Notice of the Thermal Springs of North America. 89 



the country, immediately bordering upon these springs, which I 

 found to be strikingly corroborative of the views I had some 

 time ago announced, with respect to their being a general con- 

 nection between the occurrence of thermal waters, and extensive 

 disturbances or dislocations of the strata adjoining them. 



In the midst of the beautiful mountain region of Virginia, 

 west of the Blue Ridge, but in that part of the chain which at- 

 tains the highest elevation, and the most picturesque character, is 

 situated an assemblage of mineral waters, which from their repu- 

 tation as medicinal agents, as well as from the purity and cool- 

 ness of the air which surrounds them, attract every summer from 

 all parts of the Union, and especially/- from the southern sections 

 of it, crowds of persons in search either of health or amusement. 



Several of the most noted of these seem to possess the ordinary 

 temperature, and to owe their efficacy to the sulphuretted hydro- 

 gen with which they are impregnated ; such are the white, the 

 red, the blue, and the salt Sulphur Springs. 



The three former derive their distinctive appellation from their 

 color, which is owing, probably, to the difference in the nature of 

 the Confervse, that grow in them, and impart their respective hues 

 to the water ; the latter, designated as the salt, from the presence 

 of a larger proportion of common salt than is contained in the rest. 



One, " the Sweet Spring," is strongly acidulous and slightly 

 thermal, but two others which appear to possess no remarkable 

 mineral impregnation, are designated by the names of the Warm 

 and Hot Spring, from the more or less considerable elevation of 

 temperature which belongs to them. 



The Warm Spring I found to possess a heat of 96° Fahr. ; the 

 Hot Spring one of 102° ; whereas the mean of the climate ap- 

 pears to be about 56°. 



Both Springs emitted bubbles of gas, in considerable abund- 

 ance of which I collected samples. 



That from the Warm Spring was found to contain six per cent, 

 of carbonic acid, ninety four per cent, of nitrogen, and only six 

 of oxygen ; that from the Hot Spring varied a little, according to 

 the source from whence it was taken ; the gas obtained from the 

 ladies bath, consisting of eleven per cent, carbonic acid, ninety 

 eight per cent, nitrogen, two per cent, oxygen ; and from the 

 men's bath, eight per cent, carbonic acid, ninety six nitrogen, and 

 four oxygen. These proportions are computed, on the assump- 



Vol. XXXVI, No. 1— Jan .-April, 1839. 12 



