this Nation , first and last were consulted about ) fell into this Distemper about 72 , and was under the Care and Counsel , of the , then most eminent Physicians in , and about London ; two or three , and sometimes more , together in Consultation about him ; yet by Intetvals , it returned upon him with great Severity , insomuch that in three or four days time , he would not only be Faint , Weak , and Dispirited , but manifestly fallen away in his Flesh , and the Palms of his Hands would be as hard , dry and starky , as if he had wrought for his Living , at cleaving of Wood , or ●hrashing , so soon would all the moisture ●f his ( at other times succulent ) Body , be ●●ained , and an unquenchable Thirst left ●pon him ; which last Symptome was ( at ●●ngth ) the reason of his Lordship's coming ●ther ; not by the advice ( hardly with the ●nsent ) of ( some at least of ) his Physicians . ●ut his Lordship remembring , that having ●rmerly been at this Place , and by Bathing ●or possibly by Drinking bad Wine over ●ight ) he had been very Dry and Thirsty 〈◊〉 the Morning , a draught or two of the ●ath-Waters , would infallibly quench the ●ost importunate Thirst ; he proposed and ●etermined of himself , to come hither , which ●e did in July 73 , and brought with him Copies of most of the Prescriptions , for ●ose Medicines his Lordship had , from ●me to time taken , since his first Seisure , ●nd committed them to my perusual , and ●imself to my Care and Conduct , in the ●anagement of these Waters , and those Di●ections he brought down with him . His ●ordship's chief Design in coming hither ●eing to quench his Thirst , it was not long ●efore he call'd for the Waters ; even the ●me Evening he came in , and so the next Morning , and so on twice a day ; two pints ●f the Cross-Bath-Water , ( because nearest his Lordships Lodgings ) usually in the Morning , and one Pint at four of the Clock i● the Afternoon . They did not fail hi● Lordship in what he expected from them but in two or three days they manifestl● lessened his Drought and inward Heat . Bu● his Lordship still continued to make va● quantities of Water by Fits , it was thin● pale , and Crude , void of any Urinous taste● or smell , they were daily brought to m● by a Footman , or set in a Window at hi● own Lodgings , till I came down to observ● them more strictly , whether we got or los● any advantage in colour , quantity , taste , o● consistence .

One thing I observed in a Urine of hi● Lordships , brought at that time to my House , which I thought very unusual , an● is perhaps well worth farther Consideration When the Fit was upon my Lord , he seldom made less then an Urinal full at a time● ( and they held more then Pints a piece 〈◊〉 some near a quart ) there would be severa● of these sent up in a day , by a Footman● to my House , and I usually let them stan● in my Study Window , for some considerable time , to observe what alterations , tim● would make in it . After two days standing ( or thereabout ) one of the Urinals had a● the top of it more then an inch deep ) a● ●ily transparent Substance , like a clear ●arts Horn Jelly , manifestly distinguisha●●e from the Urine that was under it ; it 〈◊〉 as slimy also , and clung to my Fingers ●hen I touched it . It recall'd to my Re●embrance what I had formerly read in ●●me Institutions ( particularly Senertus Lib. I. Chap. IX . De Nutritione , & Augmentatione ) ●f four degrees of Matter made in the Ca●illary Vessels , out of the Blood , before ●t be assimulated to each part , Humor nino●inatus , Ros , Gluten & Cambium , and ●hought that this , possiby , might be some ●f these Substances washt off from the so●id Parts , by the Torrent of this Colliqua●ing Distemper , at least the Flower of the Chyle ( as Cream is of Milk. ) That others have not taken Notice of the same is , perhaps , because they have not had Patience to wait so long , and observe what further appearances would be in Vrines , if kept some time . But this by the way only . His Lordship's Thirst was in few Days quenched , and the quantities of Water by Degrees abated ; and the Medicines prescribed by the London Physicians , were sometimes used , and upon emergent Occasions , I Corresponded with all , or with one of them ( as his Lordship appointed me ) and gave an account from time to time , what effects the Medicines and Bath-Water● had . When he found himself pretty wel● of that great and formidable Symptome , hi● Lordship retired sometimes to his House a● Bremmer ( six Miles beyond Salsbury ) bu● carryed the Waters with him , and sen● for them thither once a Week . He did the same when he went to Warwick-Castle and to London . But found not that advantage by them after Carriage , and at a distance , as when drank warm , even at the Nose of the Pump , which he commonly did when he was here . Thus doing , he had still longer and longer intervals , between his Pissing Fits , and at length thought himself perfectly Cured , and imputed his Recovery to the Drinking of these Waters . He finding himself thus freed from this first and great Symptome , came seldomer to this Place , but sent every now and then for the Waters , which he now used , to prevent a Relapse only .

In November 77 , his Lordship being then at Bremmer , the Lady Dowager his Mother came thither , intending to spend the Winter , and keep her Christmass with him . Hir Ladyship had , when she came , a Cold only , as they all thought , but her Illness daily increased upon her , so that she sell desperately ill , and in few days Dyed . This ●o affrighted the whole Family , that my Lord and Lady , and their necessary atten●ance , came away immediately hither , not ●o much to Drink Waters , as to be out of ●he sight of such Melancholy Objects , as ●ust be daily before them , in Embalming , ●nd removing the Corpse of his Lady Mo●her .

When he came hither , he drank the Waters ●s formerly , more for Alteration then Evacu●ion ; complained not at all of his Diabetical Distemper , but now and then of a Giddiness in his Head , which he , and all about him , were apt to ascribe to Hypochondraick Vapors , which the Trouble for the Lady Dowager's Death , had increased upon him . But they continuing worse and worse , and being one Day in hazard of falling in the Street , I proposed Blee●ing to his Lordship ; but that having been declared against , by his Physicians in London , when he was ill of the Diabetes , he refused it , till I had Answer from Sir Thomas Wetherly , and Sir John Micklethwait , to whom he made me write : They at the return of the Post , consenting to it , and referring it to me , it was done , and my Lord was better upon it , and longer free from the Vertigo . But at last ( about the beginning of February ) he was suddenly seized , as he was at Supper , with a Faultring of h● Speech , but no Giddiness then Upo● this Alarm , a Servant was presently sent away Post for Sir Thomas Witherly , but h● came too late . Dr. Mayo ( being then livin● in this Town ) was presently call'd in 〈◊〉 joyn with me ; and Dr. Feilding was sen● for to Gloucester , who came the second Da● after this Seisure . He was let Blood agai● in the Arm ; Bleeding in the Jugula● was proposed and urged ; but refused ( Cephalicks , and Antiepilepticks were given , Glysters and Gargarisms were used , and Blyster applyed , but on the Fourth Day , abou● Seven in the Morning , after he had had an● indifferent good Night , and his Speech seemed to be considerably amended , he was suddenly seized with a violent Convulsion Fit , which wreathed him every way , and lasted half an hour or more . He was not sensible of any thing that was said or done about him , after it left tugging of him ; nor ever after that first violent Fit But the Convulsions returning every half Hour or sooner , and growing still more violent , he at length dyed in the Tenth Fit , and about Eleven of the Clock , to the great Grief of his Family , and this whole City , where he was by every Body , deservedly Honoured and Beloved .

●e manner of his Lordship's Death , I ●●ve been the more particular in , that it ●●y be known , that he dyed not of the ●●abetes ( as was reported , and believed ) 〈◊〉 of strong Convulsions .

OBSERV . II.

John Peacock a Londoner , aged Eighteen , well grown Young Man , come hither in ●●ril 75 ; after he had gone through seve●● Courses , by the Directions of several ●hysicians in London . Amongst other Com●aints , he made ( when I was sent for to ●●m ) the chief was , that he made much ●ore Water than he drank Beer , or took li●id Meats , and that by this frequent and ●rge Evacuation , he fell away in his Flesh , ●ew weak , and faint , and could get no li●●or that would quench his Thirst . I quick●● put him upon the Bath-waters , which in ●●tle time had the same Effect , as in the ●●receeding Observtion they took off ●is Thirst , abated the excessive quantity of ●is Urine , and recovered his Stomach , and ●ome Strength , insomuch that in a little ●●me and perhaps too soon , and with half ●is Errand ) he returned Back , but what ●ecame of him afterwards , I never heard .

OBSERV . III.

Sir Thomas Fowles , a Goldsmith in Flee● street London , a Banker of great Credit a● Reputation , finding himself falling into th● Disease , came hither purposely to drin● these Waters , very early in the Year 9● He came the 25th . of March , and stay'd a● April , and some part of May. What brough● him was , his often making greater quant●ties of pale , crude , and taste less Wate● then all the liquid things he took amoun●ed to ; he had wholly lost his Stomach fell away in his Flesh , and withal , by Fi● had violent Pains and Torture in his Bowels . He had , I think , ( before he came t● drink them here ) sent for these Waters home and tryed them there , but to little purpose which too many to this day doe , to thei● injury and the disreputation of the Waters , fo● they have not , and cannot have , that efficacy and Virtue at any ( though a far less distance , as they have upon the place , which many have ( and amongst others , this Gentleman ) found very true : for he in the firs● Month , found so much Advantage by them here , as to recover an Appetite , to have Ease from his Gripes , to recover Spirits , and Vigour , and by Degrees , those pissing Fits lessened , and at length wholly ceased , ●nd after five or six Weeks stay , thought himself so well as to return home , and ●here continued free from the great Symp●oms till August , when he came the second ●ime to confirm what he had got in the Spring , and the better to secure him ( as ●e hoped ) against the injuries of the approaching Winter , but stayed not then so ●ong as at first , yet went home free from ●hose great Complaints of which he was ●ostly apprehensive , and held so a consideble time .

But in November following ( by what error 〈◊〉 Accident I know not ) the Diabetes retur●ed violently upon him , and continued with ●hat severity , that in a little time it drayned ●ff all the Lympha , which rendred the remain●ng Blood to gross to Circulate ; so that ●he mean while ceasing its motion , the An●omatom left moving , and the whole Ma●hine became useless .

This account of the time of his Death I ●ad from his own Brother , and Nephew ( who ●ow keeps on his Employment in the same Shop his Unckle lived in ) Summer 95 , they ●hen being here at the Bath .

CHAP. VI. Cachexies .

PRecedanious to the Dropsie , are all Ca●ch●ies ; inveterate Obstructions o● Spleen , Liver , Mesentery , Pancreas , and Scirrhous Tumors ; yellow and black Jaundic● ( vulgarly call'd Black , though I think tha● to be but an Augmentation to the Yellow . These therefore may not be unfitly the subject of this Sixth Chapter ; for in all thes● Cases also , the Bath-Waters have bee● ( with other means ) very instrumental t● great Recoveries . I shall give a few instances upon each , and so proceed to th● Distemper of the Stomach .

OBSERV . I.

