A NEW ANALYSIS OF THE BRISTOL WATERS: Together with the CAUSE OF THE DIABETES and HECTIC.
And their Cure, as it reſults from thoſe WATERS, experimantally conſider'd.
By JOHN SHEBBEARE, Chemiſt.
LONDON: Printed for THO. COX, at the Lamb under the Royal-Exchange. MDCCXL. [Price One Shilling.]
TO THE PHYSICIANS OF THE CITY of BRISTOL.
[iii]THE Reaſon of my undertaking the following Analyſis, will be plainly enough ſeen in the Introduc⯑tion; but whether I have ſucceeded or fail'd in my Account of the Diabetes and it's Cure, as it ariſes from the Briſtol Waters, is left entirely to your Determination.
[iv]It has never once enter'd into my Imagination, that thoſe Waters will more effectually cure a Diabetes and Hectic now than heretofore, or any great Advantage accrue to Mankind from this Account; yet it has ever been agreeable to find the Theory of any Science, correſponding to the Facts ariſing from the Practice of it.
You will excuſe me, if thro' this Account of the Diabetes, &c. I in⯑cline to my Profeſſion. Every Man has ſome Bias, and the Buſineſs in which he is moſt engag'd is naturally moſt apt to draw him.
There was a time you perfectly well know, when almoſt every thing in Phyſic was accounted for from Chemical Principles. There was alſo, when every Diſeaſe and the Cure of [v]it, was reduced to Mathematical and Hydroſtatical Accounts: And all theſe in their different Turns have diſap⯑pear'd, and Obſervation and the Hiſtory of Diſeaſes have again ſuc⯑ceeded.
But methinks there is a Degree of Truth annex'd to every Manner of accounting for Diſorders, tho' not an abſolute one, and they ſeem to be moſtly falſe, only when they deny a Truth to each other. Anatomy will diſcover to us, that the Arteries and Veins contain what we call Blood, but what that Fluid is, and what Al⯑terations ariſe in it from different De⯑grees of Heat, and the Addition of different Medicines, Chemiſtry alone can inform us. It informs us alſo ex⯑perimentally, whether our Secretions, ſome of them, are perfectly ſecern'd [vi]or not. And tho' we cannot venture to aſcertain, that becauſe ſuch and ſuch Phaenomena ariſe from the Mix⯑ture of different Medicines with the Animal Fluids, apart from the Body, that they will be ſimilar there to, when within the Laws of Circulation; yet we muſt not altogether diſpiſe the Experimental and Analogical Manner of reaſoning; ſince we very often ſee that very fatal Conſequences are brought on by Medicine, and very probably too in the ſame Manner within us, as without, in the Experiments. It would be as ridiculous, juſt, as if we ſhould contemn the Advantages ac⯑cruing from Numbers becauſe we can⯑not attain to Infinity.
Whatever has been ſaid here in the Chemical Hypotheſis, may be ſaid with equal Truth in another View of [vii]the Mathematical and Hydroſtatical Account.
It may perhaps ſeem at firſt Sight that the Situation of the Well is too poetically deſcribed, for any thing in which Phyſic is concern'd; but I ima⯑gine when it is conſider'd that it was deſign'd as a Picture, and as it relieves the Mind from the Dryneſs of the Ex⯑periments, ſuch a Liberty may be al⯑low'd me; eſpecially ſince when the Deſcription ends, that kind of Stile is no longer continued.
If this Eſſay ſhould have the good Fortune of being liked by you, it will amply reward the Care I took in the Experimental Part; where to be juſt was my ſtricteſt Endeavour, as it ſhall always be in preparing thoſe Medi⯑cines which may come under your [viii]Adminiſtration: And for thoſe Rea⯑ſons, that every Phyſician may receive the due Honour of a juſt Preſcription, and every Patient the true Effect of a good Medicine.
THE INTRODUCTION.
[]IT is more than a Year ſince I began a Courſe of Experiments on the Briſtol Waters; but up⯑on knowing that Dr Keir had undertaken the Analyſis, I im⯑mediately ſtopt my Enquiry, and awaited his Publication, in Expectation of ſomething quite accurate and ſatisfactory. Upon peruſal of his Book I found my ſelf diſap⯑pointed, and continu'd my Experiments for theſe Reaſons.
Firſt, becauſe I ſee no Account for the Heat and other Phaenomena of the Waters.
Next, I apprehend the Concluſions drawn from his Experiments are not juſt.
[2]And laſtly, If the Waters do contain what the Doctor affirms, they will ever be irreconcilable with the Cure of a Diabetes.
I think then, there needs no Apology for an Enquiry of this Kind. It rather becomes neceſſary that ſome other ſhould be made which may bring the Rationale and Practice of thoſe Waters to coincide, and ſatisfy the Patient of the Truth of ſome Principles, upon which he may ground his Expectation of a Cure. Now let us ſuppoſe they con⯑tain Nitre and Limeſtone Powder with an exceeding ſubtle Spirit. Is there in this City any Phyſician that would heartily preſcribe theſe Waters: Or any diſtant Phyſician that would ſend a Patient to a Mineral either trifling, inefficacious, or of a Nature quite oppoſite the Cure? If then this ſhould be the Event, which is not unlikely, it will be fatal to the Health, if not Lives, of great Numbers.
