100 



Chemical examination of the water of the 



and gratitude to that superintending providence who teaches "the 

 stork in the heavens to know her appointed time, and the turtle 

 and the crane and the swallow to know the time of their coming." 

 I shall be doubly recompensed for those pleasing studies of nature 

 which have enabled me to offer these remarks. 



The farther we pursue this subject the more we shall be convinced 

 that there is a wise arrangement in nature which governs instinct and 

 action and creates being and beauty and happiness. The laws by 

 which the whole system of nature is governed are equally simple and 

 majestic and are equally visible in the minutest as well as in the most 

 stupendous of Gods works. From the beauty and harmony of that 

 system of nature by which we are surrounded, the mind is insensibly 

 led to admire and adore that mighty cause the fountain of wisdom and 

 perfection, who though unseen, is ever present who is " the source 

 of all matter and mind and modes of existence. " ^ ' 



- The temple of nature, wide and wonderful as it is stands ever 

 open, inviting the ignorant as well as the wise to enter and learn 

 those lessons which are calculated not only to enlighten the mind 

 but to improve the heart, and the chief object of science and Philos- 

 ophy should be to lead us to the Altar of the benevolent Author of 

 all things, and to make our experience and knowledge subservient 

 to his grand designs. 





Art- X. — Chemical examination of the water of the Gray Sulphur 

 Springs of Virginia ; by Charles Upham Shepard, Professor 

 of Chemistry in the Medical College of the State of South Caro- 

 lina. 



In consequence of an opportunity afforded me by a gentleman of 

 this city, I have been led to a chemical investigation of the water of 

 the Gray Sulphur springs of Virginia ; and having recognised several 

 ingredients in their constitution not before detected, I am induced 

 to believe that a brief sketch of my examination will not be unac- 

 ceptable to some of the readers of this Journal. Not having visited 

 these springs, I must premise, that the topographical and other de- 

 tails, aside from the chemical research, are derived from the person 

 who placed the water at my disposal. 



The Gray Sulphur Springs are situated among the spurs of that 

 portion of the Alleghany mountains which passes through Virginia 