Mr. Thomas Byrton , Junior , Master 〈◊〉 Arts , and Minister of Froster in Glocestershire , aged 33 ; an ingenious Man , and on● whose Misfortune it was to be accounte● good Company , and his was therefore very often desired , and that ( with his goo● Nature ) engaged him sometimes , ( perhaps too frequently ) in what was bad Company . This brought upon him a very ill Habit of Body . He was Pale and Colorless ( or rather discouloured ) Faint , and Short breath'd ; had neither Appetite nor Digestion , Sower and Bitter Belchings , and frequent Vomitings , especially Mornings ; a constant Cough , and swell'd Leggs .

In this Condition his careful and kind Father , ( Mr. Thomas Byrton Senior , Schoolmaster of Wotton-under-edge , my old Friend , and Fellow Collegiate in Lincoln Colledge in Oxford ) sent him hither , and with him a Letter to me , and a Fee enclosed , desiring my utmost endeavours for the recovery of his Son , which was very dear to him . But he meeting here with a Knight of his Acquaintance , he perswaded him that an Apothecary would do as well , and therefore his Father's Letter was not delivered , but he submitted himself to the Apothecaries Directions , and went on with them for three Weeks or a Month , but finding ( in that time ) no alteration to the better , but rather to the worse : he bethought himself , and sent for me , June 7th . 1688. he then deliver'd the Letter , and made some excuse for delaying it so long , expressing no small Trouble , that he had but when or how , he knew not . He had often Cramps , and Convulsive Motions in his Legs and Thighs , which would violently draw them upward , whither he would or not , but of himself could never stir them .

After I had master'd a little those other Symptoms , I permitted him to bathe , ( and indeed sooner than I otherwise would , upon the Importunity of the Soldier that came to attend him ) he endur'd it better than I expected , and went on so to do till towards Michaelmas , but without any manifest Advantage to his Limbs , insomuch , that the Soldier press'd earnestly to be sent back again , seeing no Good was to be done , and that the Winter approaching , they might probably have as bad , or a worse Voyage than when they came over . I was for his longer stay , and writ both to the Doctor and the Captain , what my Opinion was , and the Reasons of it ; in answer to which they left him wholly to my Disposal , despairing of ever having him cur'd , if this Means failed , and concluding , that if he had such another Passage back as he had hither , it must infallibly kill him : so that if I thought sit to try him another Season , I was desired to assist the Soldier , in placing the Lad for the whole Winter , and send him back to be muster'd with the rest of his Company , which was done ; and the young Man left ●o the Care of a Woman , that very well ●ischarged her Trust ; I order'd her to put ●im into the Bath , when ever the Wind was not turbulent , or the weather excessive ●old , tho' it was Winter ; which she con●tantly did ; and the first Alteration that ●ppear'd was , that when he was rubb'd after ●is Sweating , he begin to be ticklish . About Christmas , ( I having for some time ●een out of Town , with a Patient in the Country , for I then attended a Riding , as well as a Bath-practice ) calling to see him ●s soon as I came home , he told me ( with ●reat joy ) that he could wagg one of his Toes ; and pulling off his Shooe and Stock●● for me to see it , he was better than his ●ord , and mov'd two or three , and in few Days after , all of that Foot , and not long ●fter , those of the other also .

In less than a Months time , after that , ●oth Sense and Motion of all the lower Parts ●●turn'd by degrees ; and he could first crawl bout the Room by the Chairs , after that ●uld use Crutches ; so the Soldier return●ng in March following as was agreed when 〈◊〉 sent him back ) found him ( to his no ●mall Admiration ) at the Door of the House ●y himself . After one Month's bathing that ●pring he left off his Cratches , and could walk three Miles in a Morning ; but the Vertibrs still kept out . And indeed I never saw those Subluxations well reduc'd , tho' some bold ( because ignorant ) Bonesetters , have here pretended to do it , particularly a Rakemaker , who boldly undertook to recover ,

2. Mrs. Unite , a Daughter of Capt. Sendamore's , in Herefordshire , a fine Woman , and of excellent Temper , who came hither in May , 90. almost in the same Condition , as is in the last describ'd ( only the sence of feeling was not quite lost in her● useless Limbs . )

She came hither by the joynt-advice of Dr. Cole , then of Worcester , and Dr. Williams , of Hereford , and Mr. Powell , the Chyrurgeon of Abergavenny ; she was by some of them recommended to my Care.

After Preparation , she had not bathed past five times , but , by this Fellow's Perswasion , she left off bathing , and our Directions , wholly submitted to his Cure ; who confidently warranted to recover her ; and in order to it pretended to set some Bones in her Feet , where there were none out ; and to reduce the Bones in her Back , apply'd Plaisters , and bound them up , and kept her in Expectation of a Cure , a Month at least , but none appearing , she return'd home never a Jot the better , ●●●t came again the next Year , and drank ●●e Waters , and bathed , and found some Ad●ntage , as to Motion and Strength : How 〈◊〉 hath been since I have not heard ; but by ●●ident , and at great distances I have learnt ●t she yet continues weak and lame , but ●●th not thought fit to try this Means far●●r , which I think she ought to have done ; if ever she be cured , it must probably be 〈◊〉 bathing , year after year , till it be per●ted .

3. A case exactly like the first of the ●●ee was in a Daughter of Collonel Wal●●s ; he being one of King Charles the I.'s ●●ges , forfeited Life , Estate , and all , so ●●●t the Children lived upon the Exhibiti●● of Relations and Friends .

She came hither for Cure in April , 65. and 〈◊〉 Advice was desired , which I was not ●nting in . The Alterations towards a Re●ery were not suddain , and consequently Expences were enlarged with her Stay , that she ran in Debt with her Landlady , 〈◊〉 was forced to send her Sister ( who ●e to attend her ) to try her Friends for ●ecruit ; which she not quickly speeding the Year was so far gone , that she was ●ed to stay the following Winter , but 〈◊〉 kept on bathing , and used a Swing , and ●etimes darnk the Waters ; and all this as the Weather and her Strength would permit . With long lying she was gall'd upon her Hips and Back , from whence came Ulcers , which when drest by Mr. Chapman , the Apothecary , ( in pure Charity , for she had nothing to pay for Advice or Medicines ) she was not at all sensible of it , though he was forced to use hot , and sharp Applications to prevent Mortification : But before her Sister return'd ( which was not till towards the Spring ) she had recover'd some Sense and Motion in her Limbs , and ( by that time she had made out her Stay to a Twelve-month , or more ) went back to London , much advantaged , tho' not perfectly recover'd , as to Ability to go nimbly ; but her Landlady going up about Michaelmas following , about hers , and some other Debts ( for her Sister had not brought enough to pay off all Scores , and to continue here longer too ) she met her walking in London-Streets , as briskly as ever she did in her Life .

I have been the more particular in the first and third of these Observations , not only for the remarkableness of the Recoveries , but that it may be again observ'd , that The Effects of the Bath do not presently appear , ☞ and that the Impatience and Parcimony of Infirm Persons spoil more Cures , than ordinarily the Bath , or the best Methods and Medicines do ●erform : For had not these two ( the first ●nd last mention'd ) been necessitated to stay ●onger than they were willing , they might ●ither have remain'd still lame , or the Cures ●ight have been imputed to some trivial ●hing they might have done , or taken , af●er their going from hence .

4. Michael King , a Soldier , from Tedbury , ●n Glocestershire ; by a Blow on his Back with 〈◊〉 Halbert in Flanders , going upon a Party ●o guard Pioneers , was disabled for farther ●ervice , ; and had his Discharge , and re●urn'd to his Friends in Tedbury aforesaid . ●e had three or four of the Vertibrae of his ●ack started ; and by reason of that could ●ot stoop , nor go steddily , but was forced 〈◊〉 wear Iron-Bodices , without which he ●ould hardly sit , much less go , upright . He ●as sent to Bath in April , 1692. and being ●oor , as a disabled Soldier , was admitted in●o the Hospital for Strangers , where it is ●y Province to advise those , whom the ●ayor for the time being , commits to my ●are . I order'd him some Preparations for ●athing , and sometimes drinking the Waters , ●y which , in a Month , or five Weeks time , ●e recover'd so much Strength , as to leave ●ff his Iron-Bodices , and to go without 'em , ●ompetently well ; but the Vertibrae still kept ●ut , and will do , I suppose , as long as he ●ves .

known him , being of a Complexion , ver● fair and clear Skinned ) Weakness , Fayn●ness , and decay of Spirits , shaking in h●● Hands , Pain in his Lymbs , ( especially i● the Night , ) swelling of his Feet and Ancle● which towards Night , would retain a goo● while , the print of a Finger , a clammyne 〈◊〉 of his Mouth , a Draught , and foulness o● his Tongue .

He had been for some time , under th● Care and Conduct of a worthy Person o● our Profession , Dr. Speede of Southampton and had but lately taken Purging Physic●● by his Prescriptions ; and therefore had th● less need of much Preparation for drinkin● these Waters , which in a few days he began upon . He took at first but two Pints after that he increased by Degrees , to three and then to two Quarts , and seldom exceeded that quantity . They passed ver● well with him , both by Stool and Urine the whole quantity before he drank again for what past not by Day , seldom failed t● come off by Night , after his first Sleep .

However , he was between whiles , purged with Rheubarb and Calometanos , an● took Alteratives , and intermitted now an● then , some Days from Drinking the W●ters . About the middle of his Course h● was let Blood , which was not so sizy as i● ●ad been formerly , and had a quantity of ●erum , but that was tinctured very yellow . About the latter end of his Course , he ba●hed three or four times , to get the yellow●ess off of his Skin . He had before bathed ●is Feet and Legs often in his Chamber at Nights , going to Bed , to get down the Swelling , both which ends were attained ●y it . He apparently ( under all this ) got Vigour and Strength , a clearer Countenance , and a better Habit of Body ; and thus returned to his own Home , after two Months stay here . He came again May , 93 , to confirm , and improve what he had got the Year before , and stay'd much about the same time , with manifest Advanvantage , in all respects , which I suppose , he yet continues to have , because he returns not again to the same means , by which he found so much good .

OBSERV . V.

Whilst I am looking over my Copy , to send it Sheet by Sheet to the Press , there happens a considerable Observation in a Collick Case , with the Jaundice , which I think well worth the inserting here . It is of Michael Harvey of Clifton , in the County of Dorset , Esq more then 60 Years of He was ( for many Years past ) subject 〈◊〉 the Gout , but by favourable returns , at 〈◊〉 year , or more then a years distance , in o●● of those Fits , about 15 Years ago , he turn 〈◊〉 yellow , and took Medicines for the Jau●dice , by Dr. Thomas Cox's Prescriptions . 〈◊〉 April last he was seized with a violent Pai● in his Stomach , which kind of Pain he formerly had also , by Fits , but was now mor● then ordinarily ill and fainty , and the Jaundice presently appeared in his Water , bu● not in his Eyes , Face and Skin , till abou● a Month after . He applyed himself to Dr Rackliff , who put him upon several Course● for the Collick and Jaundice , by which h● had some Advantage , and considerable intervals between the Fits.

