On the Origin (f Hot Springs. 107 



in, viz. the spiral form. Afterwards tlie spiral thus tends to the 

 earth like hairs that are curled, not from the imbecility of the 

 secreting power, but from tlie pores being winding through which 

 it proceeds, and from its being fashioned together with them. And 

 these, indeed, are the causes why the spiral of the typbon at one 

 time proceeds upward from hentatli, and at another downward 

 from on high. But the knowledge of these is two-fold ; for we 

 know whether the spiral is moved upv^ard from beneath, or down- 

 ward from on high, and in the first place indeed from the sight it- 

 self. For since the spiral, viz. the typhon, is evident to the sight 

 from the density of its part«i, when we see it at one time proceed- 

 ing downward, and at another upward, we say that the beginning 

 of the spiral is from i)eneath ; but if it is alone moved downward 

 from on high, then it must be said that the beginning of it is from 

 on high. In the next place, we know this from the bodies which 

 are hurried away and elevated bv the spiral. For, if the body is 

 first turned from its proper position, and afterwards is moved 

 obliquely and then elevated, we say that the typhon originates 

 from on high. — Your obedient. Sec. 



October 10, 18 1 7. J. H. 



XVII. On the Origin of Hot Springs. By Gavin Inglis, Esq^ 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, — Xn your truly valuable Magazine for November last, 

 page 352, in a note to the paper on the Purification of Mercury, 

 the hot waters of Lucca, Pisa, and Bath, are mentioned with the 

 following remark : " There are still persons who ascribe the hot 

 baths to the influence of volcanoes ; but there is not the smallest 

 trace of any thing like volcanic matter, or even any comluistible 

 substance, to be discovered within many miles of them. Nothing 

 that, either chemicallv or geologicallv speaking, could sanction 

 the belief, that they owe their warmth to exhausted subterraneous 

 volcanoes." 



It is certainly a matter of no small importance to science, to 

 ascertain the true cause of such phjenomena, and a great source 

 of contemplative anmsement to minds inclined to study the won- 

 derful operations of Nature, in the production of hot and even 

 boiling waters from the bowels of the earth, of volcanoes vomiting 

 fire in all its dreadful forms, accompanied with scoria and fused 

 minerals of every description found in the vast cavities or great 

 furuace of the mountains. 



I have long amused myself with ideas regarding the cause, in- 

 termission and prolongation of volcanoes; but whether the.^c cor- 

 respond 



