Epsom, England/epsom162
Previous | Home | NextThe source of the "medicinal properties" was found in 1697 by Nehemiah Grew (1641-1712) of the Royal Society who isolated the salt from the waters and recognized that it differed from "all other salts." Grew is thus credited with the first preparation of Epsom salts; he patented this "Purging Salt" in 1698 and soon began commercial production. Grew was a physician in London; his private research was particularly noted for the "anatomy of plants" (i.e., plant structure). The identify of Epsom salt as magnesium sulfate had to await the distinction of magnesia and lime (magnesium and calcium) by Joseph Black {LINK: Edinburgh045} half a centry later.
