hey use the mud of those fountains with
advantage, especially if, when it is rubbed on, it be suffered to dry
in the sun_.[95] The same author relates strange things of some
springs. _In Boaetia_, says he, _there are two springs, one of which
retrieves the memory, the other destroys it.[96] In Macedonia two
streams meet, one of them extremely wholsome to drink, the other
mortal._[97] And other things of the same nature. To these may be
added what Lucian, an eye-witness relates of the river Adonis in the
country of the Byblii. _The water of that river changes its colour
once a year, and turning as red as blood, gives a purple tinge to the
sea, into which it runs_: and the cause of this phoenomenon he ascribes
to its _passing thro' mount Libanus, whose earth is red_.[98] Nor is
it foreign to the purpose to observe, that there are wonderful
eruptions of water in some countries. In the province of Conaught in
Ireland, there is a fountain of fresh water on the top of a high
mountain, which imitates the tide, by sinking and overflowing twice a
day.[99] A certain spring in Hungary in the county of Saros, is under
the influence of the moon: since it is well known to increase with the
moon's increase, to diminish with its decrease, and to run quite dry
at the great change or new moon.[100] In fine, medicinal waters were
not uncommon in Palestine, the accounts of which are collected by that
great master of oriental literature, Hadrian Reland.[101]

[94] _Lib. iii. Cap. xxvii._

[95] _Lib. xxxi. Sec.. 32._

[96] _Ib. Sec.. ii._

[97] _Ib. Sec.. 19._

[98] _De Dea Syria._

[99] _Vid. Ortelii Theatrum orbis terrarum._

[100] _Vid. Geo. Wernher. de admirandis Hungariae aquis._

[101] _Palaestina ex monument. vet. illustr. p. 300, &c._

Nevertheless those who contend for a miracle in this place, say that
there are no baths known, which can cure all distempers; nor any that
retain their virtue but one single month in the year: they likewise
add, that it was the action of the angel troubling this water, that
gave it its sanative qualities. Those who are of a different
sentiment, enumerate a number of waters, which become salutary at
certain times of the year, by being then charged with metallic salts;
the mud of which being brought up from the bottom, has been
serviceable in many diseases. Wherefore they say, it is not just to
have recourse to a supernatural power for effects, which may be
pro