AIX-LA-CHAPELLE WATER. 251 
the unusual quantity of sulphur 'which it contains; and which 
is so extremely volatile on the application of heat, that none of 
it is left in the residuum after evaporation. In this water 
there in also a considerable portion of carbonic acid. 
The city of Aix-la-Chapelie is in the circle of West- 
phalia, betwixt the rivers Meuse and Rhine, about 
seventy miles east of Brussels, and in a rich and fertile 
country. Its waters have been in great medical repute, 
and have attracted a numerous concourse of visitants 
for many centuries past. Their reputation was so well 
established, even in the time of Charlemagne, that he 
frequently resided at Aix : and he is said to have been 
so much delighted in the use of the waters as to have 
sometimes even held his levee at the baths. 
In this city, and in the small territory that belongs 
to it, there are several sources of hot water. Of these 
the principal spring is enclosed in a stone cistern, 
which is vaulted and almost conical at the top, and the 
parts of which are connected with the utmost care, to 
prevent the vapour from escaping. From this spring the 
water flows, in a copious stream, into several spacious 
and elegant baths, in the different parts of the city, dis- 
tinguished by the names of the Emperor's Bath, the 
Nobles' Bath, the Poor's Bath, and other appellations, 
In most of these there is every necessary apparatus for 
bathing by immersion, for vapour bathing, and for 
pumping on any particular parts of the body. 
The water rises, with great quickness, from the springs, 
and sends forth bubbles of air, which burst with a slight 
noise when they reach the surface. It is at first per- 
fectly colourless and pellucid, and emits a large por- 
tion of steam, and with it a strong sulphureous smell, 
which is perceptible at a great distance. 
Its temperature is so high, that, in the large baths, 
it requires to stand from fifteen to eighteen hours before 
it is sufficiently cooled for tepid bathing ; and it is One 
of the few natural springs which are hot enough to be 
employed as a vapour bath without the addition of ar- 
tificial heat. On standing to cool, it gradually loses: 
