A DISCOURSE OF THE Sulphur-Bath AT KNARSBROUGH IN YORKSHIRE.  
BY WILL. SIMPSON, M. D.  
LONDON, Printed for Will. Cooper at the Pelican 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, entitled 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 intent 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 show the process (as near as we can apprehend) Nature useth in the preparing this excellent water.  
3. To show the difference betwixt this and other natural Hotbaths, as in their original and inbred principles; so also in some sort as to their virtues.  
4. To show how, and by what means, the Sulphur (as the chief mineral ingredient in this water) is so opened, as to become, not only so subtle, as thence to be solvable odour tenus therein; but also so volatile, as to pass off in a continual steam, and insensible effluvium.  
5. How this Sulphur-water comes not much short, as to its original principles, nor is much (if at all) inferior in its efficacy, to some other Sulphur-waters, which are Hotbaths; inasmuch as this is lately found to be successful for outward applications, as well as those by late observation are remarked for inward use.  
6. To show, 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 show, 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 comprised 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 show in our Hydrologia Chymica, etc.  
2. As to the Sulphurous principle, that's manifest, 1. From its Taste and Smell; as also from its hogo upon the rifle and regurgitations of the Stomach, after taking thereof. 2. From its colouring of Silver dipped 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 show more afterwards.  
Now the question may be asked, 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 adjoining 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-water, being put into boiling Milk, will make it shil into Curds and Whey, as if some acidum was poured thereto, which common Salt will not do; for we tried 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 mortify 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 contained therein, is evident, first as to vitriol (which gives the most suspicion 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 suspicion, 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 Chemistry 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 only embrionatius; whereupon it sets those native and congenit principles a-work, 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 Hotbaths.) 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 dissolved Sulphur; in which very precipitation happens its fatid smell, and Sulphurous hogo, which only passing through a slender Colander of Sand, retains its lately contracted odour; where it filters 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 Hotbaths; but being carried 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 fabric of this water, viz. that I have (as often as I pleased 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 scraped 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 Spa [about which our great controversy, concerning that waters being aluminous, and not vitriolin, did chief depend] which experiment I have several times showed to persons no less ingenious than inquisitive.  
I also ordered 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 filtered, I evaporated further in Balneo M. to try if it would shoot per se, but it would not, only came to a soft sort of matter or mellago.  
3. As to the third thing propounded, viz. the difference betwixt this and other natural Hotbaths in their original principles, and primary causes: We think that from what has already been said, and especially what yet remains to be discoursed 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 chief concerned in the fabric of all Hotbaths, and other Sulphurous waters, completing 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 only so subtle, as thence to be solvable odour 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 Oils, by the help of Fire: and that I imagined happened from the analogy of parts, betwixt Oils and Sulphurs; both of them being chief Sulphurs under a disguise, the one in a concrete, the other in a liquid form; both of them also in their bellies hiding their intrinsic Acids, the Oily or Sulphurous parts of both by Fire melting together, in the fluid form of a Balsam, while the acidum, chief 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 Balsam of mineral Sulphur or Brimstone.  
And as vinous Spirits are vegetable Sulphurs, comminuted and subtilised by Fermentation; so these are also succedaneous to Oils, in the solutions of Brimstone, yet need previous preparations by fixed Alcalies, (as they are called) for being so spiritualised, are not such apt menstrua for solutions of crude Minerals, as Oils 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 Oils, and Spirit of Nitre, Aquafortis, Oil of Vitriol, etc. 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 leisurely) and melt together into one Balsamic Liquor, (though if hastily done with a pretty smart Fire, they make a crackling noise) whereas the foresaid mineral Sulphurs being subtilised 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 performed by Oils 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, etc. by fixed alcalies (which how properly called, we show in our Halologia) and quicklime, and by well weighing the matter, found, that as Brimstone was dissolvable in Oil and Spirit of Wine, as aforesaid, so fixed 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 fixed and volatile alcalies do agree, or in that property, which is common to them both, I mean, their precipitating faculty, neither of them is concerned in the solutions of Brimstone, and that is common, both to fixed and volatile Alcalies, to precipitate, what Acids have dissolved. Now the reason why urinous Spirits, I mean volatile Alcalies (as they are called) 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 fixed 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 espied a great harmony in nature's works; I saw that she performed 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 Chemistry (the very foundation and exemplar of all we call Artificial) as she did in other actions, reputed (amongst most Authors) Heteroclites; and was the same in the latter, as the former; and from hence I saw, that reputed caustics, I mean fixed lixivial Alcalies, were no other than Acids, viz. of the Fire, fixed upon bodies: so that I found nature symbolical in all her actions, and always consonant to her own principles.  