He took also other Medicines by other Advice , but to little purpose , for the Fits still returned upon him .

He was at length , therefore order'd by Dr. Rackliff , to drink these Waters , in order to which he came to Bath , the last day of August , 96 ; but so Weak and Ill , that all that were with him , feared that he would have dyed by the way . The Night after he arrived here , he had a most violent Collick Fit , in which he strayned very much to Vomit , all which had rendred him exceeding Weak , Faint , Emaciated ●nd Dispirited , loathing allmost all Meats ●nd Drinks . He was yellow all over , and ●llow under the Eyes . He set presently ●pon drinking these Waters ( being in conti●ual Pain , and Stomachless ) but at first in ●mall quantities . The third time of taking 〈◊〉 them , he voided a Stone by Stool , a●out the bigness of a Pidgeons Egg , which was but light , considering the Bulk , for it ●eighed but a Drachm and six Grains , yet measured two Inches , and three quarters ●he long way , and two Inches , and the ●ifth part of an Inch the Broad way . It ●as a little depressed on one side , and ●omewhat exturberant on the other . It ●ad several small Proturberances all over ●t , which appeared whiter then the Spaces between , which were of a pale yellow , with some shining Particles interspersed . With this Stone were voided several lesser pieces , of like Colour and Consistence , a Sabulum , to the quantity of a spoonful or more .

It is observable that this Gentleman had that Morning a Stool before the Stone came off , as white as ( and like to ) a Tobacco-pipethy , but the Stool that came with , and after , the Stone was as yellow as Saffron . We was presently upon the voiding of it , more at ease ; he recover'd by degrees , his Appetite , and Digestion ; his Colour men● his Strength increaseth by it . He goes 〈◊〉 drinking the Waters , whilst I writt this 〈◊〉 his own Lodging , and this one and twe●tieth day from his beginnng to take the● He walks abroad and gives visi●s , eats hea●tily , and steps well , and is very likely 〈◊〉 this means to perfect his Recovery .

OBSERV . VI.

The Case I am now about to descri●● had so many , and great Symptomes co●plicated , that I stood a while dubious 〈◊〉 what Head most properly to refer it . B●● at length finding the Cachexie to be t●● last and greatest of them , I have made 〈◊〉 one of this sixth Chapter .

It is the Case of George Long Esq Downside , in the Parish of Shepton-Mallet , the County of Somerset ; three Viles Eastwa●● of Wells . His great and wonderful Rec●very by the use of these Waters , hath be●● long since made publick , I shall not ther●fore need to repeat a great deal of his lo●● and painful Sickness .

It is more then Twenty Years ago , th●● I was first Physician to him , his Lady a●● Family , and it s almost so long ago , th● he was first assaulted with the Gout , and find in some of my Papers , that more then sixteen years ago ; I prescribed Medicines for him , for sharpness of Urine , Stone and Gravil ; as well as Antiarthritick Remedies , for he seldom had a Fit of the Gout , without that of the Stone also , and both frequently seized him . But in the Year 88 and 89 , and so forwards , for two or three Years together , he was seldome free from great Pains , which were diffused all over his Body , from part to part , from Joynt to Joynt , where was wedged in , this calculous Matter ; that his Finger became crooked , his Right Knee , Hipps and Back motionless . He was so contracted , that he could not be extended in his Bed , much less ( if the Pain would have given leave ) could he have been set upright . In short , he became ( as we call it in this Country ) Bed●id .

He was lifted in a Sheet from one side of the Bed to the other , and from place to place , not easie without , nor well within : His Thirst importunate , his Appetite and Stomach lost , his Skin shrieveled , and discoloured , his Face Meagre , his Hair gray ; his Flesh wasted , his Muscles fallen all the Body over ; he could have thrown the Calf of his Legg over his Skin-bone . With all this he had a perpetual Sharpness of Urine , nay all the Juices in his Body , had such propensity to Lapidescency , that his Wate● being left ( but a few days ) in a crooke Bed-Urinal , it was crusted at the sides an● top , as thick as a Half-Crown , with a po●rous kind of Stone , like that of a Prunez● In this Condition , he was with difficult● brought to Bath , April 91. He began with drinking the Waters , hot in the Morning from the Pump , at Meals cold , ( for h● drank not then , nor hath he done since any Malt Drink . ) In a Weeks time his Thirst abated , and the sharpness of Urine lessend , his Stomach began to return . After a● Month's Drinking , he bathed between whiles , which much eased his Pains . He could in the Bath , suffer his Leggs to be distended a little . About the end of May , he returned Home with this begun Advantage , but carryed the Waters with him , and constantly sent for them . About the end of August he came hither again , and stay'd six Weeks or two Months , Drinking and Bathing as before . In the mean time he gathered some Flesh and Strength , and some small Ability to go , though Cripplishly . In November following , his Gray Hairs began to fall off , and new ones succeeded , he says more , that some of the Gray ones re●urned again to their Colour , which way ever it was , by Gandlemass he had few or no Gray Hairs left , but a good Head ; of soft ●rown Hair , such as he had when he was about Five or Six and Twenty , which grew so fast , that he cut more then an Inch , every Month or Five Weeks . Even now 〈◊〉 bating a little Baldness upon the Crown , for he is on the wrong side of Fifty ) it ●ooks like a Border of Hair , which I have ●een formerly worn , before whole Heads were so much in use . To perfect this so well begun Recovery , he took a House ●nd lived here for the most part of the year ●●r , about which time his Toe-Nails which were hard , ragged and scaly , began to be ●hrust off by new and smooth ones ; his Arms and Hands recovered Strength ; he ●ad much freer motion of his Joynts , his Muscles plumpt ; he was daily more and more erect , and every Bathing stretched ●im half an Inch. He hath now a Fleshy , Hale , habit of Body , a vigorous Eye ; and 〈◊〉 Ruddy , Plump , Youthful Face , sespeci●lly when he mixes Sherry with his Water , which he will sometimes do . )

In fine , he hath had no Fit of the Gout ●o lay him up long together , nor the least ●ouch of the Stone , or Sharpness of Urine , since he left of Malt-Drink , and made these Waters his constant Beverage . It is pitty to leave out one material Circumstance . An Unbelieving Knight , that knew him well before , hearing of this mirac●lous Recovery , came purposely to his House to examine the Truth of i● ; with his own Eyes he soon might have seen it , but would no● Credit it till he had asked his Lady , whether she found him grown young again ? She modestly ( and sharply enough ) answer'd I believe if I were dead , he would marry again .

Though all this is manifestly known t● be true , yet little or nothing of it is believed by the Advocates for other Minera● Waters , who envy , and would eclips th● Reputation of these . Nay their industr●ous Reports have kill'd him several times and many Letters have been sent ( som● to me ) to know the Truth of it . Nay have been forced to shew him to som● ( Ladys especially ) to convince them ; t● which ( I thank him ) he hath not been unwilling to consent .

To save the Charge of more such Pos● Letters , and to cure this incredulity a● well as to serve his Country ) he was likely to have been sent up , to serve in Parliament for this City .

He is able enough to bear the Trouble of attending the Business of the House , nor was there any reason to fear that the Both-Waters would have lost their Reputation , if he should have dyed there , though both these things were objected , in a Letter from some that would have had another chosen . To evince the first , it was scarce two Months before the time of Election , that he rode from Bath to Oxford in a Day , which is 48 computed Myles , and above 50 measured ones ; and but few days before that , went from hence to his own House , ( which is 12 or 14 Myles ) after twelve a Clock at Night , went to Bed for two or three Hours , rose again , and dispatch'd a great deal of Business before Dinner .

And for the second , those Gentlemen that ( for their own ends ) pretend so much Kindness to , and concern for the Reputation of these Waters , may know ( even by some of the foregoing , and following Observations ) that the Credit of them is not to determine with Mr. Long's Life . For though they have wrought a very exemplary Cure upon him , yet I hope they do not expect , that they should make him ( or any Body else ) immortal , or unvulnerable , or not lyable to other Accidents , common to Humanity . But weak Arguments seem strong to those that are willing they should perswade , at least when they are urged to such whom they think easie to be perswaded . In short , Mr. Long is alive , and very well , and not only keeps the Strength he hath got , but improves it daily .

OBSERV . VII .

The next and last instance upon this Head , is an ill Habit of Body , and general Weakness , joyned with an intermitting Feaver ( a Tertian ) a short Cough ; an emaciated Body and languid Spirits , and all this after a Rheumatism , in which the Pains were so great , all her Lymbs so weak , and her Strength so decay'd , that she was forced for a long time , to be lifted from place to place , and even then ready to faint under their Hands . It was Mrs. Lydia Merefeild , Widdow to Captain Robert Merefeild of Crookhern , in the County of Somerset .

This illness was contracted by Riding many Hours thorough-wet , and after it was Night ; it continued upon her some Months , with such violence , that her Life was often despaired of . When the violence of the Pains , and the Feaver were in some measure abated , she was left in the Condition above-mentioned , and had withal , a pale and yellow Countenance , swell'd Leggs , and every other Day , a minding of a Feaver and Ague ; it began with a little Chill , but was mostly hot and dry . In these Circumstances she was brought to Bath the last day of April 94. After some Preparatory means , she was first put upon drinking of the Waters , which did not presently agree with her , and when they did , it did not quickly appear that she was better . For the first three Weeks or a Month ( in which time she bathed but little ) she got little Ground , after that it daily appeared that she had not lost her labour . Her Countenance cleared , her Appetite renewed , her Digestion mended , and the swelling of her Legs vanished , and she could not easily recollect when ask'd , which was her ill day ? Then was she permitted more frequent Bathings , and longer stay , and she bore it better then at first , by which the remaining Pains of her Lymbs ceased , and Strength increased , so that she could go up and down Stairs ( which she could hardly do before , by reason of a great weakness in her Knees and Ancles ) she could walk the Town , and the Meadows , and at length ( about the middle of June ) returned Home , and hath continued in a good state of Health ever since , and is now the same chearful Widdow as before .

CHAP. VII . Diseases of the Stomach .

ACcording to our proposed Method , this Chapter ought to treat of the Cure of Diseases incident to the Stomach . Now the Oisophagus being no other then a Funnel , by which Meat and Drink is conveighed into it ; it is not improper , I think , to begin with a Distemper incident to that part , that is Difficulty in , or Abolition of Swallowing , for in this Case also we want not some instances of the Efficacy of the Bath-waters .

OBSERV . I.

