The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-03
CORRESPONDENTS.
LETTERS OF A ooNyALEscEsI
M W
THE HOT SPRINGS.

\ we nave now visited The warm, The Hot the
White Sulphur, and the Sweet Springs, and we are
led by our own ohse rvaon and experience repose
more confidence 10 the medical powers of the Hot
Springs, than 10 those Of any waters we have ever
seen or recoect 10 have heard Of. They are 81
tuated In The midst Of the hills in narrow, but pro-
found little valley, that has southern dip through
the mountains, whittier il gradually extencs inio
| pretty little plains and meadows. The forest.c
hills immediately surrounding, you may easily
suppose the walls Of an amphiiheate, for which the
clouds, which seem sometimes TO be within stones
throw overhead, form canopy, iuciuatng, TO be
sure, and frequently tremendously ieaky! The Hoel
Is plain unpained wooden building, with piazza
in front 2l0 feet In length, an extensive dining
room In a rude, upholstered addition in the rear,
two comfortable drawing rooms, and apartments for
lodging, &c. Across the road you descend few
feet natural espanade which is bordered by the
bath houses and cabins, so called, and The embank-
ment which you descend, and is well shaded. The
cabins are small one story wooden buildings, with
two separate rooms in each, and small piazzas.-
There is room in all, hotel and cabins for the ac
commodation of $50 persons There are six baths,
each supplied with water from n separate spring,
and ranging in temperature from 90 to los degrees
Of heat, the Boiler Sweet bath, the Spout bath,
and the Pleasure bath, for gentlemen and separate
one Of each kind for ladies. The Boiler SO called,
is covered by large wooden building, made close,
to prevent the rapid escape Of vapor, and parilioned
into two rooms for the different sexes. Each room
contains bath in the centre OF few feet square,
and stalls with blankets and mattresses arranged
along the side. Alier an immersion Of Is minutes,
the patient undergoes process Of friction by the
attendant, and is then laid upon the maiirass and
covered warmly with blankets. Precipitation en-
sues frequently in copous a manner, that Il pene
trates the matirass, and streams upon the floor
/ When this course has been continued, under the
direction Of course Of the physician the water being
also taken internally the effects have been wonder
| full To the taste, the water seems simply warm.
| But its effects prove Il 10 be highly medicated.
Proofs that 80 cases OF various complaints and dis
eases Of singular severity and obsiinacy have been
absolutely cured by the of these balhs are pub
shed to the world; and thousands Of others Of less
interest have been benefcially affected. Among the
diseases which have been cured by the use Of these
waters, the proprietor mentions, rheumatism, govt,
iaundice, dropsy, dyspepsy, dysentary, darrhGa,
| liver complaint, Tic Doloreau, contracted tendons,
swellings OF the extremities rheumatic pains occa
stoned by falls INJURIES cases Of partial paralysis,
| suppressed menstruation, deafness resulting from
colds various diseases Of the hillary organs and Of
| the stomach and bowels. We saw great many
invaids present, variously afflicted not one Of
whom, had used The waters in vain. A gentleman
who had but few weeks before bid his distant
friends farewell In the expectation Of seeing them
no more, had been at these springs nine days, had
gained nine pounds of flesh, and was departing for
home with heart full OF new life, il not of graft
iude. Notwithstanding many wonderful cures, these
waters are not beneficial in all cases, and should
not be resorted TO without the nd vice Of competent
physician. Taken internally, any one may soon
perceive that they are anl-acid mildly aperient and
diuretic and diaphoretic.
The Spout Bath differs from the Boiler only In
the manner Of the application OF the water, which
pours out Of hollow log into spacious bath, from
a height several feet above the surface. BY this
means the water may be most efectually applied TO
any part Of the body and thus it and chases
away oppressive damps and languid pains"
The Pleasure bath is similar to the bath at the
Warm Spring, which have described, in its
temperature and external appurlenances. II has
not, however, the odour the tranSlucency, and
perhaps is pleasant that luxurious bath at
the Warm Spring. That bath is as bright the
pools of Heshbon delightful the waters of the
tabled Epicurean garden, and scarcely "more tran
spicuous the invisible air"
But for medical efficacy commend us 10 the Hot
Springs.
We suppose perfect analysis of these waters has
not yet been published. They are known to con-
tain, however, Sulphurate and Carbonate of Lime;
Sulphurate Of Soda and Magnesia; minute por-
ton of the Muria,e of Iron Carbonc acid gas;
Nitrogen gas, and trace of sulphuIet,ed hydrogen
gas The character of these ingredients, therefore,
10 he as nj nj hose he
Warm Spring. They probably differ in proportion,
as the waters do in temperature.
The present proprietor Of the Hot Springs is Dr.
Thomas Goode, a gentleman Of agreeable manners,
and apparently Of an attentive and humane DISPOSE
ton. The Hotel is kept by Capt. Wbitten, who
provides good table and comfortable apartments,
&c, for 50 per week. Mutton is the standard dish
mos, of the Virginia Springs bu, at the Hot, veni-
son and beef, EACH cost but Al cents per pound =
About 1900 persons enter the Boiler Bath each sea.
son. which lasts, generally from May until Novem-
Der. The Hotel is closed in the winter.
A few rods above the Hotel, The thumb and finger
Of the same hand may be placed in two streams of
water, one of which is hot and the other cold!
A quarter Of mile distant is cavern, which
may be traced several hundred yards into the noun
tain, if the adVenturer chooses TO encounter mud
and damps. Some IL miles of, the disciples OF Wal.
ton may find little trout brook pouring its waters
over ledge of some 100 feet fall. 3.
Why may not these Hot Springs be considered
one OF the wonders of the world2 Whence comes
this scalding stream out of the cold earth 2 How is
it hea,ed2 Are the cauldrons of his Suphureous
Satanic Majesty boiling overt Does the broad cold
mountain cherish within its rocky bosom sumber-
ing volcanoel Or has Earth, kndest mother Of ALL
by some "sweet energy" sent forth this warm and
precious stream make up for the deficiencies Of her
children's skill in conquerng the malignant, insi-
dious and active enemies of their flesh 7 IS,
The EDITOR.