And that I might improve this notion the better, (not taken notice of by any other Author I know) I began to make a strict scrutiny into the nature of fixed Alcalies; I considered, First, That the more Fire they endured, and the higher they were calcined, and the sooner used after calcination, the stronger and more fiery Caustics they were.  
2. That they would never calcine to a strong Salt, unless performed in open Vessels or Crucibles, where the Fire might more immediately touch upon them, and concentre its own acidum.  
3. That if after they were cold, and kept from the Air, and then Spirit of Wine or Water was put thereto, thence a heat was presently produced, which as I conceive, was from no other cause then this, viz. That either of those Liquors, sets the acidum, contracted from the Fire, and the Sulphur or volatile Alcaly in the Salt, into a sudden Fermentation, dissolving, and so putting them into an intestine collision.  
4. And fourthly I considered, That the longer these Salts were exposed to the Air, even to a solution per deliquium, the more mild and soft in operation they become; losing thereby gradually their Acids imbibed from the Fire; insomuch as by often solution per deliquium, the compage of that Salt, from the vinculum of the fiery Acid, is taken off, as that the whole may thence be reduced into an insipid Water and Earth (and no Arcawm neither.)  
Lastly, That although these fixed lixivial Salts, do make strong Ebullitions with Acids put to them, yet that happens, either betwixt the additional acid, and the Sulphur in the Salt, or betwixt it, and the volatile alcaly, bound up in the artificial concretion: That there are Sulphurs in those Salts, or new textures of Plants, appears from their lixivial or saponary property: and that there are also volatile alcalies, is evident from their precipitating faculty, and from their intestine struggling with acids.  
To which may be added this observation, that after fixed alcalies have lost the acidum contracted from Fire, (which they do by keeping, and sometimes exposing to the air, together with the addition of somewhat which dints the foresaid Acidum) may then by Art, be made to split into Oil and urinous Spirit, or volatile Salt.  
As to that great objection against the acidity of fixed lixivial Alcalies, viz. the precipitation of such solutions made with Alcalies by Acids, inasmuch as it is generally observed, that what solutions Alcalies make, are most promptly precipitated by Acids. I answer, First, That although what more simple, I mean, volatile Alcalies do dissolve, are precipitated very readily by Acids, & vice versa, yet where Alcalies are more complicated, and interwoven with other essential parts, there the precipitation by Acids, of what those already have dissolved, are in no wise wholly ascribable to them as alcalies, but equally compitible to other parts in the concretion.  
And in the next place I answer, that even some acids are capable of precipitating what others have dissolved; to prove and illustrate which, I tried this following instance, viz. I took a clear solution of saccharum Saturni, which I had prepared with distilled Vinegar, which no man will deny to be an Acid; upon which I poured a pretty smart Spirit of Vitriol, whereupon it presently became Milky, and caused a precipitation of a pure white calx of Saturn, which precipitation may also be done with Spirit of Salt.  
The same likewise will Spirit of Salt do, poured upon a solution of refined Silver, made in double its weight of Aqua fortis, in preparing that admirable anomolous neutral concretion, called Luna Cornea, mentioned by the honourable Boil in his origin of forms: and not only Spirit of Salt but also Oil of Vitriol will cause the like precipitation.  
Whence its obvious to any eye, that what some Acids dissolve, others may precipitate from the congenealness of the solvend, to one solvend more than another: For both those wherein the solutions of the metals were made, viz. Spirit of Vinegar and Aquafortis, are as undoubtedly acids, as those which cause the precipitations, viz. Spirit of Vitriol, and Spirit of Salt.  