As the following Experiments are of my own making, I can the better anſwer for the Truth of the Facts. There has been no Accuracy wanting in diſcovering the Con⯑tents of the Waters, and aſcertaining them from Phaenomena quite definitive. I have produced alſo analogous Appearances by dif⯑ferent Experiments, with Conjectures of their [3]Cauſes; then having conſider'd the Source of a Diabetes, I ſhew the Effects of thoſe Con⯑tents on animal Solids and Fluids as they produce the Cure.
Whatever Contradictions may be found in this Analyſis to that of Dr Keir, they muſt not be underſtood to ariſe from any Inclination I have to contradict, but from the Truth of the Examination. And where that is the Suppoſition every Man will be ſatisfied with it, however contrary to his Sentiments.
THE SITUATION OF THE HOT-WELL.
[]THE Situation of the Hot-Well is as pictureſque perhaps as can be imagin'd; it lies on the Side of the River Avon, about a Mile and half diſtant from the City of Briſtol. The Stream iſſues from a very high Clift of Lime Rock, perhaps two hundred Feet below the Summit, and ten above the Level of Low Water, but as the Water riſes here in the loweſt Tides thirty Feet, and in the Spring much more, it was of Neceſſity ren⯑der'd inacceſſible ſome hours every Day, till Mr Padmore, (a Man well known for his [5]Genius in Mechanics) inclos'd it with a Ciſtern, and affixed Pumps to the Spring, by means of theſe the Stream is elevated almoſt thirty Feet in all its native Heat, Purity, and Perfection: Notwithſtanding this Care the River Water, when it riſes above the Spring, mixes with the Medicinal and renders it unfit for Uſe; this is perfectly well known by thoſe that pump at the Well, and conſequently as ſoon as perceived they abſtain till it recovers its former Purity.
The River Avon flows here till it falls int othe Severn Sea, between two Cliffs, in ſome Places vaſtly high, craggy and over⯑hanging, in others perpendicular or gently ſloping; here cover'd with Woods and flowering Shrubs, of all the different Shades of Green, fill'd with Muſic of our Singing Birds; There gloomy and obſcure, con⯑traſted by ſtrong Lights, and various Colours of the Marble Rocks, which are as variega⯑ted as the foreign, and admit as beautiful a Poliſh. Add to this the flowing of the Tide which enhanſes the Beauty, by bringing Veſſels of every Kind cloſe to the Windows of the Water-Room, and compleats as agreeable Landſcape as can be ſeen any where. And as the Mind and Body reciprocally affect each other, how proper an Entertainment is it for the Imaginations of Men indiſ⯑poſed, [6]and how Salutary an Avocation to thoſe Thoughts which every Valetudinarian is too apt to indulge? Hence it is in ſome greater degree conducive to Health, than Places altogether void of theſe Amuſements.
On the Summit of the Rocks there for⯑merly ſtood a Chapel, dedicated to St Vin⯑cent, it is equally uncertain whether he was canonized for the Diſcovery of the Medicinal Spring, and the Cures thence reſulting to Mankind, or from clearing the River of huge Rocks that diſtreſs'd the Sailors in their Navigation near this Place. Whatever was the Cauſe, he conſtantly received their Vows for fafety as their tutelar Saint, and was of no ſmall Diſtinction.
The Downs which are on a Level with the Cliffs are of a dry healthy Soil, and much frequented by Company; they are open to the reviving Breezes of the Sea, which refreſh them every Summer's Day. Here too you may adapt your Proſpects and Situa⯑tion to every Humour, whither you chuſe to be conceal'd beneath the Shade of Rocks and Woods, reclin'd beſide ſome murmuring Rivulet, which naturally return our Thoughts upon ourſelves; or whether you prefer the exalted Situation, where the Mind widens with the View into Benevolence and good [7]Wiſhes. That Proſpects have a kind of Moral Effect on the Thought I preſume no one will deny, ſince Light and Colours are to the Eye, what Sound and Harmony is to the Ear. Hence too it was that the Temples of the ancient Deities were ſituated accord⯑ing to their Attributes: That of Pluto in a Cavern all ſad and gloomy, by the Side of rumbling Waters; whilſt that of the Muſes was placed on the Point of Parnaſſus all gay and enlivening; perhaps the moſt elevated Eminence of this Cliff was made the Seat of St Vincent's Chapel, becauſe his Beneficence was more extenſive than that of other Men.
The eſſential Difference of the Air in this Place, from moſt other dry and elevated Situations is, that it has but little, if any, of that vague Acid, ſo generally diſperſed thro' the Earth, which in ſome Places is even deadly, as at the Grotto Dei Cani in Italy. We may be aſſured of this from the Nature of the Waters and Foſſils in both, which, an Alcaleſcence prevails. Now every thing offenſive in the Atmoſphere muſt ariſe from Exhalation, but it is ſcarce probable that there are any acid Effluvia here, becauſe if the acid was in any Quantity there muſt be more Salts found in the Water, ſince it is evident there is no want of Limeſtone: Now Limeſtone and a mineral Acid for ever pro⯑duce [8]Alum, and conſequently as there is little Alum found here, the Air muſt be void of acid Effluvia: Notwithſtanding this this great Advantage, it muſt not be thought that this Air is agreeable to every Indiſpſi⯑tion, it can be of Service to none but thoſe of a cold pituitous nervous Habit, and detri⯑mental to all whoſe Juices tend to Alcaleſcence and Putrefaction from a ſanguine Conſtitu⯑tion.
