No. 75.] 



113 



Their temperatures are 52^ in what is called the warm spring, and 

 46° in the cold spring. 



The following is the composition of these waters in one pint, accord- 

 ing to the analyses of Prof. Emmons: 





Warm Spri 





Cold Spring. 





6*99 



grains. 



6 '20 DTflins- 



•Chloride of magnesium, 



0-64 



(( 



0-84 " 



Ohloride of calcium, - - - 



1-03 



(4 



0-47 *♦ 



'Carbonate of lime, - - « 



2-79 



U 



1-96 " 



Carbonate of ,* - 



1-63 



(i 



1-10 " 



Hydrosulphuret of sodium, 









Magnesium and organic matter^ 



0-00 



u 



1-87 " 





13-08 



grains. 



12 44 grains. 



There are three springs within thirty feet of each other, and they 

 possess nearly the same properties. The quantity of sulphuretted hy- 

 drogen which they contain, is considerable. Emmo7is* American Jmir- 

 nal of Agriculture and Science, February ^ 1847. 



Sour Springs. In the Mineralogy of New- York, there are notices 

 ■^of the occurrence of springs charged with sulphuric acid, in various 

 parts of Genesee, Ontario, and Niagara counties. Perhaps the most 

 remarkable of these springs, is that which exists in the southwest corner 

 of the town of Byron, where it occurs in a hillock composed of vege- 

 table matter, which has been charred by the action of the acid. It was 

 for a long time supposed that this might be an acid sulphate of some 

 basis, but an analysis which I made of the water proved it to be nearly 

 •pure, although very dilute, sulphuric acid. This has recently been 

 published as a new discovery, and seems at this late day to have ex- 

 cited fresh interest. There is now very little doubt in regard to the 

 origin of the acid in this and similar localities. Dumas has shown that 

 sulphuretted hydrogen, mixed with air by the assistance of a porous body, 

 and especially of tannin, and under the influence of a slightly elevated 

 temperature, is slowly converted into sulphuric acid. It is stated that 

 this oxidation of sulphur is observed in the rooms where they take sul- 

 phur baths, at Aix, in Savoy ; the linen curtains which in the pools 

 eerve to isolate the patients, are very rapidly impregnated with free 

 sulphuric acid, and the fabric is strongly acted on if it is kept without 

 being washed. Millon and ReiseVs Annuaire, for 1847. 



♦In tke published analysis, "Carbonate of lime" is twice repeated, which is 

 undoubtedly an error of the press. Carbonate of magnesia may have been in- 

 tended. 



[Senate^ No. 75.] 8 



