266 Remarks on the Climate of Naples and its Yiciriity. 



nearly the same distance, it became more tolerable ; and when we 

 came to the spring which was the source of all this high tempe- 

 rature, I found that by keeping my head pretty near the ground, 

 the disagreeable sensations were so moderated that I could 

 have staid a considerable time without much inconvenience. 

 I had in my hand a mercurial thermometer of Gary's, with which 

 I found the temperature of the water, taking care to immerse 

 the column of mercury, to be 183J° ; but from previous ex- 

 periments with a standard instrument by the same maker, 

 (mentioned above,) I found that at this point the height 

 ought to be diminished one degree, giving the final tempera-, 

 ture 1825°. But it is proper to mention that the experiment 

 was made near the edge of a pool into which the spring rises ; 

 and it did not at the moment occur to.me that the interior may 

 possibly be hotter. However, this is the less probable, as the 

 atmosphere above the water is so hot and vaporous as not to 

 communicate much coolness to any part of the cistern. Our 

 guide taking some of the water in a pail put in a few eggs, 

 and immediately carried them to the outer air, where, in spite 

 of this sudden and effectual cooling, they were found, after 

 about four minutes immersion, to be very pleasantly boiled. 

 The effects of the atmosphere of this place was less felt by 

 several persons present than myself. I was amazed by the 

 sudden effect on my body which it produced, and with the 

 shght disagreeable sensations which I experienced. My hands 

 felt exactly as if perspiring by an excessive heat, which yet 

 the moisture prevented from being painful ; and I am sure in 

 one minute's time their whole surface was not only bedewed, 

 but streaming with moisture, which, of course, was a union of 

 the condensation of vapour with the internal juices of the 

 body. But what convinced me that more is attributable to per- 

 spiration than some are willing to allow, is, that I felt those 

 clothes next my skin adhere to it, as every one has observed 

 after very strong exercise, which could hardly arise from any 

 condensation of exterior steam. In spite of the sudden en- 

 trance into the chill of the open air, I experienced no unplea- 

 sant consequences whatever ; but, on the contrary, on re-em- 

 barking, I felt a most delightful glow over the whole of my 

 body. I mention this particularly, because several of the guide- 



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