The Lodging-Houſes are neat and well ſituated, having a pleaſant Proſpect, and as they are near a large City 'tis eaſy to be pro⯑vided with every Neceſſary: Here are Baths too, both private and well contriv'd, and a Long Room with the uſual Diverſions attend⯑ing ſuch Places.
It ſeems but of little Significancy to deter⯑mine the Quantity of Water diſcharged in any certain Time, becauſe it conduces no⯑thing towards an Account of it's Properties, and ſince there is more waſted than uſed, notwithſtanding the great Demand for it. But ſhould there be any one curious enough to enquire, he may be ſatisfied by the follow⯑ing Experiment: it has been experimentally found by Monſieur Mariotte, that Water flowing from the Surface of a Pool thro' a Hole an Inch ſquare, and always full, runs [9]off thirty Cubic Feet in an Hour, Paris Meaſure. Upon this Experiment having ta⯑ken the mean Proportion of the Depth of the Stream, where it runs out over the Rock, it may be nearly known how many ſquare Inches it contains, and conſequently what Aperture it would paſs through naturally; then conſidering that the Contents of Circles are to each other as the Squares of their Diameters, the whole Diſcharge in one Hour may be pretty juſtly known.
How long this Medicinal Water has been preſcribed by Phyſicians, for thoſe Maladies it is now ſo deſervedly eſteem'd to cure, is uncertain. We know however, that they have been adminiſter'd with great Succeſs, and their Character much heighten'd by the preſent Phyſicians of Briſtol.
EXPERIMENTS ON THE BRISTOL WATER.
[10]THE more accurately to diſtinguiſh the Genus of the Waters, I ſhall conſider the Phaenomena as they naturally appear. The firſt of which are its ſparkling and whiteneſs in the Glaſs. Upon growing cold this whiteneſs diſappears, and is precipitated to the Bottom of the Bottle in white Flakes, after being kept ſome Time.
Experiment I.
To the Bottom of a Glaſs, by means of ſome Wax, having fix'd a Thermometer *, it was pump'd on till the Spirits roſe to the utmoſt from the Heat, upon Examina⯑tion it was found to the Heat of Health as Seventy-ſeven is to Ninety-four, the Heat of the Atmoſphere being at that Time Fifty-two.
Experiment II.
[11]To a Glaſs of the Water recent from the Spring was poured Syrup of Violets, and it became green; with a Solution of Silver in Aqua fortis, Sugar of Lead in common Wa⯑ter, Oil of Tartar per Deliquium, it turn'd milky and precipitated. Quickſilver diſſolv'd in ſtrong Spirit of Nitre, turn'd yellow with the Hot-Well Water; with a Solution of Sublimate in Water, Spirit of Hartſhorn, and Tincture of Steel, the Water continued tran⯑ſparent. With Oil of Vitriol a briſk Agita⯑tion and Efferveſcence aroſe, with Galls no Difference.
Experiment III.
In order to know whether there were any Spirits eſcap'd from the Waters in cooling, I fix'd a Receiver to a Retort, and well luted the Juncture; then thro' a Hole made in the Crown of the Retort, by a Glaſs Fun⯑nel the Retort was fill'd with Water as it ran warm from the Spring; the Hole then being ſtopt, I waited to ſee if there would any Spirit come over into the Receiver: In all the cooling there appear'd not the leaſt Eva⯑poration or Dew, and if there was any, it [12]eſcaped like Light thro' the Pores of the Glaſs, a Thing ſcarce credible.
Experiment IV.
The Briſtol Water examin'd ſtatically, and compared with Rain Water receiv'd very pure on an Eminence, ſcarce differ'd from it in weight, it was ten Grains in a Pint lighter than common Spring Water.
Experiment V.
Having diſtill'd five Gallons of Briſtol Water from a clean Glaſs Retort, in a gentle Heat of Sand, there remain'd 280 Grains of a whitiſh Salt Powder, and conſequently 7 Grains to a Pint, now a Pint containing 28⅞ Cubic Inches, and a Cubic Inch weighing 253 2/10 Grains nearly, the Water is to the Reſiduum as 7310 to 7, or 1044½ to 1.
Experiment VI.
Two Drams of the Remains being diſ⯑ſolved in Water and filter'd, the Salt was found after Evaporation, to the Earth as eleven to thirteen, with another Solution of the Remains after Filtration, all the Ex⯑periments were repeated that were made by different Menſtrua at the Well. The Dif⯑ference [13]was, that Syrup of Violets did not turn green, nor the Solution of Mercury yellow, but Spirits of Hartſhorn became milky, and Oil of Vitriol diſcover'd no Ef⯑ferveſcence.
Experiment VII.
Another Part of the filter'd Solution was evaporated till a Pellicle appear'd, and then was placed in a cold Cellar that the Salts might ſhoot: After a few Days the Glaſs was cover'd with Cryſtals, which being exa⯑min'd by a Microſcope appear'd octogonal, interſperſed with cubical ones.
Experiment VIII.
