Hot and Thermal Springs, ^IS 



that gas.* Every thing speaks in favour of the supposition^ 

 that these acidulous waters are fonned near the surface, where 

 streams of water and carbonic acid gas come in contact with each 

 other. 



Lastly, if we take into consideration that by far the greater 

 part of the fresh-water springs of artesian wells, which seldom 

 contain a larger proportion of carbonic acid than those of common 

 wells, have, however, a temperature exceeding the mean tem- 

 perature of the place in many cases by several degrees, we find 

 ourselves obliged to seek another cause for the elevated tempe* 

 rature of such springs. I only bring forward, as an example 

 the above-mentioned warm-springs of Paderborn, whose tempc-^ 

 rature is as high as 61°.25, and which, however, only contain 

 one-tenth of their volume of carbonic acid gas, whilst the neighs 

 bouring springs of Schmechten, Hester, Driburg, and Pyrmont, 

 so rich in carbonic acid, only give 48°.2 to 54°.5. In like raaB- 

 ner, the temperature of the salt-springs of Westphalia falls be- 

 tween B9.°,^5 and Q2>°,5^ although they are also very poor in car- 

 bonic acid. 



Chap. III. — Can the Heat of Thermal Springs be the result of chemical 

 processes or of local circumstances ? and can local circumstances 

 cause any modifications in the Temperature of thermal springes F 



With regard to the former of these questions, two cases may 

 be imagined : either that the heat of the springs is the result of 

 chemical processes acting in the mineral waters themselves, 

 during their formation, and by which their mineral contents are 

 produced, or, that chemical processes take place in the vicinity 

 of the course of the mineral springs, by which their channels 

 become heated from without. 



Hcspccting the first case, it is quite evident, that such a che- 

 mical process cannot be the solution of salts already in exist- 

 ence ; for then, on the contrary, (with one exception only, 

 namely, when anhydrous salts, which require much water of 

 crystallisation, come in contact with water), cold would be the 

 result. But since salt-water springs are also thermal, and, in- 



• The salt-spring at Schiederi, on the other hand^ though only three mile* 

 from Meinberg, and containing only 0,37 volumes of carbonic add gas, &, 

 nevertheless, warmer than those carbonated springs. 



