1820.] Abuses of Sea Bathing and Mineral Waters. removes, to form the most intrepid resolutions to commit every thing that is foolish and fantastic, to injure the one and burlesque the other. It is not then extraordinary, that such places exhibit very much the extravagance of a sort of Saturnalia, or Olympic games. Taking the mass of the migrators that fill Bath, Brighton, Worthing, or Leamington, it will be found that the greater part are com posed of persons with some superfluous wealth, such variegateď habits as are rather under the slow refinement of successful business, than the cultivation of mental pursuits, and some sense, which is easily crushed and concealed by that vanity which is raised from the bottom, like fogs into an hazy atmosphere, by sudden excitation of mind, and the overpowering effects of novelty. It is not our object to trace all the Cheapside importance, or the rural exaggerations of fancy with which that respectable class of persons, the Cockneys, ride away, on the Dispatch, the Comet, or the Dart, to sit under "The shade of melancholy boughs," in a hot day, catching flies; or to institute races in poney carts, or boat matches in a calm offing; but on the contrary, to trace some of those inadvertencies which the humourist may observe, to affect the economy of health under this sudden revolution of habits. With all these notions which we have intimated, and a trite store of such precepts as inculcate the necessity of an immoderate consumption of country air, perpetual frolics in invigorating waves, fragrant rides over ambrosial fields, a chase after zephyrs under a vertical sun in the dog-days, a sea-breeze loaded with dust, and an imbecile lounge in a library or on a moonlight beach; and bowels to be "kept eternally open" by a free use of the local beverage (a saline spring or marine water); it is not at all extraordinary that we witness very disappointing derangements of health at Wateringplaces. How often is the mistake at last explained in the language of cholera morbus, that unspeakable state of dilemma, that interesting state of intestine commotion, which may continue like the long and lasting afflictions of imbibing bad Londen 399 porter, till no intestines are ‹left. We have been pleased with a little work of Dr. Patrick Mackenzie on Mineral Waters and Bathing; such a work familiarized will tend to give consistency to these aquatic operations. It would also supersede the habit of being implicitly misguided by those local guides of small Topographers, in which interested representations convey much about the same kind of information as the prospectus of a conjuror, e. g. Swift's Wonder of Wonders. We recollect, in the idle "crooning over" of one of these modest books in the style and talent of the celebrated Warren, having seen the valetudinary “myrtus in littore" of Virgil called in as a potential proof of superior climate, and a green area 20 feet by 10, as Walcottterrace, or as in Newington-road, misnamed “rura oppidi," or countries in town, town, with something asserted about the salubrity of this, that, and the other, with an equal share of impudence, false judgment, and erroneous persuasion. Such productions should never be purchased (except out of charity), unless written by men of accredited talent. Books even like Dr. Mackenzie's must be defective, from their nature. Under Sea he has not omitted, however, to notice the irritation of the stomach and bowels, which arises from the foolish practice of descending to a sea-beach, and drinking upon the spot sea-waler, though every drop is poison, in its state of mechanical mixture with seleuite, floating particles of alge and fuci, and its integrant combination of muriate of soda, "An article" Ad infinitum cathartical." The power of this latter, as rather too permanent a stimulus to the bowels, is shown by the effect of its addition to Glauber's and the Epsom salt with magnesia, the factitious Cheltenham salt. We would sug gest, that information, gathered from sources where the mercenary advan tages of exaggeration did not sway, would be invaluable; and which any disinterested man of medical mind, who had lived five years in a place, might furnish. We do not mean the puffs of inhabitant idlers, nor Jewish and illiterate tradespeople, but the impartial inductions of experience and reflection. There are many facts relating to Watering-places that cannot be anticipated by the a priori reasoning of the analytic chemist, nor elicited by a golden line to the glaring suaviter in modo of the place apothecary. Thus Bishop Watson was congratulated by a man at the well of a mineral spring, as nearly as we recollect, that he was not cured of the gout, for which he had used the waters; since all who had been, in his knowledge, died immediately afterwards: this was rather an important tale to an arthritic. Nothing lies so deep as Truth! We knew a lady die of phrenitis from walking with her bonnet off just after sea-bathing, the effect of quick evaporation on a susceptible brain. Others lay the foundations for pulmonary affections by bathing in wet machines, in which the general horripilatio strikes like death: yet the former of these in discretions is rather difficult to find related in any simple work on the subject, though it may often and easily happen. Such simple but less important details are necessary in a work of this kind, as that a small quantity of Epsom or other neutral purgative salts, largely diluted, operates much more than a larger quantity in saturated solution; that the benefit derived from the Cheltenham waters depends on the immediately subsequent exercise, (see Stone on Diseases of