The Sun.
London, England, 1844-09-11 00:00:00

ILLUSTRATIONS ON THE EFFICACY OF THE HOLY WELL.

In Nelson's " lliitory of Islington, p. 211, we
find the following:—
"New Tunbridge Wells, or Islington Spa, near the
New River Head, a spring of chalybeate water, much
resorted to a century ago, and so named from its
similarity to those at Tunbridge Wells, was re-dis-
covered by Sadler, a surveyor of the highways, 1683,
in the garden belonging to a house he had just then
opened as a Musick House. The following year a
pamphlet was published—`A true and exact account
of Sadler's Wells, or the new mineral water lately
found out at Islington. &c.,' called the Holy Well,
by T. G., Doctor of Physick, London, 1684, 4t0.,
one sheet."

" So early as in 1700 it was in great estimation and
high favour. Monday and Thursday, dancers ad-
mitted if they did not come in masks.—Several
pamphlets on Nelson's Islington, 211, published 1811."
"It was opened the last two summers as a sort of
Vauxhall on certain evenings. Music, fireworks."—
Nelson, 1811.
" Opened sth May, 1700. Dancing during the
whole of Mondays and Thursdays, provided they did
not appear in masks."
"The spring was discovered by Sadler 1683, in a
garden just then opened as a music house • so says
Hawkins, vol. 4, page 380. 1684 a pamphlet pub-
lished on these waters."—Lyson's Environs of London.
"Open every afternoon. Tea 6d., coffee Bd., with a
subscription. Bowling-green for gentlemen. Sub-
scription, one guinea for the season. Furnished lodg-
ings. Board and lodging. Water fresh from the spring
3d. a bottle, or sent at 2s. Gd. a dozen.-6th May,
1780, M.P."

" 1733. Was a fashionable place of resort. The
Princess Amelia drank the waters there for the re-
storation of her health."—Globe, Sept, 12, 1733.
" One of the genteelest gardens about the metro-
polis, with a remarkable fine spring; the lease being
out, it was not open, undergoing a thorough repair."—
Sunday Ramble, 1774.
Providence, which has so constituted the human
frame, as to render it liable to various disease=, has,
in almost every instance, appointed suitable remedies;
and if we inherit at our birth the seeds of sickness
and death, the maternal hand of Nature is ever ready
to administer relief. The metallic riches of the earth,
the herbs that embellish it, the springs that water it,
are all medicinal; and the most experienced physician
can do no more than to unite their properties and
direct their use. Medical springs have always held
the first rank among the treasures of nature; nor can
we wonder at this, since they are at once mild
and
efficacious : the votary 'of health receives by their in-
sensible, yet no less certain operation, the blessing he
scriptions fal to give ease,
desires ; and frequently, when the most elaborate pre-
iscued from the opening grave by the employment
of these simple yet salutary streams. England is the despairing patient is
re-
markable for the excellence of its mineral waters ;
many of them unfortunately are too remote to allow
the invalids of the metropolis to participate in the
benefits which they offer. Islington, however, a
suburb so well known on account of the salubrity of
its air, may justly boast, in addition to its other ad-
vantages, of numerous healing springs,--which, from a
very early period, have invited the victims of sickness
to drink and be whole. The most estimable of these,
in every respect, is that to which the public attention
is now invited—

ISLINGTON SPA, NEAR THE NEW RIVER
HEAD, SPA FIELDS,
which was mothan a century back resorted to by
our nobility and gentry for its medicinal virtues;
and it obtained the name of the New Tunbridge
Wells, from its similarity to the waters of Tunbridge
Wells in Kent. The water of this spring is beauti-
fully clear, and although in taste it is slightly brack-
ish, it cannot, after a few daughts, give offence to the
Rimonths, its extreme coolness and transparency are
y
palate; indeed, during the summer
l to the palate. The strata through
hwihogsihctl fhai grateful
sausre no doubt strongly impregnated with
iron; but, besides this, in its progress to the surface,
it dissolves some saline substance, for while its chaly-
beate properties restore the tone of the exhausted
constitution, its aperient qualities remove from the
system those crude humours which so frequently lead
to an untimely grave.

The exact period when the Islington Spa was dis-
covered, cannot now be ascertained, but it is certain
that, as early as the year 1640, its excellence' was duly
appreciated, since that time, and for more than a cen-
tury afterwards, crowds of invalids resorted to the
spring, and obtained new life as they quaffed its
limpid waters. So great indeed was the celebrity of
this Spa, that the whole world of fashion, including
two Princesses of the House of Brunswick, were at-
tracted in search of health to the restorative fountain ;
and their concurring testimony proved that they did
not drink in vain. The truly illustrious chemist,
Boyle, was induced to pay particular attention to
havethen considered it su-
periorknown: Many of
talented physicians of
thisthe ssapgrt
eions
agtn,oyoa,nmadne
dhd eibeysi
ielfaea
Imr
vts
ha
ett
mostoer
his day, entertained a favourable opinion of its powers,
and without the least assistance from mystery or
puffing, the New Tunbridge Wells were visited as a
specific for many of the diseases which afflict huma-
nity,rinc e by.
This spring has been analysed by several eminent
chemists, and they find in it that peculiar modification
pall ranks of people, from the peasant to the
of sulphate of iron, and an aperient of salt in combi-
nation, which, though it may be partially imitated by
artificial means, cannot be equalled. Physicians too,
of acknowledged talent, have visited the Spa, and
after drinking the waters, have given a very high opi-
nion of their medical qualities.
Dr. Buchan, in his " Domestic Medicines," speaks
highly of its healing qualities ; while Dr. Elliott, in
and Dr. Sheb-
-ysie," both use the
strongest language as to its efficacy. Indeed there is
bheis an "Account'
hardly a medical master of the eighteenth century
who does not take occasion to celebrate its salutary
,in cchoiusn ,t: P
properties. efracl‘tlieceidc oafl l Springs,"
We proceed to indicate some of the complaints in
which the use of these waters will be found beneficial.
For that numerous class of infirmities, comprehending
so large a proportion of human maladies, which come
under the head of nervous disorders—as paralysis,
hypochondriac, hystericre, fits of every description, and
all those frightful affections which, without any par-
ticular designation, tend so frequently to embitter
life : the Islington Spa, if not a specific, is at least a
powerful and unfailing remedy; since, if case does
not admit of a complete cure, relief and alleviation
are sure to be experienced. Asthma, one of the most
obstinate and troublesome of diseases, frequently
yields entirely to a course of these waters, and is
always materially relieved. The Spring being diure-
tic, affords the greatest benefit to persons suffering the
torments arising from gravel in the bladder : and in
some cases of stone, where an operation cannot be at-
tempted, and the ordinary medicines are useless, the
waters have been employed with eminent success.