SPRINGS. 



among mud and grasses of different kinds, some holes 

 have been cut in the calcareous sediment upon the 

 declivity, to make a kind of bath. The water springs 

 through these sediments and is of a middle temperature^ 

 between half boiling and warm water, so as to sup- 

 port that heat very well on bathing in it. Whatever 

 may be the heat of this water, it does not prove un* 

 favourable to vegetation : there are plants growing 

 in this water, and all the kinds of plants natural to 

 springs in general, live as well in this as in a cool 

 water. This may be attributed to the aerial acidj 

 which probably keeps them from being overheated, 

 because these waters contain more of this acid than 

 they can retain in combination.* 



The temperature of these springs has frequently- 

 been ascertained. The hottest is 106 1-2 to 108 of 

 Fahrenheit; the second is 102. ...Near to these is a 

 chalybeate acidulous spring of the heat of 92. A 

 limestone spring of 68, is within 100 yards of the 

 hottest bath. There is a cold bath freestone spring 

 of only 53 degrees. 



The hot sfirings^'" according to Dr. Green, " are 

 used in the same cases as the warm, especially where 

 gout and rheumatism require a powerful sudorific. 

 It is not easy to remain more than 15 minutes at a 

 time in the hottest spring, and even with this, a de- 

 gree of faintness is often felt. The patient, on com- 

 ing out, is immediately wrapt in a blanket, and lies 

 down in the bath house, and sweats most profusely. 

 After this, he frequently goes in again, ^nd the samo 

 process is used. The other springs are used as cir- 

 cumstances or inclination dictate. 



♦ Rouelle on Mineral Waters of Virginia, 



