The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-08-02

From The GHide Manual.
The Mammoth Cave Of Kentucky.
ny CHARLES W. WRIGHT, NJ. D.

ny CHARLES ". WRIGHT, ". u.
The Mammoth Cave is situated in Edmon.
zI''i county, Kentucky, ninety.iive miles south
Of Louisville, or half way between Louisville
md Nashville; and is accessible by the Louis.
WIG and Nashville Railroad, which passes
Nilhin seven miles of the Cave, ut Glasgow
Aunction, where conyeyances are in readiness
foconyey passengers to and from the Cave.
The scenery in the vicinity of the Mammoth
Cave is almost without rival. Green River,
with its towering cliffs, is but few hundred
yards from the hotel, and affords good fishing
and pleasant boat excursions, which, together
With the magnificent grounds, promenades,
sNlngs, etc, attached to the hotel, conspre
" fender a visit peculiarly attractive.
The entrance to the Cave is one hundred
and ninety.four feet above Green River, and
u tbout twenty-five feet in height, by about
thirty in width, over which may be seen, at all
seasons, mist or fog, which, when the exter.
nal air is warmer than that of the Cave, is
PRODUCED by the condensation Of the moisture
Of the former by the reduced temperature of
the latter. On the contrary, when the TEN.
perhtnre 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
same as that OF the Cave, no fog or cloud is
ohSeryable at its mouth.
The entrance to the Mammoth Cave, at an
early period Of its history, was situated about
halt u mile from its present location, constitu-
ting what is now called the mouth of Dickson s
Cave. This cave terminates within few feet
Of the mouth of the Mammoth Cave, but
there is ut present no direct communication
hrtween the two. The voice of person ut
Il 4 4
heard ut the entrance of Mammoth Cave
The present entrance to Mammoth Cave was
formed, and its communication with Dick.
zon's Cave cut off by the disintegrating action
Of The water Of the spring, which discharges
iiscontents from the ceiling, ut the mouth of
tho former, and which caused the Cave Mt this
point to fall in-thus establishing new en-
rance, and shortening the length of the Cave
+ BY about half mile.
s. The Mammoth Cave brcathes once year.
That is to say, in summer, or when the tenn
Venture of the external air is above that of
the Cave, the current sets from the hitter To
the former. In other words the Cave is the
entire summer in making an expiration. On
nc other hand, when the order is reversed, or
DC temperature of the outer atmosphere is
Below 50 degrees, the Cave makes an inspira.
hon, or draws in its breath, which it accom-
dishes during the winter. The respiratory
mechanism OF the Cave ceases TO operate, or,
b carry out the metaphor-it holds its breath
when the mercury in the thermometer
stands at 50 degrees in the outer al which
b the average temperature of all parts of the
Gave, winter and summer. Hence il is fire.
qnently observed, in the spring and fall, that
here is no motion of air in either direction at
The mouth Of the Cave.
1fH Dn entering tho Gave fnr IA frw huu,lrad
Yards, in summer, when the temperature is at
Or near 100 degrees, the air rushes out with
such force as frequently to eNtiuguish the
lamps Passing into the Cave for about u
halt mile, however, the motion of air is barely
perceptible ut any time, from the fact that the
unin avenue enlarges SO rapidly that il plays
the part of IA reservoir, where a current of air.
from any direction, is speedily neutralzed
II a current of air blows from without, inward
and = below 50 degrees, it does not pass more
thana quarter of a mile before il is brought
i MP 70 that point. Air above the average tenn
pcrAfure of the Cave, never blows into 1t.
Thus it will be observed that change of
season. is unknown in the Mammoth Cave /;
and day and night, morning and evening, have
no cxistence in this subterranean world In
fact, 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
l;oht. the three great forces of geological
fransiormation cease to onerate.
Tho nroportions of owen and ni,rogon
( hear Tho same relation 10 eacb other in The
Nnrnmoth Cave that they do in the external
air. The proportion of carbopic acid gas IL
lcss than that observed in the atmosphere of
fhe surrounding country. mon an average of
mauy observations, In the dry parts Of the
Cave the proportion is about to 10000 of
air; in the vicinity of the rivers, something
Iess. Not A trace of ammonia can be detect.
"a in those parts of the Cave commonly yisi.
s1ttd. The amount of the yapor-of water va.
.ies. Thus. in those avenues nj a great dis
l.nee from the rivers, upon the walls and
doors of which there is deposit of nitrate of
Inc, the air is almost entirely destitute of
MOISTURE. from the hygroscopic properties of
lhat salt, and animal matter mummifies in.
head of suffering putrefactiye accommodation,
And for the same reason, no matter what state
"a division the disintegrated rock may attain,
<ust never rises. In portions of the Cave re.
1aote from The localities in which the bats nv.
sernate, no organic matter can be recognized
by the most delicate tests. Not a trace of
ozone can be detected by the most sensitive
reagents.
From what has been stated, il will be oh.
keryed that the atmospbere of the Mammoth
Cave il freer from those substances which are
4 calculated TO exert depressing and septic in.
1 fiuence on the animal economy than that Of
any other locality of the globe. This great
difference il observed by every one ON leaving
the Cave. after having remained in it for a
number Of hours. In such instances, the i'm.
purity of the external an isalmost insufferably
offensive to the sense of smell, and the no.
nance of a "pure country air. is forever dis.
sipated.
CONSERVATIVES, at one time, resorted to the
Cave, and, as might have been anticipated