EPSOM

a town in the county of Surrey, England, 143? miles s.w. of London, formerly celebrated for a mineral spring, from the water of which the well-known Epsom salt a were manufactured. The principal attraction Epsom can now boast of is the grand race-meeting held on the Downs, the chief races being the Derby and Oaks. Epsom gives name to one of the seven parliamentary divisions of the county. Pop. (1931), 27,089 EPSOM SALTS, sulphate of magnesium (MgSo, 7H,0), a cathartic salt which appears in capillary fibres or acicular erystals. It is found covering crevices of rocks, in mineral springs, .; but is commonly prepared by artificial proce es from magnesian limestone by treating it with sulphuric acid, or by di olving the mineral kieserite (MgSO,H,0) in boiling water, allowing the insoluble matter to settle, and crystallizing out the Epsom salts from the clear solution. It is employed in medicine as a purgative, and in the arts. The name is derived from its haying been first procured from the mineral waters at Epsom.