Water could supposedly cure all manner of ailments - from smallpox, to gout and indigestion. Water could be bathed in, swum in or drunk and spas, baths and healing wells could be found dotted around Scotland's capital city to provide access to the city's poor and rich alike.
This video tour is part of our web resource, 'Edinburgh Medical Walkabouts' which provides a virtual tour of Edinburgh's medical history - with stories, images and more videos. Visit our Walking Tour webpages to find out more.