316 Professor Forbes' s Account of 



t 

 some discharge of gas; but this lasted but a short time, 



and at 2 h. 30 m. all was again still. At 2 h. 45 m. it re- 

 commenced suddenly and with great force, so that the shaft 

 was filled in less than 20 min., there being no pumps to draw 

 off the Avater as it is supplied (in which case the ascent usually 

 occupies 45 min.). A narrow tin tube with a funnel-shaped 

 mouth having been lowered, so as to cover the aperture of the 

 pipe connected with the 298 feet bore in the bottom of the 

 shaft, the water and gas spouted to a height of many feet above 

 the surface of the ground, shewing that were the pipe carried 

 up instead of discharging itself into the shaft 8 feet wide, we 

 should have a spouting fountain closely resembling the Geysers 

 in its phenomena. 



According to the testimony of the persons on the spot, who 

 have abundant means of observing the phenomena during 

 nearly half the year, when the weather does not admit of the 

 usual process for evaporating the brine, and consequently the 

 pumps are not in use, the regularity of the spring under these 

 circumstances ceases ; the flow lasts 3, 4, or 5 hours ; and the 

 ebb, 1, 2, or 3 hours.* 



It is very important to add, with reference to the phenomenon 

 of intermission, that several springs in the neighbourhood seem 

 to partake of this character, and that almost all which have 

 any mineral impregnation likewise discharge carbonic acid 

 gas. The most remarkable spring perhaps, is the Schdnbo7'n 

 Quelle, at Hansen, about a mile beyond the Runde Brunnen 

 which we have described. It is also an artesian well, bored in 

 1836 to a depth of 550 Bavarian feet, with a view of obtain- 

 ing a stronger brine ; but this end has not yet been attained. 

 It contains only 1 J per cent of salt. Its period of overflow 

 was very short, and recurred every 7 min. ;-|- but latterly this 



* The inspector of salt-works kindly promised to have a register kept for 

 me during the autumn, after the pumps had ceased to work. This, if it 

 reaches me, I shall add as an appendix to this paper. The following state- 

 ment was given to me on the authority of the same individual. I translate 

 it literally. " It has been observed, that when the water of the Saal stands 

 60 high as to fill the shaft at the time in wliich the spring is in full flow, 

 the periodic cliange goes on as usual ; but if this happen whilst the water 

 ebbs, there occurs no periodic change until the Saal ceases to flow into the 

 shaft." 



+ Pickel Geschichte des Saltz und Luft Brunnen, &c. ; Kastner, &c. The ' 

 man who bored it, described the overflow (which perhaps arises from a dis- 

 charge of gas alone) as recurring every 8 or 10 minutes xrhilst thepunqjs are kept 



