Scelera aquarum: or, a supplement to Mr. Graunt on the bills of mortality. Shewing as well the causes, as encrease of the London, Parisian, and Amsterdam scorbute ... / By J.H. M.D.

  • J. H. (James Harvey)
Date:
1701
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Scelera aquarum: or, a supplement to Mr. Graunt on the bills of mortality. Shewing as well the causes, as encrease of the London, Parisian, and Amsterdam scorbute ... / By J.H. M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    defives originally from one of the Four Elements ? and that it is ealie for me to demonftrate and prove Mecanically from the Hiftory of Water, Maleficated in the Workmanlhip thereof, by what ways and means the Contagion Malignity, or Poyfon, call it what you pleafe, is circulated from Element to Element*, till at length it happeneth to center in ail the premifed Things. But in regard, a diftinft Knowledge of the Poyfon,, and of the different Branches of Human Food, both impregnated, and vitiated thereby, cannot be attained, without a particu¬ lar enquiry, firft made into the bottom Strata of the Earth; which moftly runs through the North-Weft Corners of Europe. It is requifite that I fee before the Reader, a True ,and Faithful Prolpeft of three or four of the moft remarkable Cities in Europe, where the Scorbute hath begun to acquire a high Degree of Contagion, of late Days •, and accordingly I have chofcn London, Tar is and Amsterdam. To the end I may draw a Parallel betwixt the Subterranean World, on which, each Place is feituated. Of the Scitmtion of London and Weft- minfter. IT is moft certain, that London fs feituated on a Wicked* Bottom of Earth, called Blue-Clay: this Bottom in ma¬ ny contiguous tho’ feperated Beds, extends itsfelf round the Metropolis, and Lines of Communication fome Miles in Cir¬ cumference, and reacheth likewife downwards to an Enormi- ous Depth towards the Center. For the Boatings that have been frequently made by the Brewer in queft of the impreg¬ nated, Water, [called Spring Liquor] hath been moftly at¬ tempted to 30 and 40 Fathom Depth without fuccefs. The Interfaces betwixt the Clayei Strata, generally confift of Gravel and Sand, and fomewhiies give leave to the Sur¬ face and Center Springs to meet one the other in their Circu¬ lation through the Bowels of the Earth. [ As all forts of Clay are found by the Experience and Ob- fervations of Country-Farmers, and Brewers, to abound with a Juice or Salt;of an Efurine Acid Nature and Quality urlitrli