A DISCOURSE OF THE Sulphur-Bath AT KNARSBROUGH IN YORK-SHIRE BY WILL. SIMPSON M. D. LONDON Printed for Will. Cooper at the Pellican in Little-Britain 1675. A Discourse of the Sulphur-Bath at Knarsbrough concerning its Causes and Virtues THat I may not be injurious to what I have already writ in my two former Books entituled Hydrologia Chymica and Hydrological Essays concerning the Sulphur-Well at Knarsbrough as a mineral water of great use in its virtues inwardly taken But now designing an account thereof as a Bath for outward use shall therefore in order to the better understanding of what I aim at here resume so much of my former discourse concerning the Essential ingredients and necessary principles of that Water together with an addition of some more recent observations as may serve to illustrate what I now intend to be my present task Our method will be as followeth 1. To lay down the constitutive ingredients or mineral principles of that Water 2. To shew the process as near as we can apprehend Nature useth in the preparing this excellent water 3. To shew the difference betwixt this and other natural Hot-Baths as in their original and inbred principles so also in some sort as to their virtues 4. To shew how and by what means the Sulphur as the chief mineral ingredient in this water is so opened as to become not only so subtile as thence to be solvable odore tenus therein but also so volatile as to pass off in a continual steame and insensible effluvium 5. How this Sulphur-water comes not much short as to its original principles nor is much if at all inferiour in its efficacy to some other Sulphur-waters which are Hot-Baths inasmuch as this is lately found to be successful for outward applications as well as those by late observation are remark'd for inward use 6. To shew that the artificial heating of the Sulphur-water bears some analogy to the inbred heat of other Baths as they come hot out of the Earth 7. To shew how Art may imitate Nature but yet from the same principles in the resemblance of most Baths viz. how to prepare such Baths artificially as are natural Lastly To inquire how and after what manner this Sulphur-water performs those expected helps as a Bath where in short will be illustrated its various virtues in order to the help of several Maladies First As to the constituent ingredients or mineral principles of this water We say they are compriz'd in these three viz. 1. A marine or fossil Salt 2. A Sulphurous Apporrhea or steam of Sulphur Lastly A little aluminous acidity As to the first viz. Salt is apparent both from its brackish taste as also from what remains upon its distillation or evaporation of which we find betwixt one and two drams in a quart thereof as we further shew in our Hydrologia Chymica c. 2. As to the Sulphrous principle that 's manifest 1. From its Taste and Smell as also from its hogo upon the riflings and regurgitations of the Stomack after taking thereof 2. From its colouring of Silver dipt therein which it doth as readily as the solution or washings of crocus metallorum from the Sulphur of the Antimony or as the solution of common Brimstone in the preparing Lac Sulphuris both being made from the Acids of alcalizate Salts as will appear although a paradox more clearly anon And lastly from its colouring of Silver by its very Steams as we shall shew more afterwards Now the question may be ask'd whence this mineral water has its Sulphur I answer that there are plenty of vitriolin Marcasites well saturate with Sulphur out of which I have by an artifice taught in my Hydrological Essays separated perfect Brimstone which melted into magdalions or rolls are not distinguishable any manner of way from the common besides which Marcasites found not far off this Spring the very adjacent Earth is full of Brimstone Lastly As to the ingredient of Alom its discoverable these ways following first from the Alom-Bed through which this water at last passeth or at least toucheth upon as is obvious to any eye that will look at it being close adjoyning to the exit of the water 2. By its acidity in the water as is evident from its curdling of Milk for the Salt separated from the sulphur-Sulphur-water being put into boyling Milk will make it shil into Curds and Whey as if some acidum was poured thereto which common Salt will not do for we try'd both and that in the same proportion and found the Sulphur Salt to cause a speedy separation and that in great quantity and the common Salt made a little separation of a lighter coagulum but did not make it shil or alter the seeming colour or consistence of the Milk And lastly if the powder of Coral or Crabs-Eyes be put thereto they imbibe or mortifie the acidity of the Alom and cause a Milkieness from the volatile Sulphur And as the three aforesaid ingredients are found to be the constitutive principles of this water so that neither vitriol nor nitre however some imagine the contrary are contain'd therein is evident first as to vitriol which gives the most suspition from the plenty of its Marcasites found not far from the Well because it will strike no tincture with Galls