Having ſeparated the octogonal Cryſtals from the Square, I put them in a Crucible on the Fire, at firſt they melted, then dry'd and bliſter'd, and became white, after taking off the Crucible there appear'd a light ſpongy Subſtance, acrid to the Taſte.
Experiment IX.
The Salts obtain'd from an Evaporation of the filter'd Solution were put into a very ſmall Retort, and then pouring Oil of Vitriol on them, the Receiver was immediatly fix'd [14]and luted, and both placed in a Sand-Heat; upon the gradual Application of Fire, there aſcended a white Fume, and a genuine Spirit of Salt came over into the Receiver.
Experiment X.
To an equal Quantity of the octogonal Cryſtals, and common Tartar powder'd and well mix'd, I applied a red hot Iron, but there enſued no Fulmination or firing.
Experiment XI.
Upon the inſipid Earth that remain'd in Filter there was pour'd Oil of Vitriol, and it raiſed a ſtrong Ebullition, and with Syrup Violets turn'd green, and ſhew'd every Ap⯑pearance of Alkaleſcence, upon Application of a Loadſtone there were no ferruginous Particles attracted.
Experiments producing Phaeno⯑mena analogous to the Briſtol Waters.
[15]Experiment I.
TO one Ounce of unſlak'd Lime I pour'd cold Water, inſtantly there aroſe little Bubbles from the Lime, and upon Ap⯑plication the Thermometer aroſe very faſt. The Heat was brought as nigh as poſſible to that of the Hot-Well, by the Affuſion of more Water. Uncalcin'd Limeſtone produces no Warmth; Nitre, Alum, and all foſſile Salts produce Cold.
Experiment II.
Having filter'd the Lime Water, and pre⯑pared ſeparate Solutions of Nitre, Roche Alum, and Sea Salt, I firſt mix'd the Solu⯑tion of Nitre with the Lime Water and the Tranſparency continued, then was added the Solution of Sea Salt, and it continu'd un⯑alter'd as before; to another Glaſs of Lime Water was the Solution of Alum pour'd, and immediately it became milky and pre⯑cipitated white Flakes. No other Mineral [16]Salt but Alum can produce this Phaenomenon, becauſe it is the only one in which the Acid prevails in a natural State, nor any other but Lime Water.
Experiment III.
With a Solution of Alum and common Salt, the ſame Experiments were repeated that were made with the filter'd Solution of the Hot-Well Remains, they anſwer'd in every Trial, particularly with Spirit of Hartſhorn and Oil of Tartar per Deliquium: This is characteriſtic to Alum, and can be produced by no other foſſile Salt. *
Experiment IV.
To the Solution of Alum and Sea Salt I pour'd the Solution of Quickſilver, and it became milky, but upon adding Lime Water it turn'd yellow as it does at the Hot-Well. This then is another definitive Proof of it's being Aq. Calcis. the Water in which an unburnt Limeſtone taken from the Spot had been laid produced no Alteration.
Experiment V.
[17]The Cryſtals of Alum being examin'd by a Microſcope, were found of the ſame * Figure with thoſe of the Briſtol Water. To thoſe Cryſtals of Alum I added Sea-Salt, and then putting them both in a ſmall Retort proceeded as in the ninth Pro⯑ceſs on the Hot-well Water, the Effect was the ſame as in the former, nothing came over but true Spirit of Salt: The Alum im⯑parts no Spirit to the Salt, but acts only by Means of its predominating Acid, much like Oil of Vitriol, had this been Nitre inſtead of Alum the Production would have been an Aqua Regia.
Experiment VI.
I put a Crucible into the Fire, in which was firſt put ſome Alum, it melted, then dry'd and bliſter'd, and upon being taken out reſembled in every Reſpect the Salt of the Hot-Well Water, as it was after the eighth Experiment. Had it been † Nitre in the room of Alum, it would have flow'd for ever in the Crucible, and upon cooling would have been a Sal Prunella.
Experiment VII.
[18]After having mixt equal Quantities of Alum and Tartar well dry'd and powder'd, I put to it a red hot Iron Rod, there was no firing enſued; Nitre mixt with Tartar would have fulminated and become a fix'd Alcaline Salt.
Experiment VIII.
To the Earth left after the Evaporation of Lime Water, I added Oil of Vitriol, it excited an Efferveſcence, and was not to be diſtinguiſhed in any Reſpect, or Experiment, from the Earth of the Hot-Well.
From the foregoing Experiments it pretty plainly appears, that inſtead of Nitre and Limeſtone Powder with an exceeding ſubtle Spirit, there is contain'd in the Water Alum and Lime in the Act of Slaking; and from thence only I ſhall deduce the Cure of a Diabetes; and then ſhow if it was Nitre and a Volatile Spirit they would be abſo⯑lutely miſchievous, and if Limeſtone ineffi⯑cacious: But before I proceed to account for the Cauſe of a Diabetes and its Cure, I ſhall advance ſome Conjectures about the Cauſe of the Heat, as it ariſes from Lime in the ſlaking.
Conjectures on the Cauſe of the Heat of the HOT-WELL Water.
