NITROGEN SPRINGS. 
133 
NITROGEN SPRINGS. 
Springs evolving nitrogen gas, are by no means common in the State of New-York. A 
few, however, occur, which possess considerable interest in consequence of the quantity of 
that gas which they give out. There are, moreover, some springs to be noticed under another 
head, among the gaseous constituents of which is an air that contains a larger proportion of 
nitrogen than is present in the atmosphere. 
Columbia County. The most remarkable nitrogen spring in the State, is the one at Le¬ 
banon in this county. This spring is about ten feet in diameter and four feet deep, and dis¬ 
charges a large amount of water. Its temperature is uniformly 73° F., while that of all the 
other springs in the vicinity is 52°. The water is quite tasteless. Its specific gravity is 
scarcely above that of distilled water, as it holds only a minute portion of saline matter in 
solution. According to Dr. W. Meade, a pint of this water contains 1.25 grains of saline 
matter,* viz: 
Chloride of calcium,... 0.25 grains. 
Chloride of sodium,..... 0.44 “ 
Carbonate of lime, ... 0.19 “ 
Sulphate of lime, .... 0.37 “ 
Bubbles of air continually rise through the crevices of the rock at the bottom of this spring, 
which, ascending rapidly through the water, occasion an incessant agitation, and appear to 
break on the surface without being at all absorbed by the water.! This air is given out in 
the proportion of about five cubic inches from a pint of the water; and it consists, according 
to the experiments of Prof. Daubeny of Oxford, of 89.4 parts of nitrogen, and 10.6 parts of 
oxygen, in the hundred. This is equal to nearly fifty parts atmospheric air, and fifty parts 
pure nitrogen, in the hundred. Prof. Daubeny could not detect any carbonic acid in the 
gaseous matter given out by this spring. 
So large is the quantity of water at the Lebanon Springs, that advantage has been taken of 
it, and of the elevation of the ground, not only to supply all the baths, but to turn two or three 
mills erected in the vicinity. 
Rensselaer County. Springs evolving nitrogen gas are also found in the southeast cor¬ 
ner of the town of Hosick, six miles southeast of the village of Bennington in Vermont. 
Of these, Prof. Eaton gives the following description : “ There are three springs comprised 
within about four or five acres of ground. The quantity of pure nitrogen gas which issues 
in the form of bubbles from these springs, is incalculable. The gas does not seem to be com¬ 
bined with the water, but to issue from the gravel beds beneath the water of the springs ; and 
* Chemical Analysis of the Waters of New-Lebanon, N. Y., with Observations on their Medicinal Qualities, and principally as a Bath. 
By William Meade, M. D. 
t Mr. Mather states that this spring rises from near the junction of the talcose slate with the limestone; and he adds, that there 
are some traces of a fault in the vicinity. New-York Geological Reports, 1838. 