So that the precipitation of bodies depend not upon acid or alcalizate Liquors, as such; but upon the consanguinity (if I may so say) of bodies or solvends, to liquors or solvents, viz. whilst an acid having dissolved one body, meeting with another akin thereto, let's the former fall, and from an abstruse affinity of parts, dissolves the latter.  
From whence it need not seem heterodox, (although to the most it may, as yet, a paradox) to say, that fixed Alcalies open the bodies of mineral Sulphurs, as they are acido-Sulphurous Salts; and that chief as they partake of the acidum of Fire, assumed by calcination: and that precipitations of the same solutions may be performed (and that too without the least absurdity in Philosophy) by other supervening Acids, as we have even now demonstrated.  
As I observed all fixed Alcalies made out of Vegetables, to work upon Mineral Sulphurs, on the account of their being Acido-Sulphurous-Salts; so I could not otherwise (whilst I looked upon the matter with a very intent eye) judge of calx vive; whose manner of operation, in opening the bodies of Brimstone, and other Mineral Sulphurs, I could not charge to any other than its Acid, which it had contracted from the Fire, in the very calcination of that sort of Stone, called Lapis calcarius, (viz. Freestone or Limestone) which that it chief partakes of the Acidum of Fire, and thereby performs not only that, but various other effects, we have already in short demonstrated, and shall further in Lithologia Physica.  
From the premises it will easily appear, in confirmation of our former Doctrine, that all solutions of Mineral Sulphurs in the bowels of the Earth, are made by their peculiar Acids; and that other solutions made by Art, are but from the same principles under other disguises; Therefore that which opens the body of Sulphur in these Mineral Marcasites, through which this water (we treat of) runs, must of necessity be an Acidum, which afterwards is precipitated by another Acid of the Alom-bed, through which at last it passeth.  
As to that experiment we gave to illustrate the cause and manner of making that water, by opening those vitriolin Marcasites with quicklime, in our Hydrological Essays, although we there imputed it to the alcali; yet now from second and more mature thoughts, grounded upon experiment, as aforesaid, find it otherwise; where we profess such an avowed proselyteship to truth (sufficiently amiable and worthy in itself) as upon nearer apprehensions thereof, grounded upon better weighed principles, to decline what we have formerly at greater distance in 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 Chemistry, in the entrails 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 inferior in its efficacy, to some other Sulphurcus waters, which are Hotbaths, 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 Hotbaths being formerly chief 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 Hotbaths (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 patiented 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 volatized by the native or superinduced 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 slighter 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 than the apporrhea, or subtle 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 Bathed therein, and afterwards went to Bed, having laid my Silver-studded Watch upon the Table, thereby to observe the time of Bathing and Sweeting, 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 observed) 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 dipped a  therein, which it still guilded very readily.  
7. As to the artificial resemblance of Sulphur Baths by imitation of Nature: First as to Hotbaths, 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 showed) 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 chief composed 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 superinduced) 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 fixed 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 Hydropic Acids, or spurious, through Scorbutic Acids, in the one by helping (with other concurring Medicaments) to remove obstructions from coagulated Acids; in the other, by predipitating, altering and sweetening Scorbutic Acids, the cause of pains and particular tumors.  
2. Hereby it the better reacheth to dint that Fermental Acor of the Gout, impressed 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 Scurvy, Gout, etc. viz. because these forenamed Diseases are chief determined and specificated by Acids, coagulated upon different humours and parts: For it's the Essential efficacy (if I may so say) of a subtilised Sulphur to dint Acids, and thereby to resolve such as are coagulated; so that to me the discussion of all tumors, whether Scorbutic or others, depend upon the resolving those coagulated Acids, the intimate and real efficients thereof. No sooner doth a Spurious predominant Acid coagulate any portion of the blood, or other juice in any part of the body, but presently an obstruction of those parts happen, more or less, according to the intense or remiss degree of the prevalent Acid, which as it falls out in Vessels or Bowels reputed more or less noble, viz. intensely or remissly concerned in the fabric and circulation of vital juices, and animal Spirits, so it becomes the patron of different sorts of Diseases; some whereof easily bending to more facile methods of Cure; others more stubborn (of which are the last mentioned) not yielding but to more volatile, subtilised, and penetrative Sulphurs, such as are in this and other Sulphurous Baths.  
