ftSfi .M. Stifft on the Origin of Mineral S^jrings, 



Besides, it is a well known fact, that almost all the constituents 

 of mineral springs have been also found in the form of subli- 

 mates, such as the muriate of soda, muriate and sulphate of lime, 

 sulphur, iron, &c. Why should these, then, be supposed rather 

 to exist in combination with the rocky masses, from which they 

 are to be washed out by the water, than as sublimations in the 

 different fissures and canals through wliich the water circulates ? 

 The latter supposition is certainly by far the simpler of the two. 

 . An experiment performed by Breislak * goes far to support 

 my opinion. He collected and condensed the vapours which as- 

 cended from the Solfatara, and found that they yielded him 

 daily from six to seven vessels, each of the capacity of 480 bot- 

 tles, of a mineral water containing sulphuretted hydrogen, mu- 

 riate of ammonia, sulphate of alumina, and sulphate of iron. 

 What was here artificially effected by Breislak is carried on by 

 Nature herself, on the great scale, when she combines the pro- 

 ducts ascending from the earth's interior with the atmospheric 

 waters descending from its surface. 



As far as the present state of our knowledge admits, I hope 

 that my view regarding the origin of mineral waters rests upon 

 solid grounds. Future experiments are requisite either to esta- 

 blish it on still firmer arguments, to give it still greater exten- 

 sion, or to substitute in its stead another and a better theory. 

 If, then, mineral springs and volcanoes are eff"ects of one and 

 the same cause, and as we know that the latter are not in a 

 state of incessant activity, but are sooner or later extinguished^ 

 can it be established by observation that such will be likewise 

 the lot of mineral springs ? 



This question can hardly be positively answered, because the 

 period since which mineral waters have been the object of scienti- 

 fic research is far too limited ; for it is only very recently that the 

 sciences have reached such a pitch as to enable us to prosecute 

 these inquiries with sufficient precision. Even the method of de- 

 composing mineral waters renders it difficult to observe such a 

 change, if it should occur, unless it be very considerable. Yet 

 I fear that, as far as we can at present answer the question, it 

 must be supposed that all of them will one day cease to flow 



• Breislak, Reisen durch Campanien, ii. 56. 1 802. 