[21]BEFORE I begin, I foreſee the moſt material Objection, which is, that na⯑turally there is no Limeſtone calcin'd, and conſequently the Heat muſt ariſe from ſome other Cauſe; and as that Acid which is every where floating thro' the Earth, re⯑ſembles Oil of Vitriol, it will, like that Oil meeting with Water, produce Heat; this may be granted, but then the Stream would taſte acid, and turn Syrup of Violets red, and the Alum muſt be in greater Proportion, ſince here is more alcaline Earth than the Acid can ſate: Which is demonſtrated by the alcaline Qualities predominating at the Well. Neither can the Warmth ariſe from the Solution of the Salts, for all foſſile Salts [22]produce Cold in Diſſolution, much leſs can it come from the Attrition of the Water, becauſe that is experimentally known not to affect Water. If in the poliſhing two Marble Stones you rub one againſt the other dry, they will conceive an intenſe Heat, but add the leaſt Water and it is impoſſible to produce it.
Theſe Objections then being got over, I beg leave to take back my own Sentiments wherever I find them, and endeavour to prove, that it is probable, at ſome diſtant Time this Lime Rock was partially cal⯑cin'd by a ſubterraneous Fire, and has ſup⯑plied the Stream with Warmth ever ſince.
It muſt be conſider'd at the ſame Time, that this Subject will admit of no experi⯑mental Proof, and whether I ſucceed or not in the Account of the Cauſe of the Heat, it has already been definitively proved to be a Lime Water, in which is diſſolved Alum and Sea-Salt; but as Natural Philoſo⯑phy is in great Part but Analogy, and as Pro⯑bability is equal to Demonſtration in all Caſes where a down-right Negative with⯑out any Support is the Oppoſition, it may be allow'd me here. To inſtance, ſuppoſe yourſelf in any Country in which there was not the leaſt Trace of any human Preſence [23]but ſome very antique and ruin'd Archi⯑tecture, what would you conclude? Why that as thoſe Structures were as far as ever you had obſerv'd, the Effects of Men, this muſt be ſo likewiſe, the Parallel will hold, for it is as certain that ſubterraneous Fires have broke Hills aſunder, and alter'd the Courſe of Rivers; and that Fire will burn Limeſtone according to its Degree and Du⯑ration, as that Ruins are the Proofs of hu⯑man Means: Eſpecially when it is ſup⯑ported by all the collateral Phaenomena left after ſuch Convulſions.
Now let us ſee whether we have Ap⯑pearance in the preſent Caſe to ſupport us. Whoever conſiders the Situation of the Hot-Well, that it lies between two Preci⯑pices, between which alſo the River runs, will directly imagine that in the Place of this River there was once a continu'd Hill, and that the Chaſm was cauſed by ſome⯑thing preternatural and violent. Add the correſponding Inequalities of the Cliffs on each Side, and that the Heat ariſes from Lime in the Act of ſlaking, and that naturally there is no Lime without Fire. The Inclination of the River is moſt evidently thro' the Valley of Long Aſhton, which leads to the Severn Sea, and there is a faint Tradition that it once ran that Way, till [24]St Vincent by cleaving the Rocks form'd the Channel through which it now runs. Thoſe Traditions however Fabulous they may appear, have generally ſome real Founda⯑tions, tho' traced with Difficulty fond a⯑mongſt the numerous Years that cover them, and obſcur'd by the Imaginations of Man⯑kind too apt to run into the marvellous. I ſhould ſcarce have inſiſted on this, had it not made this Eſſay approach nearer to a Syſtem, tho' it has at leaſt as great a Proba⯑bility on it's Side as that Dover and Calais were ever join'd, which I have ſeen very gravely aſſerted.
Had I contented myſelf without Experi⯑ment, that the Hot-Well Water contain'd Alum and not Nitre *, I ſhould have had an indiſputable Authority on my Side, the Sea-Salt which it has is left from the Mixture of the Tide Water.
Of the DIABETES.
[25]EVERY Diſeaſe to which we are ſub⯑jected muſt neceſſarily ariſe from ſome Alteration in the Solids or Fluids, a Diabetes may ariſe from either; but I believe the moſt frequent and moſt fatal ariſes from the want of Digeſtion in the Primae Viae, or from what may be ſafely enough call'd the Secondary Digeſtion in the minuter Veſſels. My Meaning will be better under⯑ſtood by what follows. Digeſtion, I ap⯑prehend, is nothing more than preparing the Aliments for a Separation to be made by the Lacteals: Now when this Separation is perform'd, and the ſecreted Chyle brought into the Blood, there remains another Pro⯑ceſs of Nature; which is to aſſimilate the nutritious and throw off the detrimental Particles by the Kidnies and cuticular Glands. For unleſs the Urinous Salts &c. are ſe⯑creted, it is no more Nutriment in the Blood than it was Chyle before it was ſe⯑creted from the Faeces, and this is what is meant by the Secondary Digeſtion.
[26]It follows now, that a Fault in either of theſe Functions may be the Source of many Diſtempers, and as it is univerſally allow'd that the weakeſt Part ſuffers in every Aſſault, there may be various Diſeaſes from one and the ſame Cauſe, according as Conſtitutions are differently diſpoſed to receive Impreſ⯑ſions. Particularly ſuppoſe any one has ſpent a Life gay enough, ‘"Bottle and Friend too much indulging."’ Upon any Fault in either of the Functions, a Diſeaſe will likely enough fall on the Kidnies, as thoſe have been the Glands moſtly diſtended and weakned by frequent uſe.