Mr. Yarburgh , a Gentleman of Fifty Six Years of Age ( I think out of Lincoln-shire , ) having for many years past been subject to difficulty in Swallowing ( especially liquids ) came to the Bath , and sent for me July 14. 1680. He had consulted several Physitians before , particularly Dr. Willis , who judged his Case ( as he told me ) a Paralysis of the Mussles of the Oisophagus ; others supposed it a Tumour upon the upper Mouth of the Stomach ; but upon tryal there appeared no hardness nor extraordinary Distention or Tenderness , upon that Region . But some not satisfied with either of the former causes , ascribed it to a Cold and Phlegmatick Distemper of the Stomach , and a Scorbutick Matter , sticking to the folds of that part , causing a Convulsive Motion of its own Fibres , which drew into consent those of the Oisophagus also . What ever was the cause , the effect was , a constant difficulty , sometimes inability to swallow .

Having tryed ( as he thought at least ) all other means , he at length came hither , to experiment these Waters , which I soon put him upon the drinking of , causing him to take at first , some Stomack Pills over Night , and the Waters next Morning , these Pills were continued two or three Nights following , after which he took the Waters alone , perhaps sometimes some Drops of Sal Volatile Oleosum in them . It was no small difficulty for him at first to swallow a quantity enough to make them pass , but by degrees , that obsticle was removed , so that they at length did very well with him . Towards the Conclusion , we put him into the Bath , only to have his Stomach and Neck pumped upon ; but with a Defensative to his Kidneys for he was subject to the Stone .

He went away very much advantaged , and I never heard to the contrary , but that he continued so .

OBSERV . II.

Mrs. Mary Kirby of Bishops-waltham in the County of Southampton , Aged 40 , having ( some years past ) a Scarlet Feaver , and being put into a Sweat , took cold upon it , and had upon that Cold , a sudden defluction of cold Rheume to her Throat , which was like to have suffocated her , and from that time had a more than ordinary streightness there , and some difficulty in Swallowing ; but two or three Years after , having a sudden and violent Haemorrhage from both Nostrils , it was stopped by applying cloaths dipped in Cold Water to the Throat , and Nape of the Neck . She had often returns of this Bleeding , which would quickly be stopped by this Application , and putting her Hands into cold Water .

But in March 93 , falling a Bleeding in the Night , and those accustomed Remedies failing her , she was let Blood to a great quantity , upon which loss of Blood , both by the Disease and Remedy , her Swallow was wholly stopped ( and she thought that to be the cause ) which lasted for some time .

She could chew her Meat , and with her Tongue , thrust it back to the top of the Gullet , but down it would not go , till thrust down with her Finger , which she told me she have been often forced to do , to prevent Starving . She came hither in May 94 , and consulted me , being recommended to me by my very good Friend Dr. Perrin of that Country . When she first came , she could hardly swallow the Waters by Spoonfuls , but afterwards could drink half a pint at a Draught , and three Pints or more in a Morning . After a Months Drinking , I advised pumping of her Neck and Throat , which could not be done without going into the Bath , which I apprehended a hazard from , least it should put her again upon Bleeding at the Nose . But it was so ordered , that by staying there no longer then to be Pumped , and then coming immediately out , she escaped that hazard , and after six or seven Weeks stay , went home so well ( and continued to must part of the following Winter ) that she came again in Summer 95 , and Drank and Pumped as the Year before , and had no small Addition to her former Benefit .

OBSERV : III.

I wish I could have said the same of a Person of very great Quality , and one that is in a Post of great Concern to the Government of the Nation . I have not leave to name him , and therefore omit it , but his Lordship came hither almost in the same Condition with the two former , in July 93 , when I had the Honour ( as I had more then Twenty Years before ) of attending his Lordship as his Physician . The Case indeed was very odd and long continued , and had puzled most of the Eminent Physicians of the Nation . His free Swallowing would be interrupted sometimes for a Week , Ten Days , or more together , even Liquids , as well as Solid Meats , would not go down , and when seemingly pretty well ; it would surprize him on a sudden , whilst he was eating or Drinking , so that he was forced to give over for a time . Those Stoppages lessened something then by Drinking these Waters , somuch , that his Lordship declared that he ●●●ought if he could stay two or three Months ●●ey might advantage him . But the pub●●k affairs wanting his Assistance , he was ●●●t for by that time he had been here ●●ee Weeks . To supply which defect , ●●●e Waters were weekly sent up after 〈◊〉 , by his Lordship's Order , what effects ●●ey had at that distance from the Foun●in , I have not had the advantage to know . Having done with the Gullet , we come 〈◊〉 the Stomach it self , the chief Illnesses of ●hich are violent Pains , Vomitings , loss of ●●ppetite , weakness of Digestion , and exorbi●ent Thirsts , of all which I shall give some ●ew Instances , and so proceed to the Distem●ers of the Kidneys and Urinary Passages , ●nd Spermatick Vessels , and so Conclude .

OBSERV . IV.

These Stomach Pains have obtained several Names , as Cardialgia , Attritio Ven●riculi ( so Sennertus in his Third Book , Part I. Sect. II. Chap. XV. De Dolore & Auxietate Ventriculi ) and of late , they have by some been called Hysterick Collicks . Of ●his I had a sad and long continued Instance in my own Wife , who for many Years together was greatly afflicted with it by Fits , to a more then ordinary , Degree . She was naturally subject to a Consumption , of which no less then five 〈◊〉 her near Relations dyed in two or three Years time ; two Brothers , two Sister● and a Sisters Daughter were taken off b● it , but those at different Ages , and she h● self once after I was Married to her s● far gone in it , as to spit Blood. Thi● sharp and Corrosive Humor , being by th● use of Means removed from the pectora●● Parts , after a while it began to exercis● its Tyranny upon the Mouth of the Sto●mach , a very sensible part , by reason of the Plexus Nervorum , that it hath from the Par vagum ( Dr. Willis's Eighth pair ) there interwoven .

In these extremities , she had not only my own Advice , but the Concurrent Assistances of what other Physicians were upon the Place , and all of Note , that came hither with Persons of Quality , at the Bathing Seasons . The Court was at my House twice or thrice , whilst she lay lyable to the returns of those Payns ; and those Eminent Physicians that attended the King or Queen , denyed me not their joynt Advice , yet maugre all those several Courses she had ( by them and me ) been put upon , and had diligently gone through with , 〈◊〉 some Months distances she was still assaul●ed with it . I at length proposed to her the Drinking of these Waters , which indeed ●ere not then so much in use as they are ●ow ( for it was many Years before she dy●●d . ) She took this proposal of mine very 〈◊〉 , thinking that I had abandoned the ●oncern of her Ease , Health and Life , to ●ny slight pretended Remedies , that came ●irst to my Thoughts .

When I perceived that I told her , that ●he had already run so many Courses , and ●ook such variety of Remedies , without a ●erfect Recovery , that there seemed to me ●othing remaining , but the drinking of ●ome Mineral Waters , and if she chose rather ●o go to some others , she should be forwar●ed in it ; but why she should not try the ●irst , I did not know , they being upon these place , and Experience having been sufficiently had of them , in correcting sharp Humors , though not perhaps in her very Case . This took off the resentment of my supposed Slight , and after Preparation , she began upon them , and went on with them , with that success , that in a little time , she began to be at ease , and was at length wholly freed from those Pains , and recovered her lost Appetite , gathered Flesh and Strength , and continued free from their returns longer then after any course of Ph●sick she had taken before , so that we hea●● no more of her going to Epsham or T●● bridge ; but after this , when ever she fou●● any little previous dispositions to that illn●● she would ( of her self ) begin again wi●● her Preparatory Physick and Waters , at ●●ny time of the Year , and continue the longer , or less while , as she found conv●nient . At Spring and Fall , for preventio● she usually took them three Weeks or 〈◊〉 Month.

This Recovery of hers , caused man● in the like case to come hither , who al● had no worse success ; to enumerate the 〈◊〉 all would be too tedious , and unbecomin● a Work , that is intended only as a Br●viate . Thus she continued several Yea● to do , till at length the sharp Matter gathering head again ( and she in a declinin● Age , on the worst side of Sixty ) fell sever●ly on the lower Bowels , and corrupted th● Parts , and became an inward Ulcer , which after Twenty Months , sharp and lingring● Pains , and extream Weakness , confining her to her Chamber , and Bed ; she dyed ( in the Sixty Seventh Year of her Age , and after our Thirty Seven Years , inte●● Marriage ) May 23d . 1688.

OBSERV . V.

Mr. Collins Woollrich , an able and diligent Apothecary in Shrewsbury , upon the 9th . of September 83 , about Six of the Clock in the Evening , was seized with torturing Pains in his Stomach , Bowels and Back , successively , for the space of Ten Hours , and then ceased of a sudden . The next Night in began and ended as before ; and so day after Day , from Six at Night till four in the Morning , until May following , when the warmth of the Season relieving him , he continued free till September following , 1684 , when they began again as the Year before , and so Year after Year ( except 86 ) for Seven or Eight Months togethier , during which time he was necessitated to Vomit , about an Hour and half after Eating , not being able to retain it any longer , and during the whole Paroxysme of Ten Hours , had often Motions to Vomit , all which reduced him to great Weakness .

In the Year 1688 , his Tortures continued till June , that used to determine in May , but then abstaining from all fermented Liquors , and drinking nothing but Milk and Water , the Pains ceased , but the Vomiting continued , and by this time he became much Emaciated , Languid , and Dispirited . His two very good Friends , as well as Learned Physicians , who had all along assisted him with their Advice . Dr. Hollins , and Dr. Fowke , then advised him to these Waters , and recommended him to me , and to Dr. Baynard , to assist and direct him in the use of them , which we soon put him upon the Drinking of , he being by them sufficiently prepared before . The Sixth Morning in drinking of them , he perceived a sudden and manifest removal of a load from his Stomach , into his lower Bowels , and presently had a large discharge by Stool ; and from that time had neither Pains nor Vomitings , yet kept on drinking the Waters for a Month at least . He kept free from any return of this illness till 91 , when finding some dispositions to it , he came hither again in August , and drank them with the same succcess ; for they returned not again till September 93 , when he came hither again , and was relieved the third time .

He hath been here the two past Seasons for prevention , and is resolv'd to continue so to do , one Month in every Autumn , as long as it shall please God to grant him Oppertunity , and Health to repair hither .

This account I had ( almost Verbatim ) under his own Hand , when he was here this last Season , 1695.

OBSERV . VI.

Sir Willoughby Aston , of Aston , in the County of Chester , Baronet , having some Years before been here , and experienced the Efficacy of Bathing , came in September , 1690 , purposely to drink these Waters . He was violently seized some Months before with this Cardialgia or Attritio Ventriculi , and finding no relief by what he took in the Country , went up to London purposely to take advice , and to use means there . Whom he consulted I cannot well remember , but whoever it was , he sent him away presently to Tunbridge , as the most proper Remedy , and hastened him thither , because the Season for drinking those cold Waters was drawing off . According to his Directions , he began the drinking of them , and went on some time with them ; but instead of easing his Pain , they increased it , and with the Pain he seemed to be inwardly convulsed , so that after a Week or Ten Days Tryal , he was forced to give them over . Then considering with himself , that if Waters must be his Remedy , the warm ones were likelyest to do it , especially it being late in the Year . He immediately took a Resolution , and withal a Coach , and came directly hither . He came into my House the Twelfth of September , 1690.

