Analysis of the Pittsburgh Mineral Spring, 131 



SECTION V. 



General Remarks on the sensible properties of the Pittsburgh 

 Mineral Spring, and of its comparative qualities as resem- 

 bling those most celebrated in Europe and America. 



When we take a view of the component parts of this min- 

 eral water, as they appear by analysis, we must perceive that, 

 it is an uncommonly pure water, possessing all the qualities 

 of a strong chalybeate. Those who are not accustomed to 

 examine waters of this description, may at first feel some 

 surprise at not finding it to contain a greater quantity of 

 solid contents, but when we refer to the analysis of simi- 

 lar springs both in Europe and America, as performed 

 by the most distinguished chemists in each country, we shall 

 find that the Pittsburgh spring possesses qualities equal to 

 any of them, and to many is greatly superior. As an instance 

 in point, I shall take for example, in the first place, the waters 

 of Tunbridge, in England, one of the most celebrated and 

 established chalybeates of that country, on which many trea- 

 tises have been written, and much discussion taken place 

 with respect to its medical qualities. According to the anal- 

 ysis of the celebrated Doct. Babington, the Tunbridge water 

 contains only one grain of oxide of iron in a gallon of water, 

 while the Pittsburgh spring contains four times as much, viz : 

 one grain in a quart. It also contains only ten cubic inches 

 of carbonic acid gas in one gallon of water, while the Pitts- 

 burgh spring contains eighteen inches in a quart. On the 

 whole its solid contents do not amount to more than one 

 fourth of the quantity we find in the Pittsburgh spring ; and 

 yet this mineral spring is as much frequented as any in Eng- 

 land, and is known to possess most valuable medicinal prop- 

 erties in those diseases to which it is applicable. But we 

 shall refer to various mineral springs in this country of estab- 

 lished reputation, where extensive buildings have been erect- 

 ed, and which are frequented with great advantage, by in- 

 valids from all parts of the union. In doing so I shall select 

 those whose qualities are precisely similar, and whose virtues ;'* 

 are to be attributed chiefly to their chalybeate qualities. 



The mineral water of Schooley's mountain, in the state oF> 

 New Jersey, is perhaps one of those which has for many 

 years sustained the greatest reputation as a chalybeate: 

 Having visited it myself, I have had an opportunity of 6b-" 



