The Portland daily press., 1869-09-06
Letter from saratoga-An n Analysis Ofthe
Springs and n Statement of their Vari-
ous Medicinal Properties md Rejuvena-
ting Tendencies. -...
SApArocA Sent 1st 1850

ting Tendencies. ...f -...
SARATOGA, Sept. 1st. 1869.
To the Editor Of the Press: s ST..
Have you ever been to these famous springs?
If not, there is source of pleasure you have
not tried, and fountain of health that you
know comparatively little about. The nature
and virtue Of these waters are truly, wonder
full, and operate with great efficacy upon all
cases of consumption, dyspepsia, arrangements
of the liver and kidneys and the general de-
bility of the body growing out Of lon and
steady application to any kind Of sedentary
business, or professional labor. The ingredi-
ents held in solution in them have been anal
lied and are as well known as the component
parts of cup of tea or coffee. So that every
one can tell exactly what he is drinking. One
great advantage of this beverage Is, that it has
been prepared with a skill which no apothe-
cary ever possessed, and presents such an ex-
quisite combination Of elementary parts as no
mortal hand or genius could make. The
fountains are as inexhaustible as the waters
are wonderful, and each indicates the unlimit-
ed bene eficence of the great God who created
them. 81 -tH
Some of the springs are cathartic, and some
tonic The former are frequented in the morn
ing for several hours, and the others during
the remainder of the DAY. 1t is very interes-
ting to see the people pour out of the hotels and
boarding houses which abound in every street,
and go to the cathartie springs. They have
one mission to fulfil, and promptly and joyful
ly attend to il. From one to six glasses are
drank in the morning according to the physi-
cal condition and requirements of the person,
and within an hour after breakfast they pro-
duce without pain or disquietude healthful
and thorough action. % 3.I,
Think OF the thousands that are thus opera
ted upon every day, and of the thousands that
have been thronging here all summer long to
be refreshed and renewed by these springs,
and you can form some idea Of their virtue and
value
The chief ingredients of the, water blended
in different proportions in the different
springs, are chloride of sodium, bicarbonate Of
megnesia, bicarboRate of lime, biearbonate Of
soda, together with small traces of several 9TH
er salts, and in the tonic waters there is the
bicarbOnate of iron. ,f -.r..yo,..E 4. -.i. .
These go directly to make up and supply
the waste of the system, give tone to the di-'
gestive organs, add flesh to the bones, vigor to
the muscles and strength to the blood. have
known Of persons who have come here for the
first time, bowed down and bent up with what
they believed to be heart disease, and scarcely
venturing to walk faster than at snailIs pace,
to be so much improved in three days time
and so much e1ated by their Improvement,
that they would walk, run and leap like SO
many boys.
There are some twenty of these springs in
narrow swale that extends a distance Of about
two miles directly through the heart of the
village, and are called the Washington"
Columbian" Congress Hamilton" "-"Ha-
thorn," "Putnam," Pavilion" "High Rock,
'star," "Excelsior,' Empire" Eureka"
"Red," "White Sulphar," and others, They
are arched over with graceful roofs Of differ
ent styles and patterns, to protect the drinkers
from the hot sun or falling rain. These
roofs are supported on substantial and
tasteful columns at their several corners. A
around the springs within which the boys
stand with their rods some four feet long hav-
ing three wire sockets at one end in which
are placed the tumbler they dip into the
spring. A counter a foot to eighteen inches
wide extends the length of each side of the
inclosure, on which stand the glasses which
the boys dip with their rods and fill tor all who
come to drink. No fee is charged-the health
full beverage is free to every one. here you
| see the millionaire and the mendlcant, the
beautiful belle and the old maid, the aged man
| with the white beard and hair, and the youth
ful fop with gold chain and scented handker
chief Here meet SIC beau monde" and 'le
| MANURE diables" saints and sinners, minister
and doctors, lawyers and merchant princes
| poets and philosophers, artists and artisans
white, black and gray. Men and women from
all parts of the United States, the principa
cities Of Canada, and from Cuba gather nere
Disease knows no latitude nor pouho"'y >,
Neither. wealth nor position keepsi' away
turks beneath the jeweled stoniaono,, 'no
peou, velvet bodice and brilliant diamonds
and none are so great or humble, 80 rich ol
noor hut they are willing to seek and try to
,atber the marvellous virtues Of these springs
| uWbat seek they thus afar. sH h
| Bright Jewels Of the mine? - -..r.;.
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war;
They seek for healths pure shrines"