Latham Spaw in Lancashire with some remarkable cases and cures effected by it : together with a farther account of it as may conduce to the publick advantage with ease and little expence.

A further Account of LATHAM∣SPAW, as IT may conduce to the publick Advantage, with ease and little Expence, under the favour of the ILLUSTRIOUS PER∣SONS, the Proprietors of IT, whose Charity exposes IT to All, as their Countenance gives Life and encouragement to IT.

MAny having been encoura∣ged by the success, which They and their Friends have found on their Repair to La∣tham-Spaw, to enquire further af∣ter its Effects, and the Times and Customs to be observed there; (too cursorily glanc'd at in the first Treatise of this Subject) I can∣not, but in order to the approach∣ing Season, so far yield to the Im∣portunity of Truth, and the pub∣lick benefit; as briefly to affirm what the most knowing and ingeni∣ous testifie, that the Excellency of

that Water far excell'd the attempt of its Praise and Vertue: though it being remote from the Business of the Nation, the Access to it may not be so universal, as is observ'd in other Places weaker impregnated with the Minerals, Iron, Vitriol, and Sulphur. Nor were the Effects more visible on the Plebean, than the Patrician, as hereafter may be more particularly expressed; though some circumstances in their Cases, are more remarkable, than a short time may well comprehend; to which at present (intending few Notes only, not a Tract) I am nar∣rowly confin'd. Hence for their clearer Information, who shall re∣pair thither, for the opening of Ob∣structions, either of the Liver, Spleen, or Mesentery, the Inn of slow Fevers, and other contumacious Effects; freeing the Uriters of Gra∣vel, Stone, or Phlegm, restoring the Appetite, clearing the Vessels of the Gall and curing the Diseases inci∣dent thereunto, also the suppression

of Urine, painfulness, &c. the rectify∣ing the Womb, furthering Concep∣tion, menstrual Evacuations, and re∣ctifying other Infirmities of Women; dissipating Hypocondrick Vapours, or Melancholy, removing old Pains, Scorbutick affections, with its prodi∣gal and virulent Progeny, Dropsies, Asthmas, Morphew, distempers of the Reins, Worms, Reliques and pro∣per Fuels of intermitting Fevers; hea∣ling old Sores, sore Mouths, inflam'd Eyes, inveterate Dysenteries, Laskes, and Fluxes, with many Diseases lodg∣ing in the Channels, through which the water passes. I shall add some Di∣rections, observing (to the Prophana∣tion of this great Blessing) how irre∣ligiously, how brutishly most flock thither, (as to other Spaws) without discrimination, or rules to be bound∣ed by in their Drinking; as if the Water were a Spell, not a Medicine: whereas the influence even of the Plei∣ades, and Orion, have not their natural Effects, but as the Bodies (they work on) are capacitated to imbibe their Energie.

In pursuance of which, so grateful to the most illustrious Indulgers of this Spaw, whose Interest is never so well advanced as in the Community of Good, I shall set down some Can∣ons which (observed) may make the Waters (influenced from above) true∣ly healing and beneficial; not here only, but where ever the like are drunk, so as these Rules may prove a general Benefit summ'd up in a narrow Room: In publishing of which, I comply rather with their Charity, (diffusive as their vertues) then seek my Ease or Repose.

First, as to the Time, though some are of opinion, Waters may be drunk in winter as being stronger then: Yet the Air being then cold, the Pores are more condensed, whence the passages are not so relax; and commonly one is driest in the Summer months, so more inclin'd to drink freely, a good Expe∣dient to carry them off readily; in which respects, I conceive the fittest Time to repair hither, is, from the end of May to August, inclusively.

