THERMAL WATERS OF ASIA MINOR. 97 



now, frequented by those coming from Constantinople and 

 other cities of the Propontide. 



After the fall of the Eoman Empire these baths went to 

 ruin, and were almost forgotten ; nevertheless the reservoirs 

 and aqueducts remain as in the time of the Lower Empire. It 

 is only a few years since an Armenian banker purchased the 

 place and constructed houses for the reception of the sick. 



These waters have at least nine sources. They flow from 

 the sides and bottom of a hill, rising through a sandy bottom 

 accompanied with bubbles of gas, and differ but little in their 

 temperature and composition. The character of the surround- 

 ing rocks is not easily made out; I am inclined to refer them, 

 from my observations higher up the gulf, to the older tertiary. 

 The waters in their course leave not the slightest deposit, so 

 that the ancient aqueducts have never become obstructed. 



According to the accepted classification, the mineral waters 

 of Yalova belong to the hot sulphurous waters. They have at 

 their source a very slight odor of sulphureted hydrogen, but 

 the quantity is so small, either in the water or the gas, that it 

 could not be estimated. The temperature of the waters is from 

 151° to 156° Fah., and varies but little with the changes of the 

 atmospheric temperature. The water is limpid and trans- 

 parent, and has the specific gravity 1.00115. The gas which 

 escapes at the source gave, on analysis, 



Nitrogen 97 per cent. 



Oxygen 3 



One litre of the water gave 1.461 gramme of solid matter. 



The same quantity of water contains in grammes 



Sulphuric acid 690 Magnesia 002 



Chlorine 086 Alumina trace 



Soda.. 393 Silica 035 



Lime 208 



Combined in the following manner : 



Sulphate of soda 807 Sulphate of magnesia 005 



Sulphate of lime 414 Sulphate of alumina trace 



Chloride of sodium 072 Silica 035 



Chloride of calcium 068 



The composition of these waters resembles that of the Bath 

 waters of England ; the latter, however, not being of so high a 

 temperature. They act powerfully on the nervous system and 

 on the secretions and excretions, particularly those of the skin, 

 which renders them so efficient in rheumatism, gout, etc. 