It is notorious alſo, that the continu'd uſe of ſpirituous Liquors indurates all Aliments, and ſtiffens the Fibres of the Stomach. Nay that Spirit of Wine injected into the Arteries of a living Animal, immediately congeals the Serum, impedes Circulation, and Death en⯑ſues. This is in ſome Degree the Caſe, whenever we indulge too freely in Spi⯑rituous Liquors, and at laſt totally deprives us of Appetite and Digeſtion. If Di⯑geſtion then is but illy perform'd in the Primae Viae, inſtead of Chyle the Secretion will be crude and imperfect, and conſe⯑quently the Fault will never be amended when it gets within the Laws of Circula⯑tion. Nor will the Vis Naturae of itſelf avail [27]to ſeparate thoſe Salts by the Kidnies; thence it will reſult, that thro' want of this Separa⯑tion there be will no Nutriment aſſimilated, and an Accumulation of Fluids ſupervening, the Veſſels and Glands are diſtended, and the Serum, with all the Nutritious Juice, paſſes off by the Kidnies.
It has been, I know not how, always thought, that a Diabetes * was a too profuſe [28]Diſcharge of Urine. But there cannot be a greater Miſtake, the Diſorder is not from too great a Diſcharge of Urine, but quite contrary, becauſe there is no Urine at all diſcharged, but Serum or Chyle in it's Room: For it is ſcarce poſſible to ſecrete too much Urine, or any natural Secretion, but the Danger ever is, when ſomething that is not the true Secretion is carried off. This holds equally true in Hectic Fevers, and pro⯑fuſe Sweats, and I ſhall endeavour to ſhew that Hectic Sweats are thro' the Cuticular Glands, what a Diabetes is by the Kidnies.
That what has already been ſaid is the true Cauſe of a Diabetes, will evidently ap⯑pear from the Hiſtory of that Malady, as laid down by our beſt Phyſicians, and every Symptom is eaſily deduced from that Ori⯑ginal. Whoever will take the leaſt trouble to review the above Quotations, will eaſily deduce every Symptom from the Cauſe which has been aſſign'd before; and muſt obſerve that the Cure wholly depends upon bringing [29]back the true Secretion of Urine, which is no more than ſeparating the animal Salts from the Fluids, and reſtoring the Strength and Elaſticity of the over-diſtended Fibres.
There remains now that we examine, if Lime in the Act of ſlaking will ſeparate thoſe urinous Salts, and whether Alum will reſtore the Tone of the weaken'd Fibres. What the Effects of Lime will be cannot be better ſeen than by the XCVIIth Experiment of the learned Boerhaave, with his Obſerva⯑tions of it's Uſe.
Hence are plainly diſcover'd the Effects of Lime on animal Fluids, and that it exactly executes what a Medicine muſt do to cure a Diabetes, which is to extricate, and prepare an eaſy Secretion for the more fixed muriatic Salts ſticking in the Blood. Let us now ſuppoſe that this Separation of the Salts is brought about, what muſt be added to finiſh the Cure? It muſt be ſome Medicine which may bring the Fibres into a contractile State, and recover that Elaſticy they had loſt from too great Diſtention; that Alum will anſwer in all this Part is notorious; from it's Aſtrin⯑gency it will bring the Stomach into ſtronger Contractions, and improve Digeſtion; in the Glands it will leſſen the Diameters of the ſecreting Veſſels; in the Arteries it will [30]ſhorten their Fibres, improve their Spring, and accelerate the Circulation; and as, according to the Laws of Hydroſtatics, Fluids circu⯑lating in Tubes have their lighteſt Parts dri⯑ven to the Sides, whilſt the more heavy are propell'd, the emulgent Arteries lying at right Angles muſt receive the lighteſt Parts of the Fluid, and bring it to the Kidnies, which from the aluminous Particles are con⯑tracted to let nothing thro' but theſe Salts diſſolved in the aqueous Menſtrum, which the Lime had before diſengaged.
We can now aſſign a good Reaſon for the drinking thoſe Waters warm at the Spring, without being obliged to a Ficton for their Virtues. Since it is demonſtrated, that all the ſalutary Effects ariſe from the ſlaking Lime, and that after that Action ceaſes by cooling, it produces no Alteration on animal Solids and Fluids, but as a mere alcaline Earth. The aluminous Part indeed, tho' the ſame at a Diſtance as when on the Spot, avails no⯑thing without the previous Separation of the Salts, which can be effected by the ſlaking Lime only.
Let us now examine what would have been the Conſequences in the foregoing In⯑diſpoſition, if the Contents of the Hot-Well [31]had been a ſubtle Spirit, Nitre, and Lime⯑ſtone Powder; if that had been a Spirit it muſt be a Mineral one, if a Mineral Spirit an Acid one, now all Mineral Acids coagulate the Blood, and hinder Secretions ariſing from Alcaleſcence *, Nitre abſolutely hinders a Separation of the Animal Salts from an al⯑caleſcent Cauſe, and is beneficial only when the Juices are in the quite oppoſite State to that of a Diabetes, as in a Pleuriſy and all inflammatory Fevers. Limeſtone, like all other Stone, is abſolutely no more than a Terra damnata †.
