The Shasta courier., 1855-07-21
sbns,a County Lick Springs.

tance of about eight miles from the town OF Red
ters, they are found to possess medicinal proper
ties inferior to few, if any, in the United States
DR.. Trask State Geologst, has lately visited the
locality, and from him we have been furnished
the following outline their pecuiarities, which
will doubtless prove very interesting to our
readers. Dr. Trask says:
"The geological position of these springs is
both peculiar and interesting. They are snr
rounded on all sides by high and rugged bluffs
of an old conglomerate the mural walls Of which
are from one to three hundred feet in height.
forming scenery bold and repulsive, at the same
time pleasing and romantic. Beneath the con-
glomerate is bed of indurated sandstone con-
tanning marine fossils, probably Of The lower
Eocene period. This sandstone is trayersed by
numerous veins of carbonate of lime which is
highly crystalized, and has all the appearance
OF having had its origin among the sandstnnes,
from solution, and subsequent deposiion.) as
the calcareous veins are more irregular than the
beds in which they occur, thus proving them
more recent than the saline arenaceous rocks by
which they are invested.
The springs are located in Lasin formed by
the surrounding hills, and which appears to have
been the centre OF subterranean disturbance
subsequent to the period which elevated tliesu-
perior rocks, there are TO be fnnnd seven or
eight angles of inclination divergng from its
centre among the !sandstqges, through which lat
ter rocks the To has rfa h..
evidences thus furnished leads to the belief that
the fountain of these waters lie in the crctaceous
or, perhaps, the carboniferous formations which
dip under the valley to the noriL an4 vest Mos,
probably tie lattcr.
There great number of outlets to the
waters each forming an independent spring.
which are variable in their character some be-
ing more heavily charged with gases and salines
than others, but all possessing more or less Of
the general characters found in The principal
springs. The largest spring is perfectly satura-
ted with sulphurnted hydrogen gas. and contains,
also, traces of free sulphurous acids From this
spring there are heavy volumes Of carbureted
hydrogen constantly issuing, and which iguites
instantly on the application of lighted taper,
furnishing sufficient quantity of this material
for purposes of illumination from one of nature
abraiories. This article may be used for the
above purpose or applied to the heating of wa
ters or for the evaporation of the salines. with
which the springs, many of them, are highly
charged.
The water of the springs contains common
salt IN state of great purity also, sulphate of
magnesia and soda in small quantities, sufficient
OF both, however, for either Alternative purposes
when used moderately, or to act as laxatives
when used freely. The springs contain tonic
properties in marked degree. From the iron
held in solution, and which is precipitated soon
after reaching the surface. its element of sou.
ton is evidently caroonc acid
The suphurated waters are extremely active.
and possess the power of blackenng metallic
silver in thirty seconds. much more deeply than
any similar springs yet found in this State will
do IN the space of one-half or three-four,hs of al
hour the Jackson Greek springs not excepted
| think they are by far the most active medicat
ed waters yet found upon our coast. The SEN
sation produced upon the skin. on immersng
any part of the body, is very peculiar, and one
not easily described; its effects after shor,
bath are pleasing and grateful, imparting a
smooth rouge-like feeling over the surface wher-
ever the waters have been applied. The waters
are peculiarly well adapted to the successful
treatment of diseases of the vlscera and joints
rheumatism, chronic liver complaints, and
others of similar character In the latter class
OF diseases lis alternative properties, combined
with It's revellent action from the nse Of the
bath, cannot well fail TO produce beneficial re-
suits, when properly applied.
In dermoid complaints it cannot be superce-
ded by any artificial, and by very few natural
remedies. l am fully convinced that it would
prove most e,aicacious in both recent and chron-
c affections of The skin, of almost every charac-
ter. have seen one case of chronic inflammation
of the eyes greatly benefited by the tropical ap-
plicaton of its waters, when all other medica-
ments and good medical skill have failed to af-
ford any relief. Were there conveniences put
up for the accommodation of invalids at this
place, it would become place of resort for such
persons in short period, that would be une-
qualled in this or any other State of the union,
as it is easily reached in two days travel from
San Francisco, by steamer and stage, or by the
former alone.
The waters of the larger spring closely rcsem-
BILE. in taste and many Of its effects those Of the
Blue Licks of Kentucky, and think that their
ultimate analysis would prove their constituents
nearly the same. know Of but one set Of springs
in this State that approach the Shasta Lick
Springs in character, and those are ip the county
OF Contra Costa, though the latter do not pos
sess the same amount Of saline matter. nor are
they possessed of any of that extreme activity
which mark the preceding; cromine and iodine
is found in the Lick Springs, while those of Con-
ira Costa do not contain either of these essential