A Brief Discourse of the Hypostasis, or substance of the water of Spa; Containing in small quantity many pots of that Mineral Water.  
Very profitable for such Patients, as cannot repair in person to those Fountains, as by perusing this Discourse, it will plainly appear.  
Translated out of French into English, by G. T.  
This abovesaid Hypostasis, or substance of the water of Spa, is to be sold by Doctor Hieronimus Seminus, Italian, dwelling in S. Paul's Alley, in Red-crosse-street.   

A brief Discourse of the Hypostasis, or substance of the water of Spa, containing in small quantity many pots of that Mineral water.  
WHereas the singular effects that are yearly experimented, by drinking the water of Spa, do cause the concourse of sundry persons of divers Countries and Nations to those Fountains: whereunto many more patients would willingly repair, were they not letted, either by extraordinary defect of health, or ordinary want of wealth, or such other impeachments, as daily occur in the course of this transitory life.  
In consideration whereof, it hath seemed very expedient to some, who have disposed their studies and labours, to the good of others; and whose residences are not far from those Fountains, nor themselves estranged from the ensearch of natural things, to devise the means, that such as are absent, may be made partakers of those Mineral waters; and consequently, of those healthful effects, that by the drinking of them are produced.  
The accustomed course hitherto taken, hath been to fill numbers of Bottles with the water of the upper or the lower Fountain, and to convey those Bottles (being closely stopped) unto their designed places; as to France, England, Italy, Germany, Polonia, Moscovia, and other far distant places. But this way is found by experience, no less troublesome, then chargeable in the carriage; considering, that a huge quantity of water, containeth but a very little of the Mineral substance, wherein the virtue of the water consisteth; and the said substance being so thinly divided into a great quantity of water, looseth much of the force and virtue, before it can be brought into so far distant places; the which hath been the cause, why the persons before insinuated, have employed their study and Travail, to reduce the pure Hypostasis or substance of the said Minerals, into so little a quantity, as that one pot may supply for far more than an hundred pots; and withal, that no part of the force or virtue of the said Minerals should be impaired.  
And to the end the Reader may receive some kind of satisfaction, who perchance is curious to look into the practice hereof; or at least, into the speculation of this Mastery, three points he is then to observe.  
First that the extraction of the said Mineral essence be made in Summer; in which season, those Waters are of more efficacy: And if the extracter be himself present at the Fountains, it is so much the better.  
Secondly, that he find out the secret how to part the Mineral substance from the Water, without distillation, (for that would not quite the cost) but by precipitation, whereby the Mineral powder falleth down, and settleth itself in the bottom of the glass, depriving the Water of all Mineral taste and operation; which secret, is soon performed by a skilful Artist.  
Thirdly, when he hath a sufficient quantity of that precipitated powder, he must not dissolve it with any corrosive, but with a competent measure of such Liquors as are agreeable unto the health of man: and in these three observations the whole practice consisteth.  
It followeth now, to declare in what quantity this Hypostasis or extraction dissolved thus into a liquor, is to be taken; which must be as followeth.  
Take a dram weight of this Liquor, which is the eight part of an Ounce; and containeth as much in quantity, as will fill a great Thimble; pour this into a glass or stone Bottle, & pour thereunto fifty Ounces of the best and clearest water that is to be had; whether it be Fountain water, River water, or Well water: This water is to be put unto the dram weight of the other liquor, at the time that the Patient is ready to drink it, and not before; not that any inconvenience may ensue thereof, but because the fresher the water is, the more grateful it is unto the taste, and the Mineral substance in length of time, will descend unto the bottom of the glass: and albeit it may be newly stirred and mingled with the water, and so taken; yet will it notwithstanding, be more to the liking of the Patient, as before is noted, to have his water brought fresh from the Spring, etc.  
This quantity of fifty Ounces of Water to a dram of the Mineral substance, is the ordinary and best proportion, which hitherto by practice hath been tried, being also less distasteful unto the drink; yet, in some diseases, as in retention of Urine, or in quenching the heats of Agues, it will stand the Patient in better steed to follow this proportion, then to take it in lesser quantity of water. And this is spoken upon proof and experience: how be it, if the learned Physician shall think it expedient, 
Vt in morbis in quibus humiditas pervalet.  that in some diseases the quantity of the water be diminished, the matter is referred unto his grave judgement, consenting with the Philosopher, that Frustra fit per plura, quod potest fieri per punciora.  
The water being in the former proportion prepared▪ the patient may drink thereof according to the quality of his disease; 
Till the water is passed by the belly, or by the Urine Meatus: & that the stomach is empty  as for example.  
For the stone and gravel, or heat of the reins, he may take every morning fasting fifty Ounces at several times, and he must abstain from meat two hours after, and if within that space he be in plight to walk, or to use some other moderate exercise, it will work the better.  
here is also to be noted, that albeit such as drink the Spa water, to take 100 200. or more ounces in a morning. Yet this notwithstanding, these-fiftie-ounces will be of as great efficacy, because there is more pure substance contained in those fifty ounces, then in a far greater quantity of Spa water.  
Thus much taken in a morning, will be sufficient the first week for the whole day. The week following, so much more may be drunken in the afternoon, about three or four of the clock, if it shall seem good to the learned and expert Physician, to whose discretion and direction are referred, these and sundry other particular circumstances that may happen (which in schools are termed Hic & nunc) in sundry diseases, and in the divers dispositions of different patients: in which occurrences all purgations and other preparations that mny be prescribed, are to go before the taking of this water, as in like sort the prescription of diets, and the like heedful and healthful observations, as when or how often the patient may drink the water alone, or mingled with wine, at meats or at other times. These and other circumstances must in all reason be referred to the discretion of the learned Physician.  