as we shall shortly further evince And as to Nitre there is not the least suspition either from what is separable from the water nor from any mineral glebe adjacent thereto that we have yet discovered Secondly As to the process Nature useth in the preparing this excellent mineral water or the manner of her mixing the foresaid ingredients by her Chymistry in the bowels of the Earth in order to the making up the forenamed Sulphur-Bath In short has a water Spring suppose passing through or by a minera of fossil Salt part of which it dissolves and afterwards in its current either meeting with some acid juice whether of vitriol or of other mineral glebes becomes impregnate therewith and obviating or rather supervening a Sulphurous Mineral from the concourse of which two happens a Fermentation or else this Saline Solution comes upon a minera whether that of vitriol or what other soever it be in the meanders of the Earth whose principles are yet crude and onely embrionativs whereupon it sets those native and congenit principles awork into a Fermentation either way I say it becomes capable of raising that intestine motion we call Fermentation and thence of so subtilizing and volatizing the Sulphur as to make it solvable in water as we have illustrated more demonstrably above in our Doctrine of Hot-Baths But not staying here because of the continual afflux and pressure of water at length it passeth through an Alom-bed whose acidity precipitates in great part the body of the dissolv'd Sulphur in which very precipitation happens its fatid smell and Sulphurous hogo which onely passing through a slender Colander of Sand retains its lately contracted odour where it filters
any matter opiniated and in this particular have thence reason to wave the former and to ascribe the solution of this great Phoenomenon to the latter viz. to the Acid in calx vive which in some measure bears an analogy with that Acidum nature useth by her own Chymistry in the intrails of the Earth for the solutions and extractions of Sulphurs As to the 5th thing proposed to discourse of in this our method viz. how this water comes not much short as to its original principles nor is much inferiour in its efficacy to some other Sulphurcus waters which are Hot-Baths which is evident besides what has already been said by the sequel thereof viz. because the manner of use of both in respect of what they have been are now reciprocal those of Hot-Baths being formerly chiefly known for outward and these for inward use But now of late are found the former in some cases to be successful for inward use the latter by observation are now eminently remarkable for outward application so that the manner of use of them per se considered is inverted and in a mutual respect is reciprocal As to the virtues of those Hot-Baths which are lately found remarkable for inward as well as outward use I mean especially those of our own Country the Reader may consult Dr. Jorden his discourse of Natural Baths and of late the Physicians who have and yet do attend those waters As to the virtues of this Sulphur-water our present Theme as to the use thereof as an inward Medicine the Reader may consult Dr. French his Book and the patient the Physicians there It remains now to speak of it in relation to outward use as a Bath and this leads me to the next considerable viz. 6. That artificial heating of the water bears some analogy to the inbred heat of those other Baths as they come hot out of the Earth To the illustrating of which we are to consider Sulphur or Brimstone according to out former Doctrine that it may become solvable in water is either to be comminuted and volatiz'd by the native or superinduc'd Acids and that by a brisk Fermentation from the mutual collisions of the two principles whence the heat of natural Baths as aforesaid or else the Sulphur by sleighter touches and slenderer vibrations from congenial Acids becomes solvable in a preterlabent water whose heat therefore if any in the source of Fermentation is but gentle yet by that sleight solution of Sulphur it becomes capable of precipitation by another Acid viz. of Alom as happens in this water we treat of That a body of Brimstone is precipitated is evident from Dr. Neals observation concerning a crust of Brimstone which he found under the Stones of the Old-Well at the removing them through whose crevices the water sprang and that the Acidity by which the precipitation is made is from the Alom doth as clearly appear from the Aluminous black Stones found in the further digging for a better Spring Now what remains in the water after the foresaid precipitation is no other then the apporrhea or subtile affluvium of Sulphur which being dispersed through the whole body of the water is always upon the wing flying off continually This effluvium of Sulphur complicated with Salt in the body of the water although it be very volatile as I said yet that it may the better permeate our bodies in order to the performing those expected helps its necessary as to outward use that the waters should be heated by which the volatile parts are put into a more vigorous