He had been very ill all the way down ; his Torture was so great , that he was forced to take Anodynes , and those frequently . We lost no time , we had none to spare ; P ordered him the first Night a Stomach-Pill , with some Drops of Ol-succini ( of which he took a Scruple going to Bed ) and one Grain of Laudanum Londinense ; next Morning he Drank Three Pints of the Bath-Water , which after a while , was increased to Two Quarts , or more by Degrees . He went on thus to do , and in a Week had manifest abatement of his Pains , and in a Month was perfectly-well . About the latter end of that time , he sometimes Bathed and Pumped his Stomach , which was done ; designing by it , to strengthen it , being greatly Weakned by the violence of the Pains and Convulsions .

This perfectly recovered him , and he held well , free from these tormenting Symptomes , all the next Year , but for Prevention , came again in 92 , and drank the Waters another Month.

OBSERV . VII .

Sir James Rushot , being very ill , in the like Case , and then a Member of Parliament , and by reason of this Pain and Illness , not able any longer to attend the Service of the House , obtained leave to come to the Bath for his Health , and immediately he and his Family came hither , in November , 1690 , and stay'd most part of the Winter . Besides the violent Stomach Payns , he complained of sowre Corroding Eructations , which he himself would compare to Vinegar , Oyl of Vitriol , and Aqua-fortis . It was a long time that he had been troubled with it , and much means had been taken for it ; at length he resolved to try the utmost , what these Waters would do towards his Relief , and in order to a sufficient Tryal , he determined a considerable stay . He brought Directions or Medicines , or both with him , and went on upon them some time before I was sent for . The Waters passed well enough with him , and some allay of his Pains he had , but about the middle of December , after he had . Drank them about Three Weeks , the Waters which formerly passed ( as with most they do ) chiefly by Vrine , began now to discharge themselves and with them great quantities of adust Choler ) by Stool , which made him , his Lady and Family , very Sollicitous about it . I encouraged them to hope well from it , judging it to be that Vitriolick Matter that corroded his Stomach , moved downwards by the Waters , into his Bowels , and this ( by its Acrimony ) to have occasioned the Looseness . The reason that prevailed with me to think so was , that from the time that this Diarrhea began , the Pains of his Stomach , and the sowre Belchings began to abate , and lessened more and more , as the Looseness increased . This satisfied for a while , but at length some small streaks of Blood appearing in some of his Stools , and he being Faint and Dispirited , by frequent Evacuations , and himself apt to be apprehensive , they all concluded it to be the Bloody Flux , and sent ( in all haste ) to Oxford , for Dr. Gibbons , that had formerly been his Physician ; but by that time he came , the sharp Matter was in some measure spent , and with his joynt Advice , it was at length wholly stay'd , and he freed from his Stomack Pains also .

He withal recovered his Appetite and Strength , by Degrees , and in January fol●●● 〈…〉 f●om the Complaints he brought down with him ) to his House on the Borders of Worstershire . He was here again in June 92 , in much better Circumstances .

OBSERV . VIII .

Collonel Talmidge ( a person of known Courage and Conduct , afterwards Lieutenant General Talmidge , in the unhappy Expedition against Brest where he received a Shot , of which he afterwards dyed , deservedly pityed and lamented ) in June , 1683 , and in the Thirty Seventh Year of his Age , came to drink these Waters , for a Griping Pain his Stomach and Bowels , caused ( as he related to me , when he first sent for me to him ( by taking a Dose of Pills , by a Chyrurgion's Prescription , wherein was Mercury ill prepared , from the time of his taking them , ( which was some Months before ) he had more or less of those Gripes , in some part or other of his lower Belly . He was averse to the swallowing of Pills , ( perhaps for that reason ) and therefore took some Spoonfuls of Tinctura Sacra before his Waters , which enclined them to pass the more by Siege . This was continued two or three Days , afterwards he drank Waters alone ; and continued them a Fortnight or three Weeks , and then ( for some Pain in his Lymbs , and a desire he had to be put into a sweat ) went sometimes into the Bath , and tryed the Pump to his Stomach also , but for the most part , drank the Waters , and ascribed his Relief chiefly to them .

OBSERV . IX .

Mrs. Farrer , a Gentlewoman from Norwich , Aged Thirty , had been a long while afflicted with these Stomach Pains .

After the tryal of much means at home , and ( if I mistake not ) some in London also , at least in het way hither , she came to drink these Waters in May 93 , and sent for me to assist her in it , with my Advice , in preparation for them , and manner of using of them . I presently set her upon them ( finding that she had taken Vomits and Purges before ) ordering only a couple of Stomach Pills over Night , and drinking Three Pints of the King's Bath-Water , hot from the Pump next Morning . The Pills were continued Three Nights , after which she went on with the Waters alone , but enlarging the quantity by degrees , to four our five Pints ; when the Waters gave her not a stool or two , the Pills were ( now and then ) repeated . After a considerable times Drinking , she Bathed sometimes in a moderate Bath , ( the Queens or Cross-Bath ) and had her Stomach Pumped , and was at length , sent a way so well , that she continued free from those violent Pains all the following Winter , and Spring ; and yet returned hither again the Summer following , to confirm the Ease and Health she had before got .

Very many more instances of these Hysterick Collicks here Cured , chiefly by Water-Drinking , and pumping upon the Stomach ( if nothing contraindicate ) might be added , but for Brevity Sake , are omitted ; and we now come to Distempers of the Stomach , that had not so violent Pains . but more Weakness and Indigestion , and want of Appetite , and frequent Vomitings , of which I shall give a few ( but considerable ) Instances , and so dismiss this Subject .

OBSERV . X.

Sir William Clark of Oxford shire , ( a Captain of Horse , in the Lord Colchester's Regiment ) by Golds , and lying in the Field , the forogoing Campaign in Planders , and perhaps not keeping a very regular Diet , and other Enormities incident to a Souldier's Life ; had wholly lost his Stomach , so that he could hardly endure the Sight , much less endure the taste of Meat . Drink he would like , sometimes too well . Withthis ill Dyet , and loss of Appetite , he had a tendency to a Cachexie , looked yellow in the Face , Vomited Mornings , was Tyrie and Fainty , and subject to a Diarrhaea . He complained always ( more or less ) of a Pain in his Left Side . For besides that , he had been greatly Splenetick , he had been run through on that Side in a Duel . His Spirits being low , and he so faint , and ( as is said ) apt to reach and strain to Vomit , ( though little or nothing came up ) especially in a Morning , when he met with any Company ( which by the way , he was not very apt to avoid ) he chose Sack for his Liquor , rather then any other Wine , which heated and inflam'd him , and ( in short ) all these things together , had spoiled a good Habit of Body , and left him ( in his own , and every Body's Opinion ) in a declining Condition .

In this State he came to Bath in April 93 , willing to be well , but very unwilling to take Physick ; nor could I quickly perswade him to begin upon the Waters , and when I did prevail , I could get him to take but three Half pint Glasses at first . But finding some advantage by this small quantity , he at length increased it to three Pints , and after that to four , where he stuck , and continued them a considerable time . He bathed also sometimes , but drank most , by both ( and by some little means he could now and then be pe●swaded to ) he recovered to a wonder . His strainings to Vomit ceased , his Looseness was stopped , his Appetite restored , he could eat Mutton , as well as drink Sack , his Complexion was cleared , and that old Pain of his Left Side much abated . He stay'd till June , then went away for a time , and returned again in the latter part of the Summer , fuller and fresher then he went away . He drank again the Waters this second time , for ten Days or a Fortnight , and so concluded this Campaign here , with more advantage ( in point of Health ) then that , the Year before in Flanders .

OBSERV . XI .

The Reverend Mr. James Ellisby , Minister of Chiswick , few Miles from London , came down very Faint , Weak , and Stomachless , about the middle of April , 1690. His chief Complaints were , decay of Spirits , and Strength , ( chiefly in his Back . ) The Remedies he had taken , he thought took off his Stomach , for he could digest nothing , all things that he eat , came up again ; he was withal in great Pain , so that he could not sleep at Night , nor was he at ease by Day , in any posture , whether Sitting , Walking , Standing or Lying . At length the Jaundice appeared by the yellowness of his Skin , and the Whites of his Eyes . Under these weak Circumstandes he came hither , as is above said , and was so faint and tyrie , and enfeebled , that he contented himself with a small Chamber , not being able to go up another pair of Stairs , to a larger and better Room .

He applyed himself to me for Advice , and ( after some Preparation , what he needed , and could well bear ) I put him upon drinking these Waters , Bathing not being at all likely to agree with him , nor did he , as I remember , once bath at all . It was more then a Week , or Ten Days , before he could discover the least Alteration to the better , but at length , the Water passing well , opened his Body ( which was apt to be costive before ) cleared the Passages , restored his Stomach , and abated his Pains , by which he was enabled to Sleep , Eat , and Digest , ( and consequently to get Strength , which he did in every part , but his Back , where some Weakness , more or less , hath still continued . ) He came a second time the same Year , about August , and was then so much amended , that he that could he hardly heard to speak in a wide Chamber , ( his Lungs and Voice were so weak when he came first ) before he went away , preacht in our large Church , with great applause .

CHAP. VIII . Diseases of the Passage of Vrine .

WE have been the longer upon the Diseases of the Stomach , by reason of the various Distempers that part is subject to ; we now proceed ( according to our proposed Method ) to the Diseases incident to the Urinary Passages , and these are chiefly , sharpness of Urine , Stone , Gravel , and Bloody Water , and Ulcers in the Kidneys and Bladder , of all these something , and then to conclude with that of old Gonorrhaeas , and the Weaknesses they ussually leave . But there , I hope you will not expect that I should name th● Persons that here received Benefit in that Case ; you would not be so serv'd your Selves . If you believe me not in this particular , come and try , ( for I believe this may fall into some Hands that need it enough ) and besure you shall have the sam: fair Play , in silencing your Names also . I begin with sharpness of Urine .

OBSERV . I.

Sir Thomas Ogle , Aged 40 , having been a long time afflicted with this troublesome , as well as painful Symptome , came hither in July 75 , puprosely to drink these Waters , having tryed others , as well as other Remedies before . He was so frequently pressed to make Water , and always with Sharpness and Pain , both in and after making it , that he could hardly be long together , quiet in his Bed , and was forced to have Emulsions by him , and sometimes strong Anodynes .

He applying himself to me for Directions , how to use the Waters , and complaining of the quantities of Physick he had formerly been forced to take , I put him upon the use only of Dacasia cum Manna , half an Ounce , over Night , or very early in the Morning ; and about Seven of the Clock , to drink three Pints of the King s-Bath Water . When he took not of the Electuary , he drank two Quarts , and after a while , Five Pints . They gave him usually two or three Stools , but past mostly by Urine , and did not bring off a great deal of Gravil neither , but manifestly abated the Acrimony of the Humour , and consequently lessened the sharpness of his Urine , so that he could retain his Water a longer time , and make larger quantities , and take rest between whiles .

