74 Delaware Sulphur Spring. — Sulphuret of Iron. 



Sulphuretted hydrogen gas, - - 12 cubic inches. 

 Carbonic acid gas, - - - - 3 do. 

 " One hundred grains of the deposit which resuhs from the evap- 

 oration of several gallons of the water, yield on analysis, of 



Muriate of soda, - - - - - 48 grains. 

 Muriate of lime, - - - - - 20 " 

 Sulphate of magnesia, - - - - 16 " 



Sulphate of lime, - - - - - 8 " 

 Carbonate of soda, - - - - - 5 " 



97 " 

 " The above result shows that these waters approach as nearly to 

 the well known waters of Aix la Chapelle and Harrowgate, as those 

 do respectively to each other."* 



These springs were first brought into notice as early as the year 

 1814, or more than twenty years ago, while the U. S. troops and 

 militia were quartered in that place. In a written communication 

 from Dr. Jackson of Clarksburgh, at that time a surgeon in the army, 

 he speaks in high commendation of the valuable properties of those 

 waters in curing the soldiers of visceral obstructions, consequent on 

 intermittent and bilious remittent diseases, and also of herpetic erup- 

 tions, then very rife amongst the troops. He looks forward to the 

 day when these waters will be esteemed a blessing to the inhabitants 

 of malarious districts. 



Sulphuret of Iron. — Previously to a late number of the American 

 Journal of Science, I could never satisfactorily account for the im- 

 mense quantities of sulphuret of iron, found in all our argillaceous, 

 and many of the calcareous deposits. The beds of many streams, 

 are filled with sulphurets of all forms and sizes, from minute grains 

 to masses of several pounds weight. Not a well is dug in the up- 

 lands, but more or less of this mineral is brought up ; and from its 

 rich metallic lustre, it always leads the ignorant to believe that they 

 have found a treasure. Animal remains of shells and bones are often 

 changed to this semi-metallic state, specimens of both of which are 

 in my collection. " Since gelatinous matter seems to have favored 

 the conglomeration of silica, and consequently the formation of sili- 

 ceous petrifactions ; so likewise, the putrefaction of animal matter 

 having produced sulphuretted hydrogen, if any particles of oxide of 

 iron should happen to be present in the surrounding mud, pyrites 

 would be formed and would accumulate about the places where the 



* Gambier paper. 



