# Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Bath-waters

Edition of 1802.
​BATH-WATERS are celebrated on account of their having a higher temperature than any other in Britain, and being the only springs which are sensibly hot to the touch. All other thermal waters of this island are below the animal temperature, and deserve that appellation only, from being invariably warmer than common springs are in general.
By the erection of elegant baths, these waters are particularly adapted to the benefit of invalids, who find here a variety of establishments, contributing equally to health, convenience, and amusement.
There are three principal springs in the city of Bath, namely, those called the King's Bath, the Cross Bath, and the Hot Bath; all within a short distance of each other, ​and emptying themselves into the river Avon, after having passed through the several baths. Their supply is so copious, that all the large reservoirs used for bathing, are filled every evening with fresh water, from their respective fountains. In their sensible and medicinal properties, there is but a slight difference: according to Dr. Falconer, the former are, 1. That the water, when newly drawn, appears clear and colourless, remains perfectly inactive, without bubbles, or any sign of briskness or effervescence; 2. After being exposed to the open air for some hours, it becomes rather turbid, by the separation of a pale yellow, ochery precipitate, which gradually subsides; 3. No odour is perceptible from a glass of the fresh water, but a slight pungency to the taste from a large mass of it, when fresh drawn; which, however, is neither fetid nor sulphureous; 4. When hot from the pump, it affects the mouth with a strong chalybeate impression, without being of a saline or pungent taste; and 5. On growing cold, the chalybeate taste is entirely lost, leaving only a very slight sensation on the tongue, by which it can scarcely be distinguished from common hard spring water.
In specific gravity, the water of the King's, or Hot Bath, and that of the Cross Bath, exceed all other cold or warm springs of that city; the former being one-tenth, and the latter one-twelfth part of a thousand, heavier than the water in the river Avon.
The temperature of the King's Bath water, which is usually preferred for drinking, is, when fresh drawn in the glass, above 116°.; that of the Cross Bath 112°. But after flowing into the spacious bathing vessels; it is generally from 100 to 106° in the hotter baths, and from 92 to 94° in the Cross Bath; a temperature which remains nearly stationary, and is greater than that of any other natural spring in Britain. A small quantity of gas is also disengaged from these waters, which Dr. Priestley first discovered to contain no more than one-twentieth part of its bulk of fixed air, or carbonic acid. It would be foreign to our plan, to expatiate upon the chemical properties of the Bath waters, which have been so ably analyzed by the ingenuity of Drs. Lucas, Falconer, and Gibbs, to whose description we refer: we shall here only remark, that they contain so small a proportion of iron, as to amount only to 1-20th or 1-38th of a grain in the pint; and, according to Dr. Gibbs, 15 1/4 grains of siliceous earth, in the gallon.
Dr. Saunders, of London, from whose valuable work "On Mineral Waters," lately published (8vo. 8s. boards), we have extracted the preceding facts, estimates a gallon of the King's Bath water to contain about eight cubic inches of carbonic acid, and a similar quantity of air, nearly azotic; farther, about 80 grains of solid ingredients, one-half of which probably consist of sulphat and muriat of soda; 15 1/2 grains of siliceous earth, and the remainder is selenite, carbonate of lime, and so small a portion of oxyd of iron, as to be scarcely calculable. Hence he concludes, that the King's Bath water is the strongest chalybeate; next in order, the Hot Bath water; and lastly, that of the Cross Bath, which contains the smallest proportions of chalybeate, gaseous, and ​saline, but considerably more of the earthy particles; while its water in the pump is also two degrees lower than that of the others. It is likewise now ascertained, that these springs do not exhibit the slightest traces of sulphur, though it was formerly believed, and erroneously supported on the authority of Dr. Charleton, that the subtile aromatic balsam in the Bath waters was a sulphureous principle, entirely, dissimilar to common brimstone.
With regard to the medicinal effect of the Bath waters, we fully agree with the experienced Dr. Saunders (though we may differ from all the resident physicians), that much of their salubrious influence is owing to the natural degree of warmth peculiar to these springs; which, for ages, have preserved an admirable uniformity of temperature; that one of the most important uses, is their external application; and that, in this respect, they do not appear to differ from common water, when heated to the same temperature, and applied under similar circumstances.
According to Dr. Falconer, the Bath water, when drunk fresh from the spring, generally raises, or rather accelerates the pulse, increases the heat, and promotes the different secretions. These symptoms, in most cases, become perceptible soon after drinking it, and will sometimes continue for a considerable time: it is, however, remarkable, that they are only produced in invalids. Hence we may conclude, that these waters not only possess heating properties, but their internal use is likewise attended with a peculiar stimulus, acting more immediately on the nerves.
One of the most salutary effects of the Bath water, consists in its action on the urinary organs, even when taken in moderate doses. Its operation on the bowels varies in different individuals, like that of all other waters which do not contain any cathartic salt; but, in general, it is productive of costiveness, an effect resulting from the want of an active stimulus to the intestines, and probably also from the determination this water occasions to the skin, more than from any astringency which it may possess. For, if perspiration be suddenly checked during the use of it, a diarrhœa is sometimes the consequence. Hence it appears that its stimulant powers are primarily, and more particularly exerted in the stomach, where it produces a variety of symptoms, sometimes slight and transient, but occasionally so considerable and permanent, as to require it to be discontinued. In those individuals with whom it is likely to agree, and prove beneficial, the Bath waters excite, at first, an agreeable glowing sensation in the stomach, which is speedily followed by an increase of both appetite and spirits, as well as a quick secretion of urine. In others, where the use of them is attended with head-ach, thirst, and constant dryness of the tongue, heaviness, loathing of the stomach, and sickness, or, if they are not evacuated, either by urine, or an increased perspiration, it may be justly inferred, that their farther continuance is improper.
To conclude: many patients and invalids are apt to desist from the internal use of the Bath water, as soon as they perceive that it raises the pulae, and excites a ​preternatural degree of heat, with other symptoms of fever. On such occasions, however, medical men ought to be consulted; that they may determine, whether these effects are to be ascribed to a favourable effort of Nature, by which she endeavours to expel something from the body, that is incompatible with its healthy state. And as there is an essential difference between a spontaneous fever, and one occasioned by accident, or intemperance, it will next be necessary to consider, how far the latter be accompanied with inflammatory symptoms, which ought tobe counteracted by the aid of Art; or whether the whole should be attributed to a beneficial crisis, effected by the use of the waters, and in the progress of which Nature should be assisted, rather than interrupted.