By which (I mean our Sulphur-Bath) Scorbutic and Podagrick Patients have received considerable relief: for which cause, many persons, finding thereby so much alleviation of the otherwise grievous Symptoms, and such a mitigation of the severity of future fits of the Gout, (I mean as to what they might have expected, without such a previous help) do voluntarily make their annual returns to the Bath: of which I could give several instances, but that it doth not suit my present design.  
3. By the use of this Bath, the blood and humours are purified, whence it becomes proper for Blotches, Scabs, Itches, Elephantiasis. or Bastard Leprosy, and other Scorbutic impurities of the Blood; For it procures most excellent Sweats, whereby the other impure Acids, (which are precipitated or cast off from the Blood in its circulation, and topically fixed upon this or the other external part) are loosened, dissolved, or mortified; which depraved Acids lodge in the habit of the body, having their very Roots fixed in the ultimate digestion, vitiating the Blood and Latex, sent thither for the ordinary nutriment of the body, in the common circulation thereof; yea, they are sometimes so fixed upon their own Roots, as to transmute the otherwise alimentary juice, by their Ferments, into those external impurities: which they do as really as a Crab-tree-stions, or Bud, ingraffed into a good Apple-stock, doth (from its own seminal Ferment) turn the juice of the Stock, into the nature and property of a Crab: So that in such external vitiating of the humours, which are only skin deep, the applications in order to Cure or Abstorsion, must be such as can mortify, dissolve, altar or correct the foresaid externally situated Acids, which may be, and is, most aptly performed by this Sulphur-Bath.  
So that in many the like cases, where those Acids are most pertinacious, and the Maladies thence have taken deepest root, viz. in the Elephantasis, Psora, Leprosy, etc. the most common and usual Purges and Diaphoreticks, are altogether insignificant, because they reach not those deeply impressed Acids, nor correct those spurious Ferments, seated, yea rooted in the habit of the body; which such subtilised Sulphurs, as are in this Bath skilfully applied (with other assisting Medicines) are apt chief to perform.  
Amongst which external impurities, the Lues Venerea (being made by carnal contract) may not improperly be reckoned; which consists in a peculiar sort (in its kind) of a contagious Fermental Acid, thence communicable to the juices of the body, especially where the contagious Ferment, by the first contract, entered; which by its corroding acor, as a caustick, fretting and inflaming those tender parts, or coagulating the juices of some particular parts (brought thither by an afflux of humours) into venereal tumors, whose restless Ferments yet lodge in their Bellies, or inwards, in both become the Authors of Noctunal pains, pollutions, etc. to the dinting of which spurious Fermental acor, (the cause of the aforesaid dolours) the just mulct of that Sin must be chief aimed at, in the curing thereof: which besides other Diaphoreticks, may very well be performed by the help of this Bath: And that too, because Sulphurs, (especially such as are prepared and volatized by the admirable Chemistry of Nature in the body or bowels of the Earth) do sweeten and mortify all such sort of Acids: For which purpose, in order to the Cure thereof, not only Bathing, (and some other assisting Diaphoreticks) but also the drinking the same water is requisite.  
4. By the use of this Bath, the nervous maladies are also much helped, of which sort are Cramps, Convulsions, Palsies, Apoplexies, being caused from the various seizures upon these juices, also from the contortions and disablements of the Vessels or Conduit-pipes, (the Nerves) those juices are circulated, or at least carried in, being the Organs wherein the animal Spirits move in order to sense, motion, and other vital sunctions, proper thereto, whose tone are altered, contorted, contracted, or relaxed by several sorts of supervening Acids, sent up in flatulent steams, resulting from some spurious subordinate Fermentation, whose Acids being strong, have prevailed, and by a sort of sublimation are at length fixed upon those animal Cords, causing obstructions, contractions, relaxations, etc. (according to the morbid Acids) the causes of Diseases relating to the genus nervosum.  