After a Month or five Weeks drinking thus , these Waters , and gently Purging between whiles , and at Conclusion , he went off greatly relieved , and continued so for a considerable time , and lived ( for ought I ever heard ) free from this Symptome . He dyed not long since , but of what , I have not been informed .

OBSERV . II.

Mr. Belke , a young Man , not much past Thirty , belonging to the Chancery ( had a Seat in the Six-Clarks-Office ) having been for some time afflicted with this Distemper , ( and that to a great Degree ) came hither ( I think ) by Dr. Slare's Direction ) in August , 1691.

After Preparation , he drank also of the Waters , which quickly agreed with him , and past so well both by Stool and Urine , that there was little need of giving much Physick with them ; a Balsamick Pill , he took frequently of over-night , and drank the Waters next Morning . Thus he continued to do a Month or Five Weeks , by which time he got well of his Distemper , and held so all the following Winter , and the next Spring . To confirm therefore this Recovery , in the Long Vacation , ( the time of Leisure for Men of his Profession ) he came down again , and drank the Water as before , which did it effectually , and prevented a Relapse , for he had not the least return of it afterwards . Yet the Summer following , he designed to come a third time , and having appointed the day and all , when to begin his Journey , with a Friend of his , that came down with him the two preceeding Years , he was seized by the Epidemical Fever , ( which reigned in London in 93 ) and dyed of it in ten cays , or a fortnights time .

OBSERV . III.

In neither of the two former Cases was there observed any considerable quantity of Mucous Matter , or Gravil , much less Stone , to be brought off by the Waters , and therefore probably , the Cures were wrought by correcting the Acrimony and sharpness of the whole Mass of Blood , and the corroding Matter which Nature had ( for some time ) accustomed to throw off that way , and withal , by strengthning those Parts . I shall next give some Instances of the usefulness of these Waters , when Gravil and Stones are already Concreted .

I shall begin with a worthy Cornish Knight , a Gentleman of a true Old English Temper , Sir John Cotton of Botrux-Castle , in Cornwell , who having had for many years past , several severe Fits , and in them voided much Gravil , and Stones of a considerable bigness and craggedness , which always occasion'd Bloody Water , by lacerating the Vessels as they passed , and previous to each Fit , he usually made a dark and turbid Urine , like Blood and Dirt mix'd together . After several attempts for Ease and Cure , he at length came to drink these Waters in July 94 , and was recommended to my Care by Dr. Waldrond of Exeter , whose Patient he had been some time before . Being prepared by taking a Purging Nephretick Bolus , he began with three Pints of the Water , which at length he increased by Degrees , to Five , and after that to three Quarts . Never did Waters agree sooner , pass easier , and better with any one , then they did with him , and continued so to do , and brought off daily great quantities of Sabulum , and some small Stones , rough and Scabrous , and bigger then Barly-Corns , but fryable , and might be broken into small Gravil betwixt ones Finger and Thumb , and all this without Pain , the Passages were so much dilated . He continued thus to do , ( taking once a Week , or thereabouts , his Nephritick Bolus ) for a Month , riding out every Day ( except in ill Weather ) after his Waters , which he thought promoted their passing , and the coming off of the Gravil , and without doubt it did .

The Waters got and continued him a very good Stomach , he had not in the least any thing like a Fit , all the while he stay'd here , and that was more then a Month. Going hence in his Coach ( which perhaps shook his Kidneys more then riding on Horse-back ) by that time he came to Exeter ( where he designed to stay a while with some Friends ) he began to make a turbid and discoloured Urine , which was accompanied with some sharpness and Blood , upon which followed a violent Fit of the Stone , which after much Pain , ended in the bringing off of a larger Stone then ever he had voided before ( as he writ me word from thence ) it was an Inch and half in Circumference in the biggest part , and long like a Date-stone .

It is obvious to think that a Stone of that bigness could not have passed those narrow parts as are the Uritors , Urethra , &c. had they not been very much dilated , and subricated by the drinking of these Waters so lately before , and probably had he continued here till this Stone had moved out of the Kidneys , it might have come off easier then it did . He held so well all the following Winter , that he was encouraged to come again the next Summer , and drank these Waters a Week longer then he did before , scarcely intermitting a Day , and had no Fit here , but still avoided the same Sabulous Matter , when first he drank them ; but towards the Conclusion , the quantity of Gravil abated .

OBSERV . IV.

Mrs. Elizabeth Carne , aged 72 , a Gentlewoman of an antient Family , Sister to Sir Hugh Speake , late of Hazelbury , in Wilisshire , within Five Miles of this City , though she now keeps a Lodging-House near the King's - Bath in Bathe . This Gentlewoman hath been subject to Nephritick Pains , almost Fifty Years , ever since she was Three and Twenty Years of Age , it coming to her ( though , poor Gentlewoman , nothing else did , ) by Inheritance ; her Father and Grand-father , having been afflicted with the same Distemper . She from that Age , had great Fits every now and then , and voided large and rough Stones . In a Fit she used to take Glysters , Nephritick Juleps , and several Medicines , both from Physicians and others . But since these Waters have been restored to their former Reputation , in being inwardly taken , as well as outwardly used , for Thirty Years last past , or more , every time she finds the least Pain or Disorder , upon the Region of the Kidneys ( the small of the Back ) she calls for the King's - Bath Waters , and drinks Three Pints , or two Quarts in a Morning , be the Season of the Year , or Weather what it will , and continues them till she hath Ease , and voids Gravil or Stone , which usually are Grey , ( one of the worst Colours . ) This seldom or never fails to give her Ease , by bringing off the cause of the Pain , sometimes in a few days Drinking , sometimes longer . Whilst I receive this account from her , she shews me a little Box , wherein were Ten or a Dozen Stones , ( some considerably big ) all a darkish Grey , which she told me , she voided this last Year , 1695.

There formerly lived a Gentlewoman in this Town , greatly Nephretick , that in a Fit of the Stone , would go to the hottest part of the King's - Bath ; she would fit there three or four Hours , or more , and drink largely of the Waters whilst she was there , and to this she imputed her bringing off the Stone sooner and easier . I did not give the Advice , nor can I think the preceeding justifyable , but this she often did , and thought it to her Advantage . It was the second Wife of Captain Henry Chapman , she is yet living , in the 80th . Year of her Age.

OBSER . V.

In the Year 75 , my Lord Digby ( then ) and my Lady ( now Earl , and Countess of Bristol ) from Sherborne in Dorset-shire , came and Lodged at my House , for the use of the Bath , and these Waters . They brought with them an old Servant of the Family , the Steward of the House , Mr. Smith , aged 70 , horribly decrepid , not able to use Hand nor Foot as he should , all rendred useless by Gout and Stone , with both which painful Distempers he had been for many Years afflicted . The Gout had knotted all his Joynts , both of Toes and Fingers ; the one would not suffer him to tread to support his Body , nor the other to comply so as to hold a Crutch . And in the mean time the Stone urged him to a perpetual desire to make Water , and that with great sharpness and Pain , and sometimes it would be wholly stopped for some Days together . The worthy good Lady was greatly concerned for him , and when she returned home , committed him to my Care , to assist him with my Advice , as I would do to her Self , were it her Case .

He drank the Waters in order to the washing off of Gravil , and easing his Painful Pissing , despairing indeed , of any advantage in reference to his nodous Gout . And fearing to harden those Nodes further , I was not forward to permit him the use of the Bath , which by reason of the uselessness of his Lymbs he was urgent for . In drinking the Waters , he daily discharged vast quantities of Gravil , and with it some small Stones , of the bigness of Coriander Seeds , and much mucous Matter . Having by drinking the Waters a while , got some advantage in respect to his Urtne , he would , and did , venture upon Bathing , and finding some lightsomness to his Limbs by the first , went on with it for a considerable time , till at length the N des , both upon Toes , Fingers and Knees , began to look red , and became softer then they were before , the Skin relaxing about them , which ( because I did not fully assent to his first going into the Bath ) he discloses to his Careful , and diligent Apothecary , Mr. Thomas Gibbs , and afterwards to his Country Man Mr. Dyer , a Chyrurgion , ( and I think , then Serjant of the Cross-Bath ) Some of these Tumours opened of themselves , others were laid open by an Instrument , and by this time they thought fit to make it known to me . Amongst them they pickt out the concreted Chalk by little and little , and afterwards healed up the parts , and this rendred the Joynts more plyable , so that he could set his Feet to the Ground , bend and put streight his Knees , support his Body , handle Crutches , and at length went with a Staff only , and continued thus for some considerable time . Whilst these things were doing to his Joynts , he continued to drink the Waters , and took Arthritick Pills , had Cordials to support him in his Faintiness , and used gentle means ( when needed ) to keep him soluble . This Encouragement brought him again to the Bath , a Year or two after , when he improved what he at first got . How long afterwards he lived , or of what he at length dyed of , I have not had information .

OBSERV . VI.

Mr. Edward Bushel , Senior , ( one of the Aldermen of this City ) now aged 70 Years and a half . About Michaelmass , in the 67th . Year of his Age , was suddenly seized with a violent Pain on the right Side , troublesome Vomitings , and difficulty of Urine , he made little at a time , and that with Pain , so violent , that it put him all over into a Sweat. By Glysters and other Remedies , he had some small respites from his Torture , but for Eleven Months together , from the time of his first Seisure , he was scarce free a Week , from more or less Pain , so violent sometimes , that his impatience put him upon wishing for Death .

At the end of the Eleven Months , he made Bloody Water , and his Pains increased , all concluding this to be a large , as well as a sharp and cragged Stone in the Right Kidney , he was perswaded to give off Riding , which till then , he daily did , not only in his Business about his Grounds , but in hopes by it to get some Ease , and help down what c●used the Pain , and stoppage of Vrine , for he made little at a time , sometimes but a sew drops . Upon sight of the Bloody Urine , he took to the drinking of these Waters , and hath scarcely omitted them since , no Weather or season of the Year hinders him , but Frost or Snow , Cold or Hot , Rain or Shine , he goes on with them , and with like Success , in all Weathers , sometimes with , sometimes without Syrup of Marsh-mallows . For they soon eased his Pain , made him piss free and clear . His usual dose is a Quart every Morning , with a Spoonful or two of the Syrup of Althaea sometimes .

Thus doing for Nineteen Months together , he had perfect Ease and Health , at the end of which time , upon drinking stale Beer , he had pain again for two or three days , and once more after that upon the same irregularity , but drinking the Waters , taketh it off again quickly . Nor are these returns now so violent as formerly , nor hath he pain where it began , ( on the right Kidney ) but just at making Water , on the top of his Yard . He had lately a Fit which stopped his Water for some days , but no Blood came before or after , but at the going off , he voided a great deal of whitish Sand , and made a thick Water like new Beer . I have heard him often say , how miserable a Man had I been , had I lived any where but at Bath .

