74 Delaware Sulphur Spring.—Sulphuret of Iron. 
Sulphuretted hydrogen gas, - - 12 cubic inches. 
Carbonic acid gas, - 3 do. 
_ “Qne hundred grains of the diipania which results from the evap- 
oration of several gallons of the water, yield on analysis, of 
Muriate of soda, - - - - - 48 grains. 
Muriate of lime, ~ - - - eo RD." 
Sulphate of magnesia, - - - a2 hs 
Sulphate of lime, = - - - - - os 
Carbonate of soda, - - - . . B...ff 
oT « 
“The above result shows that these waters approach as nearly to 
the well known waters of Aix la Chapelle and Harrowgate, as those 
do respectively to each other.”* 
These springs were first brought into notice as early as the year 
1814, or more than twenty years ago, while the U.S. troops and 
militia were quartered in that place. In a written communication 
from Dr. Jackson of Clarksburgh, at that time a surgeon in the army, 
he speaks j in high commendation of the valuable properties of those 
waters in curing the soldiers of visceral obstructions, consequent on 
intermittent and bilious remittent diseases, and also of herpetic erup- 
tions, then very rife amongst the troops. He looks forward to the 
day when these waters will be esteemed a blessing to the inhabitants 
of malarious districts. 
Sulphuret of Iron.—Previously to a late number of the American 
Journal of Science, I could never satisfactorily account for the im- 
mense quantities of sulphuret of iron, found in all our argillaceous, 
and many of the calcareous deposits. ‘The beds of many streams, 
are filled with sulphurets of all forms and sizes, from minute grains 
to masses of several pounds weight. Not a well is dug in the up- 
lands, but more or less of this mineraf is brought up; and from its 
rich metallic lustre, it always leads the ignorant to believe that they 
have found a treasure. Animal remains of shells and bones are often 
changed to this semi-metallic state, specimens of both of which are 
in my collection. “ Since gelatinous matter seems to have favored 
the conglomeration of silica, and consequently the formation of sili- 
ceous ‘pettifactions: so likewise, the putrefaction of animal matter 
having produced sulphuretted hydrogen, if any particles of oxide of 
iron should happen to be present in the surrounding mud, pyrites 
would be formed and would accumulate about the places where the 
* Gambier paper. 