It may be objected here, that, inſtead of proceeding on Boerhave's Experiment on Urine, I ſhould have tried whether it would have anſwer'd with the Briſtol Waters, and if it would not, my Concluſions are all falſe and ſuppoſititious only. Suppoſe this Ob⯑jection true, it has a plauſible Appearance, yet upon Examination does not ſtand the Teſt.
It is certain we can conceive no Alteration by our Senſes in any thing, unleſs it be [32]ſtrong enough to create a diſtinct Perception. The Atmoſphere differs in Preſſure from the heavieſt to the lighteſt many Degrees, yet I believe no one will ſay that he feels any Di⯑minution or Increaſe of Weight in the Alteration, the Reaſon is becauſe this Altera⯑tion is not a ſufficient Avocation to the gene⯑ral Attention we muſt allow the general At⯑moſphere. Now with Reſpect to the Briſtol Water, were it ten times as ſtrongly impreg⯑nated with Lime, it would create a very viſible Effect in the foregoing Experiment, but tho' it ſhould not as it is, yet it muſt not be concluded from thence that it is quite in⯑efficacious, we muſt ſay notwithſtanding that it has every proportional Appearance with the other. Another Inſtance will better ex⯑plain my Meaning. You have a Bundle of Straw under your Arm, I take one ſecretly from you, yet by the ſtricteſt Scrutiny of your Eye and Hand you neither perceive the Weight nor Number much leſſen'd; but it is leſſen'd in both reſpects, or the Weight is compounded from an aggregate of no Weights, and the Number of no Numbers, which is impoſſible. Well then, ſhould I repeat the Theft it will at laſt appear very plain in both Senſes, and you were hinder'd from ob⯑ſerving it in the firſt, by what was ſaid of the Atmoſphere, the Difference was not great enough to create a diſtinct Perception, [33]and call off your Attention from the greater Weight of the Bundle. The ſame may be ſaid of the Briſtol Waters, that tho' it ſhould create no perceivable Alteration at any one time taken ſingly, yet often repeated it would have the ſame Effects with the other, but in a ſlower Way.
From the ſlight Impregnation of Lime, we may eaſily deduce it's moſt ſalutary Effects, as it's Alterations are ſilently and mildly carried on, without producing thoſe violent Symptoms which would follow from a larger Quantity, as Fevers, Deliriums, &c. the very ſame is true as to the Quantity of the Alum.
Of a HECTIC FEVER.
IT has already been mention'd, that the Sweats of a Hectic were thro' the Mi⯑liary Glands, what a Diabetes is thro' the Kidnies; and if we attend diligently, we ſhall find that, like the Diabetes, the Dan⯑ger in a Hectic Fever does not ariſe from too profuſe a Secretion of Sweat, but from the nutritious Particles paſſing off this way: [34]For there is no Inſtance of a too large Diſ⯑charge by Sweat, provided it is really that Secretion. Now what has been ſaid with reſpect to a Diabetes, that there can be no Nutriment aſſimilated, unleſs the excremen⯑titious Fluids are ſecern'd, holds true here, for this Reaſon, all attempts are vain which endeavour to check thoſe Hectic Sweats, with⯑out altering the Juices, and generating the na⯑tural Diſcharge. Is it not always obſerv'd as often as you endeavour to ſtop thoſe Sweats, if you ſucceed in that particular, a Diarrhaea conſtantly ſucceeds, equally fatal as the for⯑mer Symptom? It has been obſerv'd by the ingenious Dr Allen, that a Diabetes and Ptyaliſmus have alternately ſucceeded the Sup⯑preſſion of each other, and that the Cure of one was the Cure of the other: It is the ſame in a Hectic, if you cure the Sweats you ſuppreſs the Diarrhaea, but if you only de⯑rive it from the Glands of the Skin to thoſe of the Inteſtines, you have not proceded one Step towards the Patient's Recovery; nor can he poſſibly recover till he produce the natural Diſcharges, that the nutritious Particles may be laid aſide for the Support of Life, and this ſeems likely to be effected by the ſlaking Lime, as in the Diabetes; for the Salts of the animal Fluids are the ſame in every Secretion, and the State of the Fluids [35]the ſame in each Diſorder, only the Secre⯑tion paſſes thro' different Emunctories, ac⯑cording as the Conſtitution is diſpoſed from a particular Texture of the Glands. I need not apply the uſe of the Alum, becauſe every one will ſee it's uſe as plainly here as in the Diabetes. There can no Objection ariſe from the Lime, as if it ſhould produce a pu⯑trefact State of the Blood, becauſe then the Salts in the * Experiment on the Urine would have been Volatile Alkalies, whereas it is neither Acid nor Alcali, but quite a-kin to the Human.
What Advantage may not ariſe from the Uſe of this Briſtol Water, if the Patient would apply to them before he is gone be⯑yond the reach of Medicine? Nay, even in the laſt State of a Pulmonary Conſumption I cannot ſee but it muſt be ſerviceable, for it is certain Human Nature cannot be ſuſtain'd without Nutrition, and no Nutrition can be form'd without the previous Separation of the excrementitious Salts: Nor can the Ulcers of the Lungs incarne, unleſs the true Balſam be brought to them, which I apprehend to be no more than true Nutriment.
