y to those
afflicted with gout or rheumatism that ere long it became the resort of
the _elite_ in the fashionable world as well as the poor.

Dr. Jones mentions in his very interesting treatise that in his time
Buxton was resorted to by large numbers of the poor and afflicted people
from the surrounding districts. The indigence and deplorable condition
of some of these people were so extreme and their numbers so great that
to supply their necessities the whole of the "treasury of the bath fund
was consumed, part of which the people of the adjoining chapelry of
Fairfield claimed for the purpose of paying the stipend of their
chaplain." So great indeed became the grievance that they by petition
sought the protection of Queen Elizabeth in the matter.

Dr. Jones, in his quaint and forcible way, writes in reference to the
"treasury of the bath" fund: "If any think this magisterial imposing on
people's pockets let them consider their abilities and the sick poor's
necessities, and think whether they do not in idle pastimes throw away in
vain twice as much yearly. It may entail the blessings of them who are
ready to perish upon you, and will afford a pleasant after-reflection.
God has given you physic for nothing; let the poor and afflicted (it may
be members of Christ) have a little of your money, it may be better for
your own health. Heaven might have put them in your room, and you in
theirs, then a supply would have been acceptable to you."

As the thermal water issues from the various fissures in the limestone
rock, it is slightly alkaline, bright, sparkling, of a blueish tint,
especially when collected in bulk, and soft and rather insipid in taste.

CHAPTER III.
THE BATHS AND MODE OF APPLICATION.

Kinds of Baths--Natural and Hot--Action of Thermal Water upon the
Skin--Natural Baths--Swimming and Plunge for Males and Females--Necessity
of Caution in their Use--Importance of Time and Frequency in Taking the
Baths--Directions During and After Bathing--Most Favourable Time for
Taking Warm or Hot Baths--Directions for the Use of Half, Three-quarters,
and Full Baths--Drowsiness after Bathing--Massage, When and How
Used--When Baths Inadmissible--Hours for Drinking the Medicinal
Waters--Diseases in which the Thermal Water should Not be Drunk.

There are two kinds of baths, viz., the natural and hot. The natural
bath is so called because the water used in its formation is at the
natural temperature, as it issues