44 SIXTH REPORT — 1836. 



An earthquake in 1692 is said to have affected the spring of 

 Spa in a similar manner; and one that happened in the sur- 

 rounding district communicated to the spring of Bagneres de 

 Luchon an increase of temperature. 



But these are effects produced by earthquakes in the vicinity 

 of the springs j more remarkable is the influence exerted upon 

 them by similar subterranean movements taking place in distant 

 quarters. 



Thus during the great earthquake of Lisbon, the hot spring 

 of Toeplitz in Bohemia, betwixt the hours of eleven and twelve 

 in the day, is recorded to have become turbid, and then to have 

 gushed out so copiously as to overflow the well. The water 

 assumed a red tinge, and was suspected to have become hotter. 

 At the same time the hot spring of Pesth in Hungary is said to 

 have shown a similar increase of temperature. 



This sympathy with the subterranean movements of a distant 

 quarter will appear less extraordinary, when we recollect, that the 

 same earthquake is said to have been felt by the workmen in the 

 mines of Derbj^shire. 



In other cases, the connexion of the spring with the subterra- 

 nean movement has been evinced, perhaps as decisively, by the 

 opposite effect occurring. 



Thus in 1G60, in consequence of an earthquake, the thermal 

 waters of Bagneres de Bigorre were for a short time suspended ; 

 during one that occurred at Naples, the Sprudel at Carlsbad is 

 stated to have remained tranquil for six hours ; and in the great 

 earthquake of Lisbon, that of Aix in Savoy ceased to flow. 



Lastly, in a few instances, the existence of a thermal spring 

 has seemed to act as a safety valve, and to secure the immediate 

 locality from those natural convulsions which affected the neigh- 

 bourhood. Thus an earthquake which shook the whole district 

 around was not felt at Carlsbad itself, and the same remark has 

 been made at Wiesbaden. 



Springs ex- I have now stated the more recent additions that have been 

 ertingape- made to our knowledge as to the contents of mineral springs ; 

 cuiiaraction ^^^^ ^^^ Undertaking would be incomplete, if I passed over with- 

 animal out Comment those, which, though not known to contain any 

 ceconomy. peculiar chemical ingi'edient, seem nevertheless to produce cer- 

 tain decided effects upon the animal ceconomy. 



For to refuse credence to the reports given by medical men 

 with respect to the salutary or injurious effects of a particular 

 water, merely because the chemist can discover in it no active 

 principle, would seem a proceeding not less unphilosophical, 

 than that of which our predecessors were guilty, in treating as 

 fabulous the accounts given of stones that had fallen from the 



