The Woodhall or Iodine Spa, Lincolnshire / by Robert Cuffe.

  • Cuffe, Robert.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Woodhall or Iodine Spa, Lincolnshire / by Robert Cuffe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    for its wonderful cures. In olden times our fathers would have been contented to ascribe these cures to some saint; and in a still earlier age some beautiful Naiad would have been invoked as the goddess of the healing spring; but in this material age some more exact explanation of the cures that seemed little less than miraculous was required, and the aid of the analytical chemist was called in. The property was then in the possession of Thomas Hotchkin, Esq., to whose liberality the public is indebted for the opportunity of enjoying this valuable spring; the number of persons who came to drink the water led him to erect a small bath for their use. The cures perfected caused such an influx of applicants that he determined to provide accommodation for the public. A large and handsome Hotel and convenient Bath-rooms were erected; the grounds were judiciously planted and tastefully laid out, advantage being taken of a fir plantation at a short distance from the wells to obtain protection from the north and east winds. In twelve months from the opening of this Hotel the waters had acquired sufficient reputation to induce the medical men and gentry around to celebrate the opening, and devise means to make it better known. Dr. Granville, E.R.S., Author of The Spas of Germany and The Spas of England, attracted by the growing reputation of this Spa, made a visit in order to examine it. Dr. Gran¬ ville’s observations on the cures effected by the water, the particular cases that were especially relieved by its use, and the physical character of the water itself, led him to suspect the presence of some very active medicinal agent, and he at once conjectured Iodine to be the substance. Some simple experi¬ ments were made, and it was found that after evaporating the water to two-thirds, Iodine could be plainly detected by applying the test of Starch with Sulphuric Acid, or Chlorine Gas. Dr. Granville then urged the necessity of obtaining a scientific analysis of the water by some eminent chemist, and recommended that Mr. West, of Leeds, should be engaged for