10U 



in the springs previously named, contain but little carbonic acid, and 

 a comparatively minute amount of carbonate of lime, or other car- 

 bonates, while they are richly fraught with sulphuretted hydrogen 

 gas and various sulphates, of which those of lime and magnesia are 

 present in most considerable proportion. Besides the several points 

 of distinction above referred to, it may be further added that the 

 sulphuretted waters are in general impregnated with various organic 

 matters of very peculiar characters, which by collecting in the 

 reservoirs and channels of the springs, in mixture with precipitated 

 sulphur, have, by the various beautiful colours which they impart, 

 given rise to the different appellations by which the more celebrated 

 of these fountains are now known. But while such general re- 

 semblances as have been described, will be found to prevail among 

 the several springs of each class as thus characterised, it is at the 

 same time to be remarked that they possess striking individual 

 peculiarities, imparting to each an amount and species of medicinal 

 agency in some degree appropriate to itself. 



Viewed singly in relation to the number, variety and high reputa- 

 tion of its mineral waters, this region is well entitled to be proud 

 of the vast resources of which it is possessed. Grouped as these 

 springs are at moderate distances apart, presenting within the same 

 district a variety of medicinal character, for which in other 

 countries, regions remote from each other require to be visited in 

 succession, placed at a point equally accessible to the inhabitants 

 of the seaboard and the great valley of the west, and situated in a 

 region of grateful summer temperature of salubrious climate and of 

 picturesque and of diversified natural beauties, they are now rapidly 

 attaining a celebrity for powerful and varied remedial qualities, as 

 well as for the refined social enjoyments which are annually gathered 

 around them, destined ere long to eclipse the older reputation of the 

 famed fountains of the northern states, and to vie even with the 

 long established character of the most noted of the watering places 

 of the old world. 



Among the valuable minerals of this portion of the state, mention 

 should be made of the rich iron ores occurring along the ridges in 

 numerous places, and which, from the frequency of coal seams 

 among these monntains will one day be brought into profitable use. 



Saltpetre is found mingled with the earth in many of the caves 

 in this region, and has been procured from time to time in con- 



