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Gray Sulphur Springs of Virginia. 109 



The following is the most satisfactory view which my experiments 

 enable me to present of the constitution of these waters. 



Soluble ingredients. 



Nitrogen, 



Hydro-sulphuric acid, 

 Bi-carbonate of soda, 

 A super-carbonate of lime, or both, 



Chloride of Calcium, | Silicic acid. 



Insoluble ingredients. 



Alumina, 



Chloride of sodium, 



Sulphate of soda, 



An alcaline, or earthly crenate, 



> 



Silicate of iron. 



Sulphuret of iron, 



Crenate of per-oxide of iron, 



Silicic acid, 



w 



My examinations do not permit me to point out the difference be- 

 tween the two springs with precision. The new spring appears 

 to give rise to a greater amount of hydro-sulphuric acid, as well as 

 of iron and silicic acid, possibly it may differ in still other particu- 

 lars. I have not examined it for iodine or bromine. 



The medical effects of these springs are in a measure ascertained, 



and their virtues especially those of the old spring strongly attested 

 by many persons of the highest intelligence and respectability. 



They are both described as being very light, and as not crea- 

 ting uneasy sensations even when first made use of by invalids. In 

 their operation on the system, they are thought to differ considera- 

 bly from each other ; that from the anti dyspeptic, acting principally 

 as a diuretic and but gently on the bowels, while the new spring 

 is a powerful aparient. The latter spring, however, not having as 

 yet been fairly tested in its medical properties, I shall simply relate 

 those which seem to have been clearly ascertained in the old spring, 

 and which may be set down as follows. It relieves nausea and head- 

 aches originating in a disordered state of the stomach and bowels, cor- 

 rects acidity, and is an excellent tonic, exciting the digestive organs, 

 to a more healthy action. It allays irritation of the stomach and bow- 

 els, and possesses a powerful control over the arterial action ; very 

 perceptibly when excited by disease. Its effect in allaying nervous 

 irritability is no less striking ; and besides possessing gentle diapho- 



retic qualities and operating as a pleasant soporific, it has been ob- 

 served to exert an important action upon the liver without exciting 

 the system generally, and thus to afford relief in many cases of 

 torpidity in this organ, when more stimulating medicines could not 

 be employed. 



Charleston, Jan. 19, 1836. 



