170 * SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANAH, LAKES, 



ning of the petrifying wate r s of this spring. It has no cavity or 

 arches, till after above sixty paces in length, where the rivulet of 

 Tiretaine forces its way through. This petrifying spring, which 

 falls on a much higher ground than the bed of the rivulet, gradually 

 leaves behind it some stony matter, which in process of time has 

 thus formed an arch, through which the Tiretaine has a free 

 passage. The necessity that this petiifying matter seems to be 

 under of forming itself into an arch, could continue no longer than 

 the breadth of the rivulet, after which the water of the spring ran 

 regularly under ir, and there proceeded a new petrifaction resem- 

 bling a pillar. The inhabitants of these parts, in order to lengthen 

 this wonderful bridge, have diverted the brook out of its old 

 channel, and made it pass close by the pillar, by which means they 

 have caused the spring to form a second arch ; and thus they might 

 have produced as many arches and pillars as they pleased ; but the 

 great resort of people to see this natural curiosity becoming trouble- 

 some to the Benedictines of the abbey of St. Allier, within whose 

 jurisdiction the spring lies, in order to lessen its petrifying virtue, 

 they divided the spring into several branches, which has so well 

 answered their intent, that at present it only covers with a thin crust 

 those bodies on which it falls perpendicularly j yet in those over 

 which it runs in an ordinary course, no traces of its petrifying 

 qualities are any longer perceivable. It is the only water used for 

 drinking in this suburb, and no bad effect is felt from it. 



In ITALY, at the distance of about four Italian miles from Padua, 

 is the village of ABANO, which is much frequented in summer, on 

 account of the warm baths at about half a mile from it. In these 

 baths are three sorts of water, of very different qualities; some of 

 the springs are impregnated with sulphur 5 others are boiling hot ; 

 and ihe water springs up in such quantities as to drive a mill, at the 

 distance of about twenty paces from the source. The wooden pipes 

 through which the water is conveyed to these baths are often en- 

 crusted witli a white stony substance, not easily separated from the 

 wood ; and the exact impression of the veins and knots of the wood 

 on this concretion, makes it perfectly resemble petrified wood. A 

 sudatorium or sweat ing. bath has also been built here, the effect of 

 which is produced by the steam of the water. Some of the springs 

 which are tepid, are said to be impregnated with lead, while others, 

 from their reddish sediment, and other signs, appear to be chaly- 