the Stomach;) that the cure of cachexies and scrophulous affections are remedied much more by sea air than sea water, which is certainly the case according to our observation, though we think that sea water possesses much more stimulating properties than the factitious water, or in itself than Dr. Mackenzie seems to admit. The influence of the air above, as well as the waters beneath, should be considered; the virtues that have been attributed to the Hotwell Waters in consumption, is probably more owing to the density of the atmosphere*. (See Mansford on ConThe fact which Dr. sumption.) Mackenzie mentions, that all waters are medicinal which approach to the greatest purity, might suggest the artificial purification of water, though, for our parts, however pure it may be rendered, it is not our intention to come into the system of Dr. Lambe, and dispense with all artificial beverages, if not impelled by grim necessity. We readily conjoin with Drs. Willan (see his Hist. of the Epidemics of 1796, &c.) Clarke, and Mackenzie, in recommending tepid and warm baths on a large scale, as formerly in antient Rome aud modern Russia. The latter in many of our country towns, are, though indispensible in many cases, scarcely known. They would probably be as excellent preventatives of contagious acute diseases, as cold bathing is as a general tonic f. We are rather inclined to deem Dr. Jameson's opinions, which are adduced by Dr. Mackenzie, to be inadmissible; without any theory of According to Dr. Armstrong, the sulphuretted hydrogen of the Harrowgate and Dinsdale waters produces a specific effect in phthisis. + Public Baths are constructing on a large scale at Leeds, according to Dr. Hunter, Edinb. Medical Journal, No. 59. putrefaction 1820.] Christ's Hospital.-Londiniana. putrefaction going on in living bodies, they are sufficient motives for bathing. Dr. Mackenzie, in p. 130, has not seemingly laid sufficient stress on the foolish practice of wrapping. We hope that in a future edition he will notice the newly-discovered Spa at Gloucester, hardly exceeded by the Poutrin Spring in the bulk of carbonic gas in a given quantity, or any other mineral water in saline contents. Under Tunbridge and else where, he has once or twice inadvertently departed from his simplicity of style, and explicit aids. He has placed, in pp. 126-8, the tepid and warm bath at 92°, the tepid is rated at the mean 82°, the warm at 96°. We have been led by our interest in the subject, into a more general and desultory discussion than first intend ed, but Dr. Mackenzie and our Read-, ers will appreciate the purpose. Kent Road. Mr. URBAN, THE - J. FOSBROOKE. May 2. HE annexed View (see Plate II.), represents a portion of the remains of the Monastery of the GREY FRIERS, or Mendicants, which was one of the most suburb conventual establishments in the Metropolis. It was of the order of St. Francis, and was founded by John Ewin, mercer, about the year 1225., A full account of it may be seen in Strype's Stowe; and an abridged notice of it in Pennant's London. On the Dissolution, the fine Church belonging to this house, having been spoiled of its ornaments for the King's use, was made as storebouse for French prizes, and the monuments either sold or mutilated. Henry VIII. just before his death, granted the Convent, &c. to the City, and caused the Church to be opened for Divine Service. The Church was burnt in 1666, and rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren. The buildings belonging to the Monastery were afterwards applied by Edward VI, to the use of CHRIST'S HOSPITAL *, one of the Royal founda A good account of the Hospital, with a full description of the curious Paintings in the Hall, Court Room, &c. will be found in Malcolm's "Londinium Redivivum," vol. III. pp. 350-373; and an interesting "Brief History of Christ's Hospital" is noticed in our Review for the present Month. EDIT. GENT. MAG. May, 1820. . 401 tions endowed by that youthful and well-disposed Monarch. Parts of the old Convent, with the Cloisters, are yet remaining; but a great portion (including the whole South front) was rebuilt in the 17th century, under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren; and other parts have been since modernized. The building shown in the View is one of the Wards of the Hospital, situate at the Western extremity of the old building facing the South; as seen from what is called the New Play-ground. The Mathematical-school was founded by Charles II. The Writing-school was founded in 1694 by Sir John Moore, whose statue is in front of the building. The Grammar-school was rebuilt only a few years ago; partly by a benefaction of John Smith, Esq. whose portrait ornaments the upper school. It has been the wish of the Governors of this noble Foundation, for some years past, gradually to rebuild the Hospital; and large subscriptions have been entered into for that purpose; but the great expence has iritherto deterred them from commencing the work. N. R. S. A waste of wealth, the storehouse of the world! Young. THE TEMPLE CHURCH Was founded by the Templars in the time of King Henry II. upon the model of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem. The square choir was built afterwards. The group of Knights in the circle are not known with any certainty. One of them was thought to be Geoffroy de Magnaville, Earl of Essex in 1184 (King Stephen). The Coffin of a ridged shape is the tomb of William Plantagenet, fifth son of Henry III. It is conjectured that three of the others are, William Earl of Pembroke, and his sons William and Gilbert, likewise Earls of Pembroke in the year 1219, &c. Pennant. Tas |