Iodine in the Mineral Waters of Saratoga, 245 



Nearly all the mineral springs at this place have been 

 caretuHy examined and found, uniformly, to agree in afford- 

 ing indications of the presence of iodine. The waters of 

 Ballston, have not yet been examined, with a view to this 

 particular object, but, from the striking similarity of the 

 waters in the two places in other respects, there can be but 

 little doubt of their agreeing in this. I had expected to have 

 discovered it in the brine springs of Onondaga, but a bottle 

 of that water, procured through the politeness of Dr. Kirk- 

 patrick, afforded no indications of it. 



1 subjoin the result of an analysis of the Hamilton Spring, 

 with a view to illustrate the relative quantities of the various 

 saline ingredients contained in its water. 



This fountain is situated in the low ground immediately 

 behind the Congress Hall ; it was discovered and named by 

 Mr. Gideon Putnam, one of the early settlers of the place, 

 not long after the discovery of the Congress Spring. It was 

 cleared out to the depth of only a few feet, and the water 

 secured by a small wooden curb, and in this situation it re- 

 mained for a number of years, its water being devoted most- 

 ly to the supply of a bathing establishment, erected in its 

 immediate vicinity. After the decease of Mr, Putnam, the 

 property passed into other hands, and the well has been re- 

 cently sunk to a much greater depth, and more effectually 

 secured against the intrusion of foreign substances ; by 

 which means the water has been materially improved. 



The surface of the spring, within the curb, is constantly 

 agitated, by the escape of large quantities of gas ; and as 

 the water passes off, it leaves on the surface of the earth, 

 an abundant deposit of a brownish color, evidently ferrugin- 

 ous and calcareous. 



The water, when first dipped from the fountain, is remark- 

 ably clear and sparkling, but on standing exposed to the at- 

 mosphere, soon becomes turbid. It is saline, and acidulous 

 to the taste, and when taken to the quantity of five or six 

 half pints, is usually, powerfully cathartic and diuretic. 



The temperature at the bottom of the well is uniformly 

 at 50° ; and its specific gravity, at the temperature of 60°. 

 Barometer at thirty inches, is* 



The analysis was conducted upon the most approved prin- 

 ciples of modern analytic chemistry, and affords conclusive 



* As there was evidently an error in copying the number in the MS. we 

 leave the specific gravity blank, rather than hazard the filling of the space- 

 erroneously. — EdI TOR . 