Now as Acids are the cause why Nerves undergo those various alterations in their tone or texture, by contractions, relaxations, etc. and in their juices by coagulations, and thence obstructions, or other debilitudes, whereby the volatile nimble animal Spirits become interrupted in their motion, being blocked up by such sort of coagulations: so in order to the Cure of these Diseases, such Medicaments and Methods are to be inquired into, as may dint, altar, and dulcify such kinds of Acids, and thence may loosen the contracted, smooth and make even the contorted, may strengthen the relaxed Cords, yea and may every way answer the indications of the depraved tones of those animal pendulas or vital strings, whereby the imprisoned Spirits, (the immediate product of vital Fermentation may again be set at liberty, and all the animal functions be restored to their pristine state: of which sort are our Sulphur-Bath, which by correcting the Acids, supple and soften the contracted, strengthen and bind up the weak, and very much repair, in the main, the depraved tone of the genus Nervosum.  
Lastly, By the use of this Bath, the contraction of the tendons, and musculous parts, I mean stiffness of the Limbs, Joints, etc. (where the contraction is not too fixed) are often remedied: For these outward maladies being caused through some rejected Acids, which wanting a due Fermentative motion to give them wing by perspiration, are coagulated or hardened (partly by the assistance of the Air) in the external parts; but by the Sulphur in the Bath, the pores being opened, and they dissolved, and put into motion, are either sweetened or carried off.  
Also its proper for alleviating Aches, Old pains, Strains, Sciatica's, (which is a sort of Gout in those parts) Rheumatisms, and other griefs now too tedious to relate: concerning most of which we might have given some particular instances, but that it doth not suit with our present design, undertaking chief a rational account of its causes, and in general of its virtues: As to the particular cases themselves, which may confirm what we have already deposited, as to the medicinal efficacy thereof, we shall refer to another opportunity.  
The END.   

Certain Books Printed, and to be Sold at the Pelican in Little-Britain, London.  

Spencers' view of the State of Ireland, fol.  
Dystica Regum Angliae,—  
Seberi Index in Homerum, 4ᵒ  
Waraeus de Scriptoribus Hiberniae, 4ᵒ  
Stradas Musical Duel between Natural and Artificial Music, or the Nightingale and Harper, 4ᵒ  
Vsserius de Primordijs Ecclesiarum Britannicarum. 4ᵒ  
— Ejusd. Historia Gotteschalci de Praedestinatione. 4ᵒ  
— Ejusd. Sylloge veterum Epistolarum Hibernicarum. 4ᵒ  
Seldeni de Synedrijs liber 1 & 3. 4ᵒ  
Ferrarij Euclides Physicus, 4ᵒ  
Chrysostomi Democritus Reviviscens de Vita & Philosophia Democrati & de Manna Liber, 8ᵒ  
Sancta-clara Deus Natura & Gratia, 8ᵒ  
Frommenij Metaphysica. 12ᵒ  
Jonstoni Lexici Chymici liber 2. 8ᵒ  
French Grammar, by the Doctors of the Sorbon at Paris, for Reformation of the French Tongue, In French and English, 8ᵒ  
Secrets Revealed, or an open Entrance to the Shut-Pallace of the King, containing the chief Treasury of Chemistry, 8ᵒ  
The Philosophical Epitaph, etc. together with a Catalogue of Chemical Books in three Parts, 8ᵒ  
Dr. Simpsons' Philosophical Discourse of Fermentation; with a Discourse of the Sulphur-Bath at Knarsbrough in Yorkshire, 8ᵒ  
A Caveat for the Protestant Clergy, or a true account of the Sufferings of the English Clergy upon the Restitution of Popery in the days of Queen Mary, 8ᵒ  
Paracelsus his Archidoxes, discovering the way of making Quintessences, Arcanums, Magisteries, Elixirs, etc. 8ᵒ  
— His Aurora and Treasure of the Philosophers, together with the Water-stone of of the Wisemen, 8ᵒ  
The Fame and Confession of the Fraternity of the Rosie-Cross, 8ᵒ   
Where likewise most sorts of Chemical or Philosophical Books, may be had, whether in English or Latin.  
FINIS.