NITROGEN SPRINGS. 133 



NITROGEN SPRINGS. 



Springs evolving nitrogen gas, are by no means common in the State of New-York. A 

 few, however, occur, which possess considerable interest in consequence of the quantity of 

 that gas which they give out. There are, moreover, some springs to be noticed under another 

 heald, among the gaseous constituents of which is an air that contains a larger proportion of 

 nitrogen than is present in the atmosphere. 



Columbia County. The most remarkable nitrogen spring in the State, is the one at Le- 

 banon in this county. This spring is about ten feet in diameter and four feet deep, and dis- 

 charges a large amount of water. Its temperature is uniformly 73° F., while that of all the 

 other springs in the vicinity is 52°. The water is quite tasteless. Its specific gravity is 

 scarcely above that of distilled water, as it holds only a minute portion of sahne matter in 

 solution. According to Dr. W. Meade, a pint of this water contains 1.25 grains of saline 

 matter,* viz : 



Chloride of calcium, 0.25 grains. 



Chloride of sodium, 0.44 " 



Carbonate of lime, 0.19 " 



Sulphate of lime, 0.37 " 



Bubbles of air continually rise through the crevices of the rock at the bottom of this spring, 

 which, ascending rapidly through the water, occasion an incessant agitation, and appear to 

 break on the surface without being at all absorbed by the water.t This air is given out in 

 the proportion of about five cubic inches from a pint of the water ; and it consists, according 

 to the experiments of Prof. Daubeny of Oxford, of 89.4 parts of nitrogen, and 10.6 parts of 

 oxygen, in the hundred. This is equal to nearly fifty parts atmospheric air, and fifty parts 

 pure nitrogen, in the himdred. Prof. Daubeny could not detect any carbonic acid in the 

 gaseous matter given out by this spring. 



So large is the quantity of water at the Lebanon Springs, that advantage has been taken of 

 it, and of the elevation of the ground, not only to supply all the baths, but to turn two or three 

 mills erected in the vicinity. 



Rensselaer County. Springs evolving nitrogen gas are also found in the southeast cor- 

 ner of the town of Hosick, six miles southeast of the village of Beimington in Vermont. 

 Of these. Prof. Eaton gives the following description : " There are three springs comprised 

 within about four or five acres of ground. The quantity of pure nitrogen gas which issues 

 in the form of bubbles from these springs, is incalculable. The gas does not seem to be com- 

 bined with the water, but to issue from the gravel beds beneath the water of the springs ; and 



 Chemical Analysis of the Waters of New-Lebanon, N. Y., with Observations on their Medicinal Qualities, and principally as a Bath. 

 By William Meade, M. D. 



t Mr. Mather states that this spring rises from near the junction of the talcose slate with the limestone ; and he adds, that the¥c 

 are some traces of a fault in the ricinity. New- York Geological Reports, 1838. 