OBSERV . VII .

The following Observation hath something more in it , then the former ; for besides sharpness , and Difficulty in making Water , a clammy Viscous , and Ropy Sediments , would be in the Urine , when first made , which had a peculiar Faetid , and ill smell , sa all have that have Ulcers in the Bladder . It was the Minister's Wife of All Cannings in the County of Wilts , Mrs. Studely , Aged 36.

She had been for a long time , afflicted with continual urgings to make Water , and always with Smartings , violent Pains , and pressing down towards the lower parts . Sometimes small streaks of Blood wou●d come with the Water , but always a heavy roapy sediment would be in the Vessel it was made in , especially if it stood any considerable time , it would stick to the bottom of it l●ke Birdlime , and always had a very strong Scent . Of this kind of Matter she always voided more or less , when the Pain was greatest , then would the quantity of this mucous Matter be greatee also ; in a Nights time , she would usually void an Ounce or more .

She came hither in August 90 , and craved my Advice ; after Preparation , I order'd her the drinking of these Waters with a Balsamick Pill , by which ( after a while ) she found much Ease , and some abatement of the quantity of that faetid Matter . Upon her earnest Desire , I permitted her to Bath two or three times , and she was not ( as I feared she would have been ) the worse for it , but ( as she was willing to think ) better , as to a dull Pain in her Hipps , and the pressing upon the Os Pubis .

Her Business call'd her home sooner then I would , or she expected , but to supply that , I gave with her a distill'd Milk-Water , with order to take that with her Pills , instead of Bath-Water . She sent several times to have those Pills renewed , and acknowledged her Self greatly relieved by what she had dono here .

OBSERV . VIII .

I do not give this following Instance ( the last upon this Head ) as a Cure done by the Waters ; for if the Disease had been Curable , the Patient was not , for though a Person of great parts ( as well as Quality ) and considerable Learning , yet was he of so peculiar Temper a and Humor , as not to be governed , regularly by any Directions .

It was the Old Earl of Thomand , ( I may venture to call him so now , there having been two Earls of Thomond , since him , his Son , and his Grand-Son , and a Lord Obri●n , that dyed before him , drown'd when the Duke of York was in Danger , going into Scotland . ) His Lordship was decrepid in all his lower Limbs , for which chiefly he came to the Bath , in June , 83. He was recommended to my Care , by my very good Friend , Dr. Daniel Danvers , of Northampton . That which makes me mention him in this place is , that ( without pain , or very frequent Sollicitations to make Water , he still discharged , with all the Urine he rendred , a great quantity of raggy , heavy quitture , ( for so I judged it , ) which would presently sink to the bottom of the Ur●nal , yet had no very faeted scent with it . For this I would have perswaded his Lordship regularly to have drank these Waters , but he ( not being easily to be prevailed with , to do any thing so ) Bathed irregularly , drank sometimes , and did nothing to purpose , though he was here more then once .

It was then my Opinion , that his Lordship had an Ulcer in the Kidneys , but he would not believe it at that time , but I think he was Convinced of it , before he dyed . They that saw him opened , found it to be so , for ( as I have been informed ) he had not only Stones , of some considerable bigness , in both Kidneys , but also vast quantities of this quitture , that with them fill'd up the Peluis of each . Kidney . Yet under all this , his Lordship lived to a considerable Age , to Seventy or more .

OBSERV . IX .

I shall conclude this Eighth ( and last ) Chapter , with what I promised in the beginning of it , which is an assurance ( and I hope you will take my word for it ) that not a few have been here Cured , by the regular drinking of these Waters ( and ( no very chargeable , ( nor troublesome ) Remedies taken with them ) of long continued , inveterate , and virulent Gonorrhaeas , and of those Weaknesses they usually leave behind them , for the Bath-Waters both Cleanse and Heal , and strengthen the parts concerned , and ( as in all other Acidities , Acrimony , and sharpness of the Blood and Nervous juice ) they correct that Corrosiveness , and dilute that Acrimony , and consequently , alter the temper of that Matter that is there discharged , and by its Balsamick Virtue , heals the parts that may have been excoriated , or eroded by it .

And this Remedy ( though Calculated for the Meridian of the Male Kind , ) yet will it indifferently serve for the softer Sex also ; who ( though they call it by another Name ) are too much lyable to the same Distemper .

I dare not here give you Instances in either kind , though I have them by me ; but a word to the Wise is sufficient .

THE Conclusion .

AND now that I have given some few Instances , out of very many that might have been produced , had it not been for fear of making this Manual of too great a Bulk ; ( yet I hope these are enough to shew how effectual the use of the Bath , and the drinking these Waters , have been in the several Cases there enumerated ) after all this ( I say ) It seems to me as needful to add something by way of Conclusion , as it was to prefix a Preface .

I. And in doing this , I shall again assert the Veracity of each Observation , in the main Concerns of each Case ; though in some little ( and those not considerable ) Circumstances , there may possibly be some small Alterations . If there appears to be any mistake in the time of any ones coming hither , or stay here , I hope that will easily be excused , when it is considered , how many ( in my time ) I have been concerned with .

II. And then Secondly , ( though possibly it may not be in every one particularly mentioned ) I have with most ( if not all ) of the Patients , that have been by Letter , recommended to my Care , by other Physicians , written back to them ( at their return at least , if not whilst they have been prosecuting their Course , which often I have done ) what they did whilst they were here ; what did , or did not succeed , according to Expectation , what interruptions there had been , and how each Person went from hence , and what I thought fit farther to be done for them , but so as leaving it to their farther Consideration , and to be added to , or alter'd , as they saw cause , which thing I always though at due Civility , to all of our Faculty , and a Satisfaction at least , if not a Service , to the Patient . And to those that came without such Recommendation ( especially out of the Country , and where no Physician was near them , or had been before concerned with them ) I have sent home with them some familiar Directions , to use such things as they could themselves prepare , or easily procure , but no such Baskets of Physick , as have been brought down hither , ( as if none had been to be had here , nor Advice neither , ) though in thus doing , I have not perhaps been thanked by the Apothecaries that live here .

III. For ( in the third place ) I can safely say , I have not burthened a Patient with unnecessary Medicines , most that come hither , being already tired with long and tedious courses of Physick , even to the loathing of almost every thing that comes out of an Apothycary's Shop . Nor indeed , without this Consideration , that I could the better experiment the Efficacy of the Waters , for when Medicines are continually thrown in with Bathing , or drinking the Waters , it can hardly be decided to which of the two , the Success is to be ascribed .

Though ( where necessity required it ) I have not been wanting earnestly to press what due Preparation , and needful Alteration , and support with Cordials , seemed to me to require . If I have erred on either Hand , I must needs acknowledge , that in ( perhaps too much ) pitty to the Patients , it hath been rather , in urging too little , then wearying them with too much .

IV. The fourth thing I would advertise is ( which in some of the Cases hath been already intimated , if not exprest ) that it is not a trick of the Place , ( as some have called it ) or a bare Consolation to a desponding Person ( that hath not found a present Recovery , whilst here upon the place ) to keep up his Spirits for the present , till he is got out of Town ( as hath been said by others ) to tell him at going off , that he will find the Benefit of it afterwards , For several of the Fore-mentioned instances prove the truth of it ; and I have a Signal one to add , but that I have forgotten the Gentlewomans Name , and can by no means retreive it .

OBSERV .

She ( for an universal Weakness from Head to Foot , not able to stir any part , but Heart whole , as they call it , and of sound Mind and Memory ) was brought hither in a Litter out of Hampshire , ( or the Isle of Weight , ) and stay'd six Weeks or two Months , without any sensible Alteration to the better , insomuch , that she despaired of ever being recovered , and therefore ordered her return home , resolving to try nothing further , this being her last refuge , and she being sufficiently tyred with Medicines before . As soon as she came home , made her Will , took leave of all her Friends , and not only expected , but wish'd to dye , being a Burthen to her self . At six or seven Weeks end , instead of declining more and more , she found some small beginnings of Sense and Motion , in her extream parts , which day by day increased , till she was perfectly recovered . As in the case of Philiip Brown , Book I. Chap. VI. Observ . X. and in the Case of Sir John Clobery , Book I. Chap. II. Observ . III. Many more such instance , without doubt , might have been had , if the Spirit of Ingratitude , and Carelesness , had not possessed a great many of this Nation . In our Saviours time , of the Ten Leapers that were cleansed , there returned but one that acknowledged it and he a Samaritane too ) if but One in Ten of those Jews , that have received an after-recovery here , and never acknowledged it , had but given a Line or two ( which was all the farthest thanks I ever expected , nay I would have thanked them for it ) to let me know the Success , this Conclusion , ( for ought I know ) might have been as big as the whole Book .

V. A fifth particular that I would have observed is , that those that came timely before their Spirits were spent , or their entrals corrupted or decayed , and their Flesh quite wasted ( yea some of those too ) have been here much relieved , if not perfectly recovered . Nay some of those , that most People that saw them , have judged they were sent hither purposely to dye here , we have made a shift , ( and sometimes a hard one too ) to send back again , that their own Bell might ring our for them , and not ours .

VI. Another , and a sixth Duty which I think my self oblig'd to do , is to give some necessary cautions to those that come hither for Cure , and those will concern mainly these two Things ; the time of their coming , the choice of their Physician , Lodging and Bath , they are to use .

First , as for the time , that which is freest from either excess of Heat or Gold , is certainly the fittest ( generally speaking ) for all Persons and Distempers . Since my Remembrance , there was as known , a distinction at Bath , betwixt Spring and Fall , as was in the rest of the Nation , betwixt Summer and Winter , Company usually coming hither in April or May , ( some for Aches and Lameness in March ) and going off again at the end of June , or beginning of July , which was called the Spring , and they came again about the middle of August , and stayed till the end of September , and part of October , and this was called the Fall.

At the return of K. Charles II. ( when all the World went to London to live ) this was alter'd by some famous Physicians there , who could not ( or would not spare their Patients , till the hot Weather came on , that they could take no more Physick , and then they sent some to sweat at the Bath , and others to cool themselves at Epsum and Tunbridge , few to the Bath , with a good Will , because three days journey from them , more to the Wells , because within their kenn .

Second , and for the other particulars , as the Spaniard said ; Ragio di Stado , Reason of State is a very great Knave , so may every one say , that Interest , and Self-endedness , is not very honest . Every Lodging stands in the best Air , and nearest the best Bath , by the report of him that keeps it . The best Physician , is he that hath given advice for nothing , or at least helped him to Lodgers , and if you ask any Apothecary , he is certainly ( in his Opinion ) to be preferred , that prescribes most Physick . Therefore it would be prudent to be directed to your Physician before you come , and not to heed what is said against him , or for another , afterward , at least be advised by some dis interested Person , that is upon the Place , and be directed by him , in what Air to Lodge , and what Bath to use , and what Apothecary to employ . And indeed you will need to be very well advised , by whom you are recommended to a Physician , for you may think some Persons are disinterested when they are not so ; for we have had some here lately , that have not only magnifyed themselves above others , and talked great things in Coffee Houses , and shew their Drops , as a Mountebank doth his Balsame upon the Stage ) but have also urged their Patients and Acquaintance , to get them Customers , not only by magnifying their Parts , but by disparaging the Abilities of others , which things are a disgrace to the Faculty .

