Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-07-10

" been attended to: il is undoubtedly worthy OF
all the talents and time which scientific opser-
yer could give TO it. :.
It's curious to remark one effect OF the use OF
this water. Persons accustomed to the daiiy use
of spirituous liquors, lose all desire TOT tnem'
and generally abandon them while al 'hese
springs. ~ s..,..,.
Springs are, at the foot Of the mountain, IN fertile
valley, and at such an elevation above tide that
the nights are never unpleasantly warm, they
seem intended BY nature Tor one oil her most ue-
lghtful retreats either for the invalid, or Tor the
healthy, tired Of the heat and business OF city.
It is with regret, however, that we have to state
that art has done but little to profit by the boun-
tie, of nature. An extensive tract OF land sur
rounding the Springs being the property OF one
individual, precludes the competition which IS the
soul of accommodation to the public. Still, IN
despite of the bad living, and the numbers OF
dogs and hogs roaming around the cabins w'thout'
and the legons Of feas within, the establishment IS
generally crowded during the season. This Is
strong evidence of the high in estimation which
the springs are held.
The water of these springs has never, as Tar as
we are aware, been analysed; and probably che-
mical science would be Intellectual IN detecting
the cause Of its medical virtues. 1t is evidently
impresnated with small quantity OF sulphu rel
ted hydrogen gas, aud of sulphur held IN sou,
ton by some unknown agent. The writer had
no means with him of making careful examlna'
ton: he was therefore obliged TO content HIM
self with evaporating two or three gallons OF the
water The gas which escaped was very ihcon-
siderable, and the residuum was very small,
and of a very peculiar disagreeable odour. Ac'
cident preyented further examination Of this
residuum.
We believe, according to the suggestion Of DR..
Murray. OF Edinburgh, that in general cases, che.
mical analysis does not shew the constitution OF
mineral waters, the ingredient principles contain.
ed in them being subject to new compositions ana
decompositions during the progress OF the opera
ton. LODGED il seems that even where we Know
all the constituent elements OF a mineral water,
| we cannot combine them ar,hcially so as to pro-
duce compound of equal efficacy to that afford
ed by nature. We do not perceive any thing un-
reasonable in the belief that these Springs are
expressly intended by the wisdom OF Providence
for the use Of man, and that there is contained IN
them some principle which, like the mlasma OF
the atmosphere is too subtle to be liable TO be de-
tected BY tests and re agents.
The Sweet Springs, about eighteen miles tn the
g. T.. of the White Sulphur. are very strongly
chcty bcate. and have a taste very agreeable 10
most Persons. which. for want of a most dlstinc-
tive naoe has been called sweet. The discharge
af ,a,er i, quite large. forming delightful! baths.
! uf a "a dium temperature. the mercury standing
In mem at about 76o. The elevation Of their po-
! !. ~, being much higher above tide than the
Waite Suipher, renders the climate delicious.
ald u house generally we'll kept, add to the en-
jDyment of ,isiters.
The Salt Sulphur Springs. to the S. w. of the
White Sulphur, were not visited by the writer
Inev are stated, however. to possess the eytraor-
binary propert, Of diminishing arteriaI action.
without enfeebiins the tone of the system. Hence
they are often visited bv persons affected with
pulmonary complaints. who are said, when the
disease is not too completely formed, TO derive
great aud permanent benefit from ,heir.use.