This arises from a spring near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire; and is one of the most celebrated purging waters in England. When taken from the fountain, it is clear and colourless, but somewhat brisk; has a saline, bitterish, chalybeate taste; it strikes a vivid purple colour immediately on being mixed with an infusion of galls. Its heats is in summer from 53° to 59°, when the medium heat of the atmosphere was nearly 15° higher. When exposed to the air in an open glass vessel, it throws up a quantity of air bubbles, becomes turbid, and loses its brisk chalybeate taste and property of tinging an infusion of galls. On evaporation it is found to contain a calcareous earth, mixed with ochre, and a purging salt. In one gallon were found by Dr. Short 74 grains of calcareous earth mixed with ochre, and 673 grains of a purging salt. In the second experiment, 42 and 580; in the third, 70 and 622 respectively. Dr. Rutty found 36 grains of earth, 494 of salt, which was composed of vitriolated magnesia, and a small quantity of sea salt. Dr. Lucas, 4 grains of iron, 181 /2 grains of calcareous earth, mixed with a small portion of selenites, 362 1/2| of salt of the nature of Epsom, but drier and finer. Dr. A. Fothergill found 480 grains of Glauber and Epsom salts, 5 grains of sea salt, 25 of magnesia, and 40 of selenite; together 550 of solid contents. The upper, or King's well, was discovered by the accidental sinking of a well after the king's residence there, by his command. The temperature of this water at eight in the morning, the beginning of August, was 54°. Its specific gravity was, at that temperature, 1059; and it boiled at 214 1/2, when the barometer was at 29.60. Its sensible qualities were not very different from the other springs. It certainly contains, a larger proportion of salts than the water usually employed; and the analysis of Dr. Jameson discovered the following contents: viz. sulphat of soda, 490 grains; sulphat of magnesia, 310; muriat of soda, 40; sulphat of lime, 38; carbonat of lime and magnesia, 34: in all 912 grains of salts, estimated in their crystallized state in a wine gallon of the water. This well seems to contain neither sulphur nor steel.

The principal diseases, for which the Cheltenham water is employed, are bilious; and to the Cheltenham wells resort those who from indolence, luxurious indulgences, a long residence in tropical climates, or other causes, labour under cachexy from a diseased, generally a scirrhous, liver. It is this state of the biliary system which is chiefly adapted for these waters; and they very successfully assist a mercurial course. In overflowings of bile also, particularly where this fluid regurgitates into the stomach, occasioning headach and sickness, it assists in discharging it regularly. In the 5rst instance, the steel seemingly counteracts its debilitating power; and in the latter, the carbonic acid gas prevents it from producing vomiting.

In gout the Cheltenham water is also occasionally recommended; and the cooling tendency of the salts is supposed to be counteracted by the stimulus of the steel: yet, perhaps, it is chiefly adapted to those cases of gout connected with complaints of the liver; in reality, to the broken constitution, which is the cause of both. In all stomach complaints, in hypochondriasis, and chlorosis, it is said to be useful; and, probably, may be so, though there are apparently other medicines better adapted to them. In jaundice, in scorbutic eruptions of different kinds, in scrofula, and the diseases connected with it, this water is useful. In inflammatory asthma, in amenorrhoea and leucorrhoea, in haemorrhoids, and nephritic complaints, in short, wherever constant cooling laxatives are necessary, this mineral water has been employed; but in many of these diseases it is not superior to sea water, and in some perhaps inferior.

As a purge, this water is drank from one to three pints; though in general from half a pint to a quart is sufficient. It operates with great ease.