They that think to save Charges , in not giving a Physician a Fee , but depend upon an Apothecary for Advice , as well as for Physick , will find in the end , that his Bill for Medicines , will come to more then both would have cost him , under the Directions of on honest Physician .

They that come and use the Bath , and drink the Waters Hand over Head ( as if the common saying ) as too many do , to the disrepute of the Means ; without any Preparation or Direction , Hab Nab , let them look to themselves , we are not accountable for them , and if they are not recovered , or ( as the Case is with many ) have injury by it , 't is not to be imputed to the Baths or Waters , ( no more then a Mad-man's cutting his own Throat , is to be imputed to the Knife , or the Cutler that made it ) nor ought it reasonably to be accounted derogatory to their Virtues , though I have heard them greatly decoyed upon no other Ground then this ; how justly , let the World judge .

VII . In the Seventh place ( and what I think , ought to be accounted the chiefe 〈◊〉 nothing of this ought to be done , without a serious address both by the Givers , as well as the Receivers of the means to the great Physician of Soul and Body ; the tr●mendous Diety , the Fountain and Original of Life , and Light , and Being , to whom belong the Issues of Life and Death , of Sickness and of Health , who killeth and maketh alive , who bringeth down to the Grave , and raiseth up again , who hath created Medicine and Physicians , and he that is Wife , will not abhor either , Ecclesiaslecur , 38th . To assist ( in this Duty ) the Rece●ver of the means of Health , and Help , and of Recovery , a devout Bishop of this Diocess , hath piously and Charitably , provided a Direction for their Devotions in private , by composing and giving Gratis , Forms of Prayers , and Praises in a little Book , of which some Hundreds have been distributed ( to my Knowledge , because some by my Hand . ) And for publick Devotion , the Reverend Rector of this Church ( though he be obliged by the Cannon , to Wednesdays , and Friday Mornings , and Saturdays in the Afternoon only yet ) for the sake of Strangers , he hath constantly daily Prayers , Morning and Evening , and in that Collect , where the Sick and Infirm are prayed for ; he inserts a Petition , that these Waters may be made Beneficial to all that use them . And truly they that are able , should consider what St. Paul demands of the Corinthians . ( 1 Corinth. 9. 11th . ) If he sow to you Spiritual things , is it a great thing if he reap something of your Temporals ? For indeed , the Duty of this Rectory is very great , and the certain income of it , very little .

The charitable Exhibitions of Water-Drinkers , only at Tunbridge , doth not alone maintaine a Reading Minister , but hath erected a Goodly Chappel also . And for the givers of the Means , if it were seriously considered , that we are at best ) but Instruments , not Authors of Health , and that all Healing , is from the great Physician , I am sure , that they that truly fear that great and Holy One , will ( or ought ) not undertake any thing in the Administration of it , without an Ejaculation at least , if not a serious Address to him , by Solemn Prayer . If Hippocrates ( a Heathen ) in his Book de Docenti ornatu , thinks it a necessary Preparation in a young Physician , setting himself upon Practice , to reverence the Gods , and to give up to them . How much more should a Christian ( one that owns ( or should do so ) the only One , and true God ) I think it his Duty to begin with Applications to him , that can only make his Endeavours successful .

Though I know that our Profession ( with a great many ) lies under the Scandal of Atheism , and that by some , an indifferency in Religion , at least , is accounted no small ingredient , to make up an Eminent Physician ; and that I was once told by one , that thought himself above the National Profession of the Christian Religion ( for he walked with the Baptists , as he himself termed it ) when he reproved one of his own Perswasion , for making use of one of our Profession , that was not far from a declared Atheist , he answered him , that the less he thought of Religion , the more he might think of his Calling . In effect , the less a Christian , the more a Physician .

For all these Discouragements , I am not ashamed to own , that I as constantly did , and do , pray for my Patients , as for my Self , my Wife and Children ( when I had them ) or as I do now for my dearest Grand Child for whom , all that know me , know that I am sollicitous enough , if not to a Fault . ) And if the Readers will not make a mock of it , ( which is likely enough to be done in this Prophane Age and Nation , where every serious thing is by some , turn'd to Ridicule , and most likely to be done , by some of our own Profession . ) But I charge them not to do it , as they will answer it to the Great God that heareth Prayers , and unto whom all Flesh should come by Prayer . To be sure , they that do not pray here , will hardly be thought fit to praise hereafter , when Love and Praises will be the Business of a Happy Eternity ; when the High and Holy God will be continually magnifyed by Men and Angels , in all his great and Glorious Attributes , especially in those of his Wisdom , Love ▪ Mercy and Free-Grace , and Good Will , towards Men through Jesus , when Mockers and Scoffers shall be cast out . Whether they Mock or not , I do not scruple to tell them , that I pray'd for my Patients in some such words as these .

PRAYER .

BE Merciful to me , O God! in Reference to my Calling and Condition of Life , Remember not against me , the Worldly Mindedness , the By Respects , and Sinister Ends that guided me in the Choice thereof ; but thou that hast brought all Things out of Nothing , by the word of thy Power , that dost bring Light out of Darkness , and Good out of Evil ; Thou that dost enwrap all the little Designs and Contrivances of the sinful Sons of Men , within thy great Providence , and dost order them to what End seemeth good to Thee ; order it by thy Providence , that it may be to thy Praise ; Encline me more and more to the Study and Practice thereof , enable me , more and more , to a Knowing , Conscionable , Careful and Successful Discharge of the Duties thereof , suffer me not to undertake any thing therein , but in thy Name , and in thy Fear ; Suffer not any that come to me for the means of Ease , or Health , or Help or of Recovery , to trust in me , or in the Means , but to seek first to Thee , and then to the Physician ; to acknowledge Sin to be the reason of Sickness ; to be truly Humbled for it , to give thee Glory , in Confessing and Forsaking it , and then apply themselves to the use of the Means , waiting upon thee for a Blessing , without which , miserable Comforters , Physicians of no value are the best of us . The Lord God pardon the Crying Sins , both of the Giver and the Receivers of the Means , and let neither hinder thy Blessing from Descending , but prosper thou my undertakings , succeed my Endeavours , set it upon my Heart , to use such Means , as thou wilt Bless and make effectual , to the Ease , Health , Strength and perfect Recovery , of every one that now is , or henceforth shall be concerned with me , in the use of the Means especially . If thou otherwise determine , concerning any one or more of them , to continue their illness to them , or take them away by it , Thy Will , not Theirs or Mine be done ; Satisfie them and me ( and all their Relations ) with thy good Pleasure , and their Souls with thine Everlasting Mercies . But if thou please to give in any thing of Ease , Health , Strength , or Recovery by my Means , if at any time thou hast so done , or shall so do , let all be acknowledged from thy Gift , and used to thy Glory ; let it be an Occasion to , nay an Obligation , upon both the Giver and the Receivers of the Means to Bless thy Name , to live to thy Praise , as well as speak it .

VIII . In the Eighth place , I must again tell you ( as I have already done in the Preface ) that I can easily foresee that some ( and those ) perhaps , who themselves have not a great Command . of that Learned Language , especially of the true Old Roman Style , ( without which , it is far better to be publick in any other Tongue ) will say that this ought to have been written in Lattin . To such I would have it said , that I writ this in English for the same Reasons , that Hippocrates writ his Observations in Greek , the Language of his Country , that which was most familiar to him , and in which he could best express the Sentiments of his Mind , and wherein he could be best understood by those to whom he designed it a Benefit .

And indeed , Languages were designed to serve things , and not things Languages . And farther , if the Example of that great Pattern , and Patron of useful Learning , the ever famous Mr. Boyle ( and many other most ingenious Enquirers into Truth of the ( Rational as well as ) Royal Society , who have published great Discoveries in this little Language , ( as the Italian and French Vertuosi have done in their Mother Tongue . ) If these Precedents may plead any excuse ( that you may see that I have not outlived all my Latine ) Venerabili Exemplo Erravi ; si hoc Errare est . At least , let me obtain this of those Critical Gentlemen , that they would suspend their Censures , till they come to my Age , and then give an Account also how they have spent their time , ( as I have done mine ) as much better as they will , or can ; and as much to the advantage of Posterity ; in what Language these , Remembring Marshall , & Carpere vel notae nostra , vel ede tua .

IX . Now if any one apply to himself , what I have before said , of some of our own Faculty , that hawk for Patients ; all that I can say is , that I know there are , and have been such , and if they think themselves to be meant by me , I cannot help it , they best know what reason there is for it . I can make no other Apology then the Poet did , ( to a Gentlemen that thought himself reflected upon , in some of his Verses ) I make my Poems , as Shooe-makers do their Shooes , for those they will best Fit.

X. Tenthly and Lastly , I know not what farther to say , unless it be to ask Pardon of those that take it amiss , that they ( or any of their Relations or Friends ) are named in these Recitals . I have industriously omitted them in those Distempers , that carry with them any shew of Scandal ; and should I not have Named some , no Enquiry could have been made of the Truth of what is asserted , concerning them .

I can safely say , that I meant them no injury by it , but intended it an Advantage to those ( under the s●me , or like Distempers , ) that they had not Faith enough to spare , to believe what I had said in each Case , upon my bare Asseveration . That it may be offensive to none , and Advantagious to some , is the earnest desire of

Their Faithful Servant , Rob. Pierce . Bath , March 25th . 1697.
FINIS .
BOOKS Printed for H. Hammond , Bookseller at Bath , and at the Devizes .

GUidot de Thermis Britannicis , in 4to :

— 's Register of Bath in 8vo .

Prayers for the use of all Persons that comes to the Baths for Cure , &c. 12● ▪

Two Discourses on several Texts of Scripture , by F. G. Chaplain to the Right Honourable , the Earl of Scarsdal , 4to .

Four Sermons Preached on special occasions , by William Gough , late Minister of the Gospel in the County of Wilts , in 12s .

There is just now published , a large Mapp of the City of Bath , in four large Sheets , sold in Colours , for 8 s. Plain at 6 s. by Henry Hammond , who also Sells all other sort of Mapps , all sorts of Novels , and French Books , Plays , Histories , Romances , Japan ink , London Ink , Inkhorns , Wax , Stampt Paper and Parchment , Bonds , Pens where is also Sold , Tinctura Cathartica , or the Essence of Epsom , the Scotch Pill , Daffy's Elixir . &c.

Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
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