The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-22
evening State Sol.raaL
TUESDAY EVENING, JULY %. 1873
More of the Springs.
From our Travelling Correspondent
ROCKBRIDGE SPRINGS.

J0RDAN'S ROCKBRIDGE SPRINGS,
t July 20, 1873. :
Having rambled and inspected consider
ably more since my previous letter, | am
enabled to give further reliable information
in regard to this location, and its various
and varied springs. My strolls have been
under the intelligent guidance Of Mr.. Jor-
dan himself, the early settler and owner
of these magnificent grounds.
There are many who know the ingre-
dents and curative properties of these
springs; but there are other many who do
not; therefore, brief analyses are here
given from competent chemists.
In regard to quality and name of these
waters, DR.. s. A. Cartwright says they
possess all the properties of the celebrated
and popular. "Vichy waters, and we
must infer their virtues. He thinks the
term Alum misnomer, and suggests the
significant name of Acidulous F'e7ug:-
nous" indicating their more prominent
constituents. DIR. Norman, the distin-
guished author of +" Mineral Waters of the
United States and Canada" with an eye to
their chemical components, thinks that
"Aluminous SulloAated Chatybeate," would
be more appropriate, and says but va rose
by another name would smell as sweet"
Whether we call them Alum, Sulphur,
Chalybeate, Iodine, Red, Blue, White or
Yellow, Warm, Hot, or Cold, the question
of paramount Importance to the invdlid is,
where the best mineral water, or combina-
ton of mineral waters, suited to their
individual case, is to be found"
To know exactly what these mineral
waters are composed of, the curious read
er can study the following analysis, made
by DR.. William Gillian, of one gallon of
the water of. Jordan's Rockbridge
Springs:
Of Sulphate of Alumina ........5.6 $50 Grains
OF of Magnesia. ......4.666 Grains
Of - of Lime ......... ........3.S0S Grains
OF = Of Protoxide of lron..S.39S Grains
of :" of Potash. .0.65S Grains
Of Free Sulphuric Acid .....-S.S5S Grains
Chloride of Sodium, in small
quantity, not determined.
Organic Matter, not determined.
Professor Aiken says of this Alum spring,
and its ingredients, that the "very large
proportion Of Iron and of Free Acid, and,
more important than all, the quantity of
Iodine in combination, will give charac-
ter to the water far superior to that of
any other of which | have any knowl-
edge" ~ C~ks
OF Mr.. Jordan's Chalybeate Spring,
Professor Mallett says:
/" The spring rises from dark colored
shale of Lower Devonian age, about forty
or fifty yards from the Alum spring No
2, on the southeast side Of and close to
the base of mountain ridge running
about northeast and southwest A basin
of slate, of about two feet by fifteen
inches, serves to enclose the spring. The
bottom ofthe basiniis clearly seen through
the limpid and transparent water, from
which no gas bubbles escape, but in which
there continuously forms a fine, light |
yellow ochreous deposit or sediment.
The temperature of this spring is uni |
form throughout the year, being 52.7o in
February, and 52.5o in May; proving 1t to
be genuine spring of great depth, and in
no way superficial water.
After summing up q long list of the |
diseases for which these waters are cure,
the physicians make the following general |
statement, which append for the benefit |
of all concerned:
whilst science and art has done so
much for the relief of woman, nature has
done her share. Suffice it to say. in the
waters of the Jordan Alum. Iodine and
Chalybeate Springs, the physician has a
most efficient ally, whether the treatment
be constitutional or local-Alum, Iodine,
Iron, Arsenic, Oopper-alterative, tonic,
regulator, reiormer--alike valuable in
general debility, nervous prostration and
irritabllty, loss of appetite. enervation
consequent upon overtaxed mind or body,
enfeebled constitution, broken down by
=. A. Il. r. IT..