motion and made capable of penetrating our juices the better For although in frigido the Sulphurous parts are by a volatility continually winding off yet by heating it s put into a more lively action and made more readily Fermentable with the humours of our bodies Now that the Sulphur in this water consists of tenuous parts and very volatile is evident besides what already has been said by this following observation viz. that during the time I Bath'd therein and afterwards went to Bed having laid my Silver-studded Watch upon the Table thereby to observe the time of Bathing and Sweating I found the steam of the heated water had guilded it at such a distance and is so conspicuous as to change the colour as I have observ'd of the Brass-Candlesticks which stood in the next room to the Bath Yea although this be very volatile yet that it doth not sudd enly take wing is hence evident because after three hours time that the water had been heated when I got up I dipt a Six-pence therein which it still guilded very readily 7. As to the artificial resemblance of Sulphur Baths by imitation of Nature First as to Hot-Baths that indeed we fall short in because its the work of Nature in the great Fermentation of Mineral juices in order to the production of Mineral concretes And seeing Art doth of necessity always petere principia from Nature and that those principles are seminal therefore not to be imitated by Art But inasmuch as all Fermentation amongst Minerals as we have formerly shew'd consists in the inward conflicts of Mineral Acids and Sulphurs and that according to the different assaults of the said Acids upon varieties of Sulphurs depend the specification or formal difference of Mineral Waters so in particular this Water being chiefly compos'd of a Sulphur wrought upon by an Acid and afterwards precipitated by another the resemblance by Art must be from the same sort of principles grounded upon the natural Thus what an Acid native or superinduc'd performs upon Mineral Sulphur in order to the making that Mineral Solution required for the natural composure of this Water The same will the Acidum of calx vive or of fixt Alcalies do suo modo to Common Brimstone or other Mineral Sulphurous Concretions as aforesaid And lastly As to the virtues hereof This Water being gradually heated as is said becomes a Bath whose Sulphur hereby first penetrates the better into our Fermental juices exciting them if languid through Hydropick Acids or spurious through Scorbutick Acids in the one by helping with other concurring Medicaments to remove obstructions from coagulated Acids in the other by predipitating altering and sweetening Scorbutick Acids the cause of pains and particular tumours 2. Hereby it the better reacheth to dint that Fermental Acor of the Gout impress'd upon the Synovia of the Joints so easily communicable to the adjacent Nerves hence is the reason why it s found so effectual for the Scurvey Gout c. viz. because these forenamed Diseases are chiefly determined and specificated by Acids coagulated upon different humours and parts For it s the Essential efficacy if I may so say of a subtiliz'd Sulphur to dint Acids and thereby to resolve such as are coagulated so that to me the discussion of all tumours whether Scorbutick or others depend upon the resolving those coagulated Acids the intimate and real efficients thereof No sooner doth a Spurious predominant
off from the more gross precipitated body and so makes its exit Which gives great probability of heat in the source of its original mixture and that if the Spring did immediately after that Solution and Fermentation break forth it would be hot at least warm after the manner of other Hot-Baths but being carryed on in a longer line in its subterraneal current before it breaks forth looseth that heat contiacted upon the Fermentation of the aforesaid mineral juices And this is likewise remarkable concerning Alom interested in the fabrick of this water viz. that I have as often as I pleas'd to make the experiment taken some of the succulent Alom slate or stone found close by the Well which has had the Salt discernably extraverted which when I scrap'd into simple water would with Galls forthwith strike a deep Purple after the manner which the succulent Alom-stone doth which is got upon the Scarbrough Bank near that Spaw about which our great controversie concerning that waters being aluminous and not vitriolin did chiefly depend which experiment I have several times shewed to persons no less ingenious then inquisitive I also order'd an infusion to be made of some of the same Alom-stones in above a Gallon of fresh water then to be evaporated to about half a Pint which filtred I evaporated further in Balneo M. to try if it would shoot per se but it would not onely came to a soft sort of matter or mellago 3. As to the third thing propounded viz. the difference betwixt this and other natural Hot-Baths in their original principles and primary causes We think that from what has already been said and especially what yet remains to be discours'd of in the next and other succeeding proposals that the