33$ .THE, VIRTUES OF LIME-WATER
Dr Hartley, * leaving out the fuperfluous ufeîefs part of Mrs
Stephens’s compofltions, has reduced them to two ounces and a half
of foap, and feven fcruples and a half of egg-fhell powder, as the
mean dofe to be taken every day. Rut the powder is fo naufeous,
and this quantity of foap is fo great, that there are but few patients
who will continue to, take the medicines thus reformed by him for
any confl der able time f.
After reading the ingenious experiments publiihed (1741)
by the Reverend and learned Dr Hales, upon Mrs Stephens’s medi¬
cines, I was led to think that lime-water had as, fair a chance as a-
ny thing to diflTolve the (tone. For fince it there appears, that the
foap owes its virtues neither to the potafli nor oil, but wholely to the
quicklime that enters into its compohtion ; and as Mrs Stephens’s pow¬
der which fhe ufed long before ihe gave the foap in any quantity 4,
and which fhe hill lays great ft refs upon, is flaked lime ; it is ve¬
ry reafonable to expeél great benefit from lime-water ; which has
this further advantage, that by its means the virtues of a greater
quantity of lime may be fafely conveyed into the blood ; for in
foap the lime bears fo final! a proportion to the other ingredients,
that but a very inconflderable quantity of it can in this form be
mixed with our fluids, and of the powder (greatly weakened by
being expofed fixty days to the open air) only a few fcruples are
exhibited a day. If this powder is fwallowed without enough of li¬
quids along with it, it may be of bad confequence, and has doubt-
lefs been the occafion of great heat and uneafinefs in fome people’s
ftomachs y and if it is fufliçiently diluted, efpecially with white-
wine,
* See his fupplement to the view of the prefent evidence:.
f Dr Hartley has latley, for fuch as cannot take the foap and powder m a liquid, publifb-
ed the following method of giving them in a folid form, viz. To take of Alicant foap, eight
ounces ; powdered quick lime a little flaked, one ounce ; fait of tartar, or purified potafh, a
dram; and {having the foap, and mixing it with the lime and fait, to beat all into a foft
mafs, with the help of as much water as is neceffary : of this mafs, from three to four ounces
are to be taken every day, made into rolls a little taper at each end, which are to be
laid length-ways on the tongue, and fwallowed with a mouthful of water. In this way the
quantity of foap to be taken ’daily, is nearly from two ounces and five drams, to three ounces
„and a half of lime powder, from three drams to near half an ounce ; and of fait of Tar»
tar, or purified potafh, *from a fcruple to near half a dram,
% Hartley’s fupplement to the prefent view, p, i.