166 
in the water can hardly be considered from a chemical, and I 
may also say from a geological point of view, such a question of 
importance as the Carbonic Acid gas. Nitrogen plays no part in 
breaking up, or decomposing minerals to a soluble form like the 
former gas; it is a most inert element, it is not combustible, 
neither will it aid combustion. I am informed that Doctors 
impute great virtue to this free Nitrogen ; however, while the 
atmosphere is composed of four-fifths of it, I may be wrong, but I 
do not see the necessity of going to the Baths for it. As to the 
source from whence it comes, some are inclined to believe that it 
is carried into the earth by the rain water, while others say it is 
given off by decomposed Nitrogenous matter. 
But, to get to the practical portion of my subject. As far as I 
can learn, there are four Mineral Springs supplying the following 
Baths ; 
1st. The Roman Bath : 
2nd. The Hetling do: 
3rd. The Cross do: 
4th. The King’s do: 
These springs though probably from the same source in the 
earth are not connected by artificial means. 
The water for analysis was taken from the nearest accessible 
source to the spring, with the exception of that from the ‘“ King’s 
Bath,” which was taken from the drinking fountain in the large 
Pump Room ; and for this reason, so many persons came there to 
drink of the waters, that I thought it of more consequence to let 
them know what they were drinking, than that the bathers should 
know in what they were bathing. Not that there would be much 
difference in the result of the analysis, the waters of the large 
bathing place where the spring is, would naturally be stronger in 
earthy constituents and iron, from the fact of there being more 
free Carbonic Acid gas in them ; the water in passing thence 
by pipes to the fountain would probably lose a portion of this 
acid, then down goes the iron, lime and magnesia, and that 