difference of these from other Sulphurous waters both as to their origin and virtues will sufficiently be declared And that Sulphur of one sort or other is chiefly concern'd in the fabrick of all Hot-Baths and other Sulphurous waters compleating with other concurring juices the essence of them both 4. As to the fourth proposal viz. how and by what means the Sulphur as the chief mineral ingredient in this water is so opened as to become not onely so subtile as thence to be solvable odore tenus but also so volatile as to pass off in a continual steam and insensible effluvium For the great query is how Sulphur may be so opened as to make the Sulphur-well and other Sulphurous waters of the like nature While I was therefore seriously ruminating upon this matter viz. what it was that might truly be said to open the body of crude Sulphur whether it was an Acid or an Alcali I began to consider how many ways and by what means it was usually so opened as to make a solution in any Liquor First I considered it was solvable for the most part in all Oyles by the help of Fire and that I imagin'd happened from the analogy of parts betwixt Oyles and Sulphurs both of them being chiefly Sulphurs under a disguise the one in a concrete the other in a liquid form both of them also in their bellies hiding their intrinsick Acids the Oylie or Sulphurous parts of both by Fire melting together in the fluid form of a Balsome while the acidum chiefly of the Sulphur being thereby in part separated doth concrescere into a saline form under the appearance of crystals as is obvious in the preparing the Balsome of mineral Sulphur or Brimstone And as vinous Spirits are vegetable Sulphurs comminuted and subtiliz'd by Fermentation so these are also succedaneous to Oyles in the solutions of Brimstone yet need previous preparations by fixt Alcalies as they are called for being so spiritualiz'd are not such apt menstrua for solutions of crude Minerals as Oyles are although either of them are powerful enough for making very strong and furious Fermentations with the aforesaid mineral Sulphurs once by their congenial Acids brought by help of Fire into a fluor in the form of corrosive menstrua witness the high ebullitions betwixt vinous Spirits or Oyles and Spirit of Nitre Aqua-fortis Oyle of Vitriol c. some of them so very furious in their Fermentation as to arise to an actual flagration as we elsewhere demonstrate So that crude Sulphurs unopened by the acuations of the acidum of Fire which also sharpen the implanted Acids of such Minerals do dissolve quietly without any tumult if done leasurely and melt together into one Balsamick Liquor though if hastily done with a pretty smart Fire they make a crackling noise whereas the foresaid mineral Sulphurs being subtiliz'd by their own Acids fortified by the acidum of Fire in their distillation are brought thereby into a fluor of both principles and if then mixed with the foresaid vegetable Sulphurs contract a furious Fermentation from the fresh collisions betwixt Acids and Sulphurs and if close shut up would break in pieces the strongest Vessels art could contrive And as the foresaid solutions of mineral Sulphurs are perform'd by Oyles and vinous Spirits from analogy of parts I considered whether other sorts of solutions of crude Brimstone or the like Sulphurous Minerals might not also be done by the like analogy and then I pondered upon the alterations made upon Brimstone c. by fixt alcalies which how properly call'd we shew in our Halologia and quick-lime and by well weighing the matter found that as Brimstone was dissolvable in Oyle and Spirit of Wine as aforesaid so fixt alcalies work upon Sulphurs no otherwise then as they are acido-sulphurous Salts For I considered that volatile Alcalies such as are all urinous Spirits work not at all upon nor cause any alteration in Sulphurs therefore it must needs follow that wherein fixt and volatile alcalies do agree or in that property which is common to them both I mean their precipitating faculty neither of them is concern'd in the solutions of Brimstone and that is common both to fixt and volatile Alcalies to precipitate what Acids have dissolv'd Now the reason why urinous Spirits I mean volatile Alcalies as they are call'd do not at all work upon Brimstone is because they contain so very slender a texture of Acids and no Sulphurs if highly rectified and therefore are incapable by analogy of working upon the aforesaid bodies how fixt Alcalies are a new compage of their own native Acids and Sulphurs together with the intertexture of urinous Spirits from whence proceeds its precipitating faculty all bound up by the acidum of the Fire which is their vinculum and not a simple Salt we elsewhere in our History of Tartar declare more at large While I was pondering upon this matter at length methought I espyed a great harmony in natures works I saw that she perform'd the same solutions of mineral Sulphurs in some parts of the bowels of the Earth by her own menstrua of Acids prepared by her dextrous Art of Chymistry the very foundation and exemplar of all we call Artificial as she did in