In the retention of urine it will be needful to take those fifty ounces every morning, and as much more in the afternoon, unless the party find amendment, and in that disease to walk, and use some exercise, will be of great importance.  
The same quantity may be prescribed in the dropsy, morning and evening, especially after the first week, and if the disease have not taken very deep root, the patient will find sensible amendment, and his strength day by day very much to increase.  
In Tertian and Quartain Agues, the Patient must drink every morning 50. Ounces on his good days; but on the days of his fit, he may take before the access 20. Ounces, and in the heat of the fit, thirty Ounces.  
The like observations may be used in Quotidian Agues, to wit; that 20. ounces be taken before the fit, and ●o. in the heat thereof, if it shall seem good to the Physician, whose judgement is also to be used concerning the time and quantity, when and how much of this water may be used in continual Agues.  
In pestilential Agues, there hath not (as yet) any assured trial been made.  
In all Obstructions, as the Green sickness, and the like, 
For the pains of the Spleen, hardness and swellings thereof.  the Physician may prescribe it in place of the powder of steel, it being undoubtedly far more secure, and of more effectual operation.  
In the weakness of the stomach and heat of the Liver, it is a singular water, being daily taken in the aforesaid quantity of 50. ounces.  
In the Flux, and in the abundance of Woment Courses it may also be taken; and being mingled now and then with red wine, it will be the better. In women's infirmities (as aforesaid) if this water be mingled with distilled Plantine water, it will work the better. For other diseases, the Reader may see what is added in the end of this discourse, which is taken out of the Treatise of the virtues of the waters of the Forest of Arden, and principally of those of Spa, written some years since in the French tongue, by the learned M. Gilbert Lembourgh, Doctor of Physic, & dedicated unto the Prince of Liege. Observing nevertheless by the way, that as the said Fountains of Spa do not benefit every one in particular; so is it not promised, that this Hypostasis thereof shall work infallible cures in all kind of diseases, and upon all persons, as though one saddle should fit every horse; for divers persons have divers constitutions of body; and the same Medicine which is available to one, is not always profitable to another, as reason and experience daily showeth. Wherefore to conclude, the ordinary proportion as before hath been said, is to mingle fifty ounces of pure water to a dram of this Mineral Hypostasis or substance of the Spa water; not that there is any danger if one should drink one dram only with an ounce of common water, but for the more efficacious working: this ordinary quantity is found to be more convenient, having therein some resemblance with the copious abundance of the Spa water.  
here also the patient may observe, that it shall not he needful for him always to weigh the water; for having weighed it once, and put it into a glass of convenient greatness, he may see to what fullness of the glass his fifty Ounces of water do reach, and so use that measure for the said weight. The Patient may moreover mingle the water with wine, in all such Diseases as are not hot.  
They do use at the Spa to make Brewis or sops of that water, boiling it with Butter, which they find both toothsome and wholesome; in all which particularities it will always be good (as before is said) to follow the advice of a learned expert and unpassionate Physician.  
Of sundry diseases, which principally are cured by the use of drinking the water of Spa, taken out of the treatise of the virtues thereof, written by M. Gilbert Lembourgh, Doctor of Physic, and consequently of the Hypostasis of the said water being mingled with pure common water, as in the precedent discourse is declared. The drinking of this water doth mightily quench thirst, and it bringeth the hot Liver unto a good temper, as also the Kidneys.  
It strengtheneth the stomach, and giveth it appetite through the astrictive virtue that it hath, but for an extreme cold stomach it is not so good.  
It is greatly profitable against all obstructions, and debility of the Milt, for it doth dissolve and cure the cause thereof.  
It delivereth the Kidneys and bladder from Gravel, and is aidefull against all defluctions of those parts.  
It correcteth Rheums and Cararrhes, in what part of the body soever they descend; as in the breast, the stomach, the Kidneys, Sinews, on Muscles.  
It cureth Dropsies, how be it such as in whom this disease is confirmed by length of time, and that the forces of the Patients are thereby much weakened, are very hardly cured. And so are also such Dropsies as proceed of a hardness of the Livar, which Galen saith, are incurable.  
Experience also showeth, that such dropsies as come of dryness of the stomach, and of long resolution and humidity of the intestine parts are not easily cured.  
But among such as the beginning of this Disease cometh of the illness of the Milt, the other parts not naturally well, many persons have been perfectly cured.  
It helpeth greatly the parts that are softened & resolved by defluctions, as the Sinews, Muscles, etc.  
It strengtheneth the Matrix that i● subject to too much humidity, and disposeth it in such sort that it retaineth the conceived fruit, and so expelle●h barrenness.  
It aideth against strangulations and suffocations of the Matrix.  
As touching such as are very Lepers; if it do not wholly cure them, yet doth the continual use thereof, impeach and hinder their disease from any more increasing.  
As for the curing of Agues, the Reader may note what hath been said in the precedent Discourse.  
The Reader is lastly to be advertised; That whereas the most usual taking of the Water of Spa is in Summer, it is chiefly because of the abundance of Rain and Snow that falleth into those Fountains in winter, which weakeneth the force of them; and so is the force also weakened in Summer in rainy weather; as contrariwise in winter, in frosty and dry weather, the water hath his perfect force. In which respect, this Hypostasis thereof being mingled with pure Water, in such quantity of the one and the other, as before is mentioned, may aswell be used in winter, as in Summer.  
FINIS.