Some (so the constitution of the Sea∣son disswades not) commend August most, though generally then the first Rains begin, and that (according to the Proverb) discovers the Poverty of Nobility: The Trees thence forward casting their Livery, whence People cloathing themselves warmer imply Waters (afterwards) are ill Visitors of the inward parts: But this Cir∣cumstance may be ore-rul'd accord∣ing to the seasonableness of the year, no maxim being truer than that, Change of Seasons principally begets Diseases. Certainly the hottest Season, and clearest Air, are fittest Times to drink Waters in: the Air (a vehicle by which Diseases are conveyed to us) being much indisposed by the con∣trary, consequently Waters, and we by them, in case Wind, Rain, or Air prove unwholsom; Yet I have known Those, whom the strongest Medicines could not move, the Waters (though in Winter) have wrought on effectual∣ly; but such Patients are not suffici∣ent to make the Rule general.

Secondly, let such (as would drink these Waters) advise with their Phy∣sician, whether the Cause (for which they would apply themselves hither) be probable to be relieved here: Si∣loe was not for all; since Luxury, complicate Diseases have flown in upon us. Nothing is so soveraign which (in some respect) may not be attended with an inconvenience, though I havebeen so strict, in my ob∣servation of this Water, that I cannot charge the least Ill upon it; Who were fit to drink it; Who have took it or∣derly, that have not been spent with Age, or whose Heat or Vital parts have not been asleep.

Thirdly, having rightly discovered the Disease (for one may emulate a••other, and yet is not to be cured by the same means) let them carefully pursue Rules, drink orderly, and keep within the compass of a sober Dyet.

Rules consist first in Purging, either by Vomit, or Stools, of which more in the larger Treatise on this Subject, it being impossible to apt Medicines

to every ones Necessities, though (in general) the Nauseous may help their Stomachs by Hiera Picra, in Pills, from half a Drachm to a Drachm, or take it in its Species, with Syrup of Wormwood, and strengthen their Stomach afterward with Zedoary, Galinga, China-Ginger, sweet Cala∣mus Roots candied, and the like. The costive may do well to take Diacassia cum Manna an ounce, Cremor Tartar a scruple, made into a Bolus the night before, or some of the lenitive Ele∣ctuaries with a little Hiera Picra, which by morning may relax the bel∣ly. 2. Let the Patient drink the Water early, on an empty Stomach, and walk, jump, ride, swing the Arms, shoot at Butts, or exercise gently after, also a little before; the better to relax the Passages, and excite na∣tural Heat: weak Persons may drink them in their bed, some what warm, but never too much at once, least dri∣ving obstructive Matter into the Uri∣ters, the Waters find not a current flux; or (the Stomach being over∣charg'd)

the Patient be forced to vo∣mit: not that a Vomit the first or se∣cond day may be inconvenient, though the Custom of it may effeminate the Stomach, and divert the Course more natural and intended. Hence I dis∣allow drinking in the afternoon, unless a Cup or two, four or five hours after Dinner, that the Chylus diluted may be the better distributed; but then I am against such as would sleep upon it, for that (as some well observe) the Water lying longer in the Sto∣mach, than at other times, and gather∣ing Heat, it sends up Vapours apt to oppress the Brain. 3. After the Wa∣ter begins to come off kindly, the Pa∣tient may drink thin Veal or Mutton Broth altered with Asparagus, Fenel, Parsley roots and the like, with Tops of young Wheat, Succory, Chervil, and seasonable Herbs, the better to warm the Stomach and open the pas∣sages. 4. Dine not till the Water be come off: A little White or Rhenish Wine (in a glass or two of the Wa∣ter) furthers that; sometimes a Pipe

of Tobacco, also Elecampane or An∣gelica Roots candied, Orange Pills, Tablets of Aromaticum Rosa••um, and the like, mentioned under the first head (strengthening the Stomach) help concoction, then which nothing can bring off the waters sooner. 5. As one ascends by degrees to his Dose, (which is impossible to assign positive∣ly to any, for that the Water works not alike with All) so let him descend gradually; and if he will not admit of other Physick, let him, at least, take a Glister in conclusion, that (what the waters have thrown into the Bowels) it may cleanse and relieve; Else af∣ter evacuations, (sometimes Tor∣ments) may ensue very prejudicial: indeed Glisters (and those of the Spaw Water) may (in case of Co∣stiveness, or obstinate obstructions) be of excellent use through the whole course. 6. Feed on meats easie of Disgestion, such as may rather satis∣fie than whet the Appetite; The Bel∣ly's cheaply fed: especially avoid the crude Fruits of the Season, viz. Cher∣ries,

