The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-02
@atural Otariosities.
From Tie Guide Manual.
3 Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky.
ny CHARLES ". WRIGHT, NJ. D.

ny CHARLES ". WRIGHT, ". u.
The Mammoth Cave is situated in Edmon.
son county, Kentucky, ninety.five miles south
Of louisville, or half way between Louisville
and Nashville; and is accessible by the Louis,
vile and Nashville Railroad, which passes
within seven miles of the Cave, at Glasgow
Junction, where conveyances are in readiness
70 convey passengers to and from the Cave.
The scenery in the vicinity of the Mammoth
Cave is almost without rival. Green River,
With It's towering cliffs, is but a few hundred
yards from the hotel, and affords good fishing
and pleasant boat excursions, which, together
With the magnificent grounds, promenades,
sNings, etc, attached to the hotel, conspire
% render a visit peculiarly attractive.
Ihe entrance to the Cave is one hundred
and ninety four feet above Green River, and
Is ebout twenty-five feet in height, by about
thirty in width, over which may be seen, at all
seasons, n mist or fog, which, when the exter
nal ait is warmer than that of the Cave, is
PRODUCED by the condensation Of the moisture
Of the former by the reduced temperature of
the ihtter On the contrary, when the tenn
peratnre of the external atmosphere is less
than that of the Cave, the moisture of the air
ofthe latter is condensed in similar manner
When the temperature of the outer air is the
sane as that OF the Cave, no fog or cloud is
obseryable at its mouth.
The entrance to the Mammoth Cave, at an
early period of its history, was situated about
halt mile from its present location, constitu.
ting what is now called the mouth of Dickson :
lave. This cave terminates within few feet
Of the mouth of the Mammoth Cave, but
there is at present no direct communication
between the two. The voice of person at
anil .F n,rls..,.f l.. Al.
heard at the entrance of Mammoth Cave.
The present entrance to Mammoth Cave was
formed, and its communication with Dick.
eon's Cave cut off by the disintegrating action
Of the water of the spring, which discharges
Is contents from the ceiling, at the mouth of
the former, and which caused the Cave ut this
point to fall in-thus establishing new en-.
tfnnce, and shortening the length of the Cave
hy about half mile.
The Mammoth Cave breathes once year
Thai is to say, in summer or when the TEN.
venture of the external air is above that of
tho Cave, the current sets from the latter TO
tte former. In other words, the Cave is the
entire summer in making an expiration. On
The other hand, when the order is reversed, or
he temperature of the outer atmosphere is
below 50 degrees, the Cave makes an inspira-
hon, or draws in its breath, which il accom-.
plishes during the winter. The respiratory
mechanism OF the Cave ceases to operate, or,
to carry out the metaphor-it holds its breath
when the mercury in the thermometer
stands at 50 degrees in the outer All which
Is the average temperature of all parts of the
Gave, winter and summer. Hence il is fire.
quenty observed, in the spring and fall, that
there is no motion of air in either direction at
The mouth of the Cave.
On entering the Cave for few hundred
yards, in summer, when the temperature is at
or near 100 degrees, the air rushes out with
mch force as frequently to extinguish the
lamps. Passing into the Cave for about n
half mile, however, the motion of air is barely
perceptible at any time, from the fact that the
main avenue enlarges so rapidly that il plays
the part of reservoir, where n current of air,
from any direction, is speedily neutralized.
II a current of air blows from without, inward,
and is below 50 degrees, it does not pass more
than quarter of mile before il is brought
mp TO that point. Air above the average tenn
perature OF the Cave, never blows into II.
Thus it will be observed that II change OF
seasons is unknown in the Mammoth Cave ;
and day and night, morning and evening, have
no existence in this subterranean world. In
fhct, there is an eternal sameness here, the
like of which has no parallel.
In many parts of the Cave, time itself is
not an element of change; for where there is
no variation of temperature, no water, and no
light, the three great forces Of geological
Transformation cease TO operate.
# The proportions of oxygen and nitrogen
bear the same relation to each other in the
Mammoth Cave that they do in the external
cir. The proportion of carbonic acid gas is
less than that observed in the atmosphere OF
the surrounding country, upon an average Of
many observations. In the dry parts OF the
Gave the proportion is about to 10000 OF
air; in the vicinity of the rivers, something
less. Not trace of ammonia can be detect
ed in those parts of the Cave commonly WISH
ted. The amount of the vapor'of water va
ries. Thus, in those avenues at great dis.
lance from the rivers, upon the walls and
floors of which there is deposit of nitrate OF
lime, the air is almost entirely destitute Of
moisture, from the microscopic properties OF
that salt, and animal matter mummiiies in
stead Of suffering putrefactive decomposition.
And for the same reason, no matter what state
of division the disiutegrated rock may attain,
dust never rises. In portions Of the Cave re
mote from the localities in which the bats by.
bernate, no organic matter can be recognized
by the most delicate tests. Not trace OF
ozone can be detected by the most sensitive
reagents.
From what has been stated, it will be oh
served that the atmosphere Of the Mammoth
Cave is freer from those substances which are
calculated TO exert depressing and septic in
huence on the animal economy than that O
any other locality of the globe. This grea
difference is observed by every one on leaving
the Cave, after having remained in it for q
number of hours. In such instances, the i'm
purity of the external ak isalmost insuiierabll
offensive 10 the sense of smell, and the 70
nance ola "pure country air is forever dis
sipated
Consumptiycs, at one time, resorted TO tn,
Cave, and, as might have been anticipated
with fatal results. Several Of them died there
and all of them soon after exposure TO the ex
ternal air. One patient did not see the ligh
of the sun, for a period of five months. Shor
trips are attended with advantage, but Cave
residence is speedily fatal.
know Of no infammatory disease that I
rendered worse by o resort to the Mammoth
Cave. On the contrary short and ensy trip
have been known to effect cure in chron
Fdysentery and diarrhea, whereall other meas
ures had failed.
In all those diseases where absolute silence
and the total exclusion of light are indicated
the Cave, above all other places, possesse
pre- eminent advantages for nowhere els
have we these conditions combined.
The temperature of the Mammoth Cave j
uniformly hity-nine degrees, winter and sum
mer, which, 10 connection with the remarka
BILE purity Of its atmosphere, will account 70
the fact that individuals are enabled to under
20 such an unusual amount Of physical exer
ton in Il. II Is not an uncommon occurrence
for person in delicate health TO accomplish
journey Of twenty miles in the Cave, withou
suffering from fatigue, who could not be Pre-
vailed upon to walk distance OF three mule
on the surface of the earth
There can be no doubt but that the solyen
action Of water holding carbonic acid in solu