432 tJNiTED STATES* 



Vital wai'mth, viz. 96 of Fahrenheit's thermometer.* 

 At present the spring, which is the bath, is surround- 

 ed by a stone wall, and covered, of an octagon shape, 

 of which each side is 18 feet. The bath is filled in 

 about 15 minutes to a height of seven feet. The 

 situation of this bath is one of the most agreeable in 

 these mountains. The air is excellent. The taste 

 ^ of the water is acidulous, but sulphureous, or more 

 properly hepatic ; the elastic fluid escaping through 

 the water in bubbles, being no other air but hepatic: 

 it makes some impression upon the nose, eyes, and 

 breath ; occasioning a small head-ach, which soon 

 goes off. This air is very volatile, and evaporates 

 when exposed in an open vessel, before it can be 

 brought to the house. Hence invalids drink the wa- 

 ter at the spring. 



Dr. Rouelle says, that silver is not altered by being 

 immersed in it ; a proof that it contains no sulphur, 

 and that upon evaporating 13 quarts, he obtained 

 only two gr. of calcareous earth, half a gr. of selenite, 

 and one grain of calcareous marine salt : the quan- 

 tity of air he could not determine. He remarks, 

 that the waters of Aix la Chapelle are equally de- 

 void of sediment. 



This water is commonly recommended as prepa- 

 ratory to the use of the others. It is rather relax- 

 ing to the stomach, when drank warm; but this 

 effect may be avoided by filling a bottle with the 

 water, corking it well, and permitting it to cool be-' 

 fore using it. A neglect of this precaution has done 

 great injury to persons of weak stomach and bowels, 

 by producing dangerous diarrhoeas. 



* Jefferson's Notes. 