Cucumbers, Millons, Pease, Pea∣ches, or what may raise the least sati∣ety; the fertile Parent of divers com∣plicate inexplicable Diseases. 7. Spend the vacant time in gentle exercise, as before is specified, also in Mirth, and good Company, that together with the Body, the mind may be relieved. 8. Get convenient sleep in the nights, rarely in the day, unless the Patient be very weak, and that sleep may be taken with Advice; and in case you sweat kindly in the night, check not favourable Dews; although such I am against, in the Act of Drinking; for that it spends much of that mat∣ter which is more natural to come away by Urine, so, infeebling the Spi∣rits, it much indisposeth the Patient. 9. Less then fourteen or twenty days (a respect being ever had to the habit of the Patient, and his strength) can∣not well serve to run the Course in: In the strict observance whereof, some times Headach, Maziness, and the like (by reason of vapours) affect the Patient. In others the pains of

the Hemorrhoids prove offensive: And the Waters get off difficultly with others. All which may thus probably be remedied.

First, the Patient (having been seasonably purg'd) may take a Tab∣let of Sugar of Roses, preserv'd Quin∣ces, or the like, mentioned in the first Head under the Rules to be observ'd, which, gratifying the Brain, repells the grosness of the vapours.

Secondly, the Hemorrhoids may be prevented by a Glister (in a little quantity the better to retain it) of common Oyl, or Oyl of Violets and Butter, injected a convenient space be∣fore the Patient drinks the Water; or make an Oyntment of Oyl of Vio∣lets, Mucillage of Psylly seeds; and a little Wax, wherewith (as also with Oyl of Eggs, well beaten with the yolk of an Egg) the Part may be well anoynted.

Thirdly, as to the difficult coming off of the Water, sharp Glysters may be excellent, yet in respect there is some doubt of those as not sufficient∣ly

reaching the Parts most burthened, Caesar Claudinus his Bolus Sylvius, his Electuarium Hydragogum, a neat com∣pounded Medicine, or the deobstru∣ctive Powder mentioned in the first Treatise, pag. 27. may do well in a draught of white Wine early in the morning. Nay the same Powder ta∣ken (sometimes from a Drachm to a Drachm and a half with the water) may be a ready means to bring it off, or to prepare the Body at first, as hath been long experienced: Though if the Body still proves obstinate, its better to desist, then force Nature to what she will not readily yield to. And yet I have found, nor are others without the same Notion, that where these, or the like waters come not off readily, they often spend them∣selves (even some months after) in beneficial sweats, or large salivations, nay (not seldom) in great quantities of Urine; that it hath amazed some, where the treasures of these Waters should be so long deposited without further prejudice, which (as obser∣vations

very important) I could not but insert, that where the Waters are slow, hopes may not be cold. Some complain of sharpness of Urine, after drinking the Waters, though Others are certainly cur'd (even of this complaint) by their orderly govern∣ment herein; to remedy which, E∣mulsions of the greater cold Seeds, white Poppy Seed, and Almonds sweeten'd with Sugar of Pearl, Sy∣rup or Sugar of Althea, may con∣tribute much: though I have long experienc'd, that a draught of Flo∣rid Wine well defecated hath not had less happy effects on this com∣plaint, than it hath found in the Dysury, or Strangurie, proceeding from cold Indistempers fomented by refrigerating accidents; Of which, and the other Heads I might say more, the Field being spatious, but so these Rules (with the rational de∣ductions that may favourably be gathered thence) may be well ob∣served, I see not why brevity to

the Reader as well as to my self may not be an advantage. Fare∣well.