ROWZEE, Lodwick

by Lodwick Rowzee

£2,950 · Offered by Sokol Books

Extremely rare first edition on Rowzee s book on the curative powers of mineral water and the Chalybeate spring. In 1629 the first royal visitor to the Wells was Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I, who stayed for six weeks. As there was no accommodation available at that time, the Royal entourage camped on the Common. It was not until the latter part of the 17th century that the first permanent lodging houses were erected. With the royal seal of approval, Tunbridge Wells quickly became the most fashionable drinking spa near London, since it was much closer than Bath or Buxton. Following the Royal visit, Dr Lodwick Rowzee, a physician from Ashford, published this paper on the medicinal qualities of the spring. He established guidelines for the quantity of water that should be drunk and recommended starting with 2_ pints a day increasing to four times that amount during the course of a visit and reducing the amount when preparing to leave the Wells. Rowzee also recommended walking after taking the water and this became part of the daily ritual. The water helpeth also the running of the reines, whether it be Gonorrhea simplex or Venria, In the behalf of women there is nothing better against barrennesse, and to make them fruitful . It was to honour the six-month visit of Queen Henrietta Maria in 1629 that Rowzee coined the name The Queenes Wells , for Like the spa waters in Belgium, Tunbridge waters were credited with special efficacy in matters gynaecological, which i

• Binding: Hardcover

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