[36]There may be many other Diſeaſes in which it may be beneficial, as in the Ele⯑phantiaſis from a cold Cauſe, Chloroſis, and all Cachexies, where the Fluids are too viſ⯑cous and the Fibres too much relax'd.
OF THE EFFECTS OF THE WATERS IN NEPHRITIC DISORDERS.
[37]IT has of late been an Objection to the Briſtol Waters, that upon the Uſe of them they have increaſed the Gravel in thoſe Subjects liable to that Complaint, and for that Reaſon not to be drank ſafely by ſuch Perſons. A ſtricter Attention, and a fair State of the Caſe will ſet the Matter in a quite oppoſite Light.
[38]It has been found by ſome ſubject to Ne⯑phritic Complaints, that at their firſt coming to the Well and drinking the Waters, the Paroxyſms have oftner ſucceeded each other, and with more Violence than before, and thence they have concluded that the Waters increaſe theſe Diſorders: But how unjuſt is this when we conſider that the Pain is not the Diſeaſe, but a Conſequence of it's paſſing off by Means of Medicine, or the Efforts of Nature throwing off the already generated Concretions. Suppoſe any Quantity of Gravel lodg'd in the Baſon of the Kidnies, is it not manifeſt that Pains muſt ſucceed upon it's removal from thence thro' the Ureters into the Bladder? And is it not equally certain, that whatever promotes the diſlodging this Gravel from the Kidnies is a ſalutary Medicine? And the more efficacious it is, the oftner the Paroxyſms will follow each other, till the whole is brought away? This is directly the Caſe in the Hot Well Water, and ſeen in this true Light removes the Objection.
Now let us ſee whether our Theory will not vindicate this Fact. Every one allows that Nephitic Diſeaſes ariſe from ſome Fault in the Urinary Secretion; it has been already experimentally obſerv'd, that ſlaking Lime produces that true Secretion; hence it follows that no Alterative can be more ſuc⯑ceſsfully [39]purſued than this Medicinal Water, ſince it waſhes off the already concreted Gravel, and hinders it from being generated a-new, by producing the genuine Diſcharge.
It does not belong to me to ſay what Medicine or Diet is beſt adapted in each Caſe with theſe Waters, whatever Phyſician ſhall have the Care of thoſe that drink this Medicinal Water, will inform them in theſe and many other things, altogether beyond any thing that can be ſaid by me.
Et ſi e ſaxo aëre & igne, materies aqua ſolvitur, affuſu alcali fixi vel volatilis praecipitatur cum efferve⯑ſcentia.
BOER. de Alumine.
Quintus inter foſſiles ſimples ſales eſt acidus, vagus, volatilis, liquidus, forte ubique in fodinis obvius, hic — cum Metallis diverſa Chaicantha, com terris calcariis alumina differentia, componit.
BOER. de Alumine.
Comme il y a des eaux minerales qui ſont remplies d'une terre Alkaline, & d'une Eſprit Vitriolique on pent en retirer de l'alun par l'Evaporation.
Nouveau Cours de Chymie.
Diuturna eſt hujus morbi creatio, & longo tempore parturitur in principio os humore privatur, ſaliva albida eſt, ac ſpumans, paulo plus lotii, quam moris erat, effunditur; ſitis adeſt ſed nondum vehemens, calefactio parva quidem, ſed mordax, viſceribus inherens exoritur; habitus corporis gracilis evadit, & homo anxius & animi dubius exiſtit, progreſſu temporis ſitis inſigniter augetur, & velox eſt Carnium & Membrorum in Urinam colliquatio; neque enim cum intermiſſione lotium reddit, ſed, perinde ut canales laxati ſint, indeſinens eſt pro⯑fuſio; ſitis intolerabilis eſt, potus copioſus, multitudini tamen lotii non reſpondens, ſi parvum tempus a meiendo abſtinuerit, intumeſcunt lumbi, teſtes, & ilia, poſtremo cum dolore meit, & feſtina mors adventura eſt. Urinae quidem guſtus lenis, & minimè, quantum memini dulcis, paulatim tamen dulceſcere in confeſſo eſt, quòd primùm aquoſior. Seri pars affunditur, & poſtea ipſa ſeri pars chyloſior. Huic autem rei fidem facit, nempe Phthiſi⯑corum plurimorum ultimis menſibus inſignis ſpiriti dul⯑cedo, ad Nauſeam uſque moleſta (lac etiam muliebre, a chylo parvulum diſcrepans, dulceſcit.)
Succi ſanguini illati per vias urinarias crudi & incocti exitum ſibi quaerunt, unde ſenſim labefactantur vires, colliqueſcit corpus, & quaſi ſubſtantia ejus per hanc cloacam exinanitur, cum ſiti, ardore Viſcerum, Lumbo⯑ram Coxarumque intumeſcentia, & ſalivae ſpumoſae ex⯑ſpuitione crebia.
Spiritus Vitrioli Sulphuriſque paritur cogit in maſſam conſtrictam plerumque albeſcentem.
BOER. CXXVII. Exp. Sang. Phae. a acidis, &c.
- Zitationsvorschlag für dieses Objekt
- TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 5601 A new analysis of the Bristol waters together with the cause of the diabetes and hectic And their cure as it results from those waters experimentally consider d By John Shebbeare. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5A02-D