150 PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



soda, is still the form of bread usually eaten. Now this improve- 

 ment in physical and mental condition cannot arise simply from 

 change of locality. It must originate from our peculiarities of 

 climate. I have myself felt in this State as I have never felt it 

 elsewhere, especially when camping out, faraway from settlements, 

 and alcne with nature and God, how luxurious existence was, and 

 how pleasant life was intended to be. One needs but to go through 

 the fever and ague stricken districts of other States, and then pass 

 through the rural districts of Nebraska, to notice the contrasts be- 

 tween the sallow complexions found in the former region, and the 

 hue of health and glow of spirits found here. 



Owing to these facts, Nebraska must sooner or later become a 

 health resort. In addition to the health producing properties of 

 the climate, there are in various sections of the State mineral 

 \vaters of high medicinal value. One of these is the artesian well 

 on the Government square in Lincoln. It throws up a strong 

 column of water from a depth of a thousand feet. It is used in 

 two bathing establishments in the city. In the one at the Com- 

 mercial Hotel, besides many others, over twelve hundred Turkish 

 baths were given during the last (the first after opening) year. 

 Some remarkable cures have already been performed here, es- 

 pecially on rheumatic and neuralgic patients: This water is also 

 believe<J to be specific in many cases of dyspepsia, constipation, 

 incipient scrofula, skin and kidney diseases. The water is strongly 

 aperient. 



The following substances I have obtained in making qualitative 

 tests of the water. As the examination has not been completed, 

 the results are only proximate: 



Chloride of sodium (common salt), oxide and peroxide of iron, 

 iron stilphuret, magnesia sulphate, bicarbonate of magnesia, bicar- 

 bonate of lime, sulphate of lime, sulphate of soda, sulphate of pot- 

 ash, oxide of manganese, etc. 



There are other springs in the State containing various forms of 

 sulphur, iron, magnesia, soda and lime. There is one, remarkable 

 for its size and purity, near Curlew, in Dixon County. Unfortun- 

 ately, our medicinal springs have not yet been systematically ex- 

 plored and examined, and until that is done, we cannot even approx- 

 imate to their number and general quality, except in the case of the 

 artesian well in Lincoln. 



