HOT SPRINGS. 



According to what has been explained of the law of temperature 

 in relation to depth, the reservoirs from which these springs rise 

 must be at a depth of nearly two miles. 



It is remarked that springs of such moderate temperatures as 

 from 120 to 160 are very constant, not only in their thermal 

 state, but also in their chemical composition, while the hotter 

 springs are subject to considerable variation. Thus, the thermal 

 springs within these limits which have been known and observed 

 in Europe, have never undergone the slightest change, either in 

 their temperature or in their chemical analysis, since exact physical 

 observations have been made upon them, which comprises at present 

 an interval of about sixty years. While the hotter springs contain 

 in solution the smallest proportions of mineral matter, they are 

 found to be subject to a variation of temperature not inconsider- 

 able. Thus, the springs of Las Trincheras above-mentioned, which, 

 when observed by Humboldt in 1800, had a temperature of 194|, 

 were found by Boussingault, in 1823, to have a temperature of 

 206|, having thus increased in temperature 12 in 23 years. 



49. Nothing is more remarkable and curious respecting springs, 

 whatever be their temperature, than the secular permanency which 

 attends so many of them. The fountains of Greece still flow in 

 the same places as they did.when described by the historians, and 

 sung by the poets, of the classic age. The river Erasinos, which 

 rose in lake Stymphalus, after flowing a certain distance disap- 

 peared in the earth, but sprung up again out of the declivity of 

 the mountain Chaon, two hours' journey south of Argos. This 

 spring, which is mentioned by Herodotus, still issues from the 

 same point in the slope of the mountain. In the centre of the 

 temple of Apollo, at Delphi, was a small opening in the ground 

 from which, from time to time, an intoxicating vapour was said to 

 proceed, and which was supposed to proceed from the adjacent 

 well of Cassotis. Over this chasm the priestess Pythia took her 

 seat whenever the oracle was to be consulted, and the words she 

 uttered after inhaling the mephitic vapour were believed to be 

 the revelations of the god. 



Of this chasm no trace remains, but the well of Cassotis still 

 exists, and is known as that of St. Nicholas. Its waters still pass 

 under the site of the temple of Apollo. 



Of the other classic fountains which still flow may be mentioned 

 that of Castalia at the foot of Mount Parnassus, Pirene at Corinth, 

 the thermal springs of ^Edepsus on the coast of Eubcea near 

 Chalcis. It is remarkable that in a tract of country so peculiarly 

 subject to frequent and violent earthquakes, the strata in the main 

 continue to preserve their relative position, so that even those 

 narrow holes and fissures, through which those subterranean waters 



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