[Sca-cooks] The great Medieval water myth

[Sharon Palmer]

>>therefor all the water/ which has a sour/ sharp/
>>over-salted taste/ as of sulphur and Nitro
>>(soda?)/
>
>If the word being used is "Natron," it's an obsolete reference to 
>sodium in the general and sodium carbonate in the particular. 
>Modernly, he would likely use the word Alkali in reference to a 
>mineralized water possibly containing such nasty alkalis as arsenic. 
>The tap water in Reno, while safe to drink, is an example.

It was "Nitro", which appears to be cognate to "Natron".  You are 
right, "alkali" is a better translation.  Thanks.

Ranvaig