The mineral springs of western Virginia with remarks on their use, and the diseases to which they are applicable |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. | CHAPTER XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
 | CHAPTER XI. The mineral springs of western Virginia |  |
CHAPTER XI.
RED SULPHUR SPRINGS.
The Red Sulphur Springs are situated in
Monroe county, 42 miles from the White Sulphur,
39 miles from the Sweet Springs, 32
miles by the partly-made turnpike road, from
the Blue Sulphur, and 17 miles from the Salt
Sulphur.
In extent of accommodations, which is sufficient
for 350 persons, as well as in the number
of visiters and duration of the season, this
Spring ranks next to the White Sulphur.
The improvements consist of the Hotel, 180
feet by 42, two stories, containing dining-room,
drawing-rooms, and bar and store-rooms,
&c., with a double piazza the whole length;
Alabama Row, 300 feet long, with a piazza the
whole length, and a neat two-story building
at one end; Philadelphia Row, 200 feet long,
with a piazza; Batchelor's Row, 104 feet long;
Carolina House, 112 feet long, and two stories
for the reception of visiters on their arrival.
There is a continuous piazza from the extreme
end of Philadelphia Row to that of Carolina
House, 471 feet in length.
Above Bachelor's Row, on a terrace, is Society
Hall, 80 by 42 feet, two stories and a
basement, having a portico supported by nine
Ionic columns, 25 feet high, and presenting a
very imposing front from the valley. Besides
these ranges, there are numerous cottages and
offices, and at the entrance a mercantile establishment;
but the structure most deserving
of notice is the Pavilion over the Springs.
This beautiful edifice was erected in 1830
after a design of Mr. Strickland of Philadelphia.
It is a dome 42 feet in diameter, supported
by 12 Ionic columns. The height
from the base to the top of the entablature is
about 30 feet. The Springs rise 10 feet beneath
the natural level of the valley, and
their depth being over 4 feet, you descend 5½
feet by circular steps. The whole height
from the level of the water to the top of the
dome is about 50 feet. The Springs rise horizontally
in two marble reservoirs. They
which is sometimes seen in large quantity
on the sides of the fountains. Their
waters are conducted into a wooden reservoir
in the centre, and thence by pipes to the
bathing-house.
On the summit of the beautiful southern
hill that overlooks the village, and which is
named Mount Ida, is a handsome octagonal
summer-house, 45 feet in diameter. It was
from near this spot that the view, now to be
seen at the Exchange Hotel, Richmond, was
taken in 1836 by George Cooke, Esq. It does
not, of course, exhibit the subsequent improvement;
but otherwise gives a most correct
idea of the scene.
The Red Sulphur Springs came into the
possession of the author of this work in the
autumn of 1832 by purchase. It would be
difficult to conceive a spot better calculated
to discourage an attempt at improvement, and
indeed many had declared it impracticable to
any extent. Such, however, was not our opinion:
we were aware that it was only necessary
to follow, rather than subdue Nature,
and that by doing so we might make something
gorge. It is not too much to say
that the result has corresponded with our anticipations,
and that whether as a whole, or
in detail, this little valley may compare favourably
with any merely rural scene in
America.
It may not be improper to observe that all
the arrangements for the accommodation of
the guests at this place are calculated to insure
comfort. The market affords varied and
abundant supplies; a well cultivated garden
produces a variety of the finest vegetables.
Abundance, neatness, and kind and impartial
attention, are the order of the establishment.
When the extraordinary powers and properties
claimed for this water as a curative
agent are considered, it will readily be conceded
that a more extensive notice than we
have given of the other Springs is not only
necessary but indispensable to a just estimate
of its peculiar action on the human system.
We shall, therefore, without further
apology, treat the subject more in detail, and
if we should be so unfortunate as to fatigue the
reader by the introduction of collateral subjects,
desire to shed upon the subject all the
light in our power.
In Chapter VI. of this work we have given
the sketch of Prof. Rogers's analysis furnished
to us by that gentleman some years ago; we
now lay before the reader an elaborate analysis
by A. A. Hayes, Esq. of Roxbury, Mass.
It is impossible to read this paper without
perceiving that it is the result of a zealous
and patient investigation by a man intimately
conversant with the details of his profession.
In some particulars, his results are different
from those obtained by Professor Rogers; in
others, they correspond very remarkably.
The organic substance discovered in the water
so abundantly, supposed by Mr. Rogers to
be analogous with glairine, but called by
Mr. Hayes sulphur compound, is believed by
both to be probably an important cause of the
peculiar agency of the water. There can be
little doubt, we think, that this property of the
water, its extraordinary freedom from saline
and earthy impurities, the well adjusted proportions
of its several gases, and its low temperature,
remarkable virtues.
Through my friends, J. S.
Cook, Esq. and Dr. H. J. Bowditch, I received
specimens of the water, red deposit and mud,
from the Red Sulphur Springs, in Virginia,
for chemical analysis. It was with great interest
that I engaged in the experiments, as
very little was known of the chemical composition
of this water, although its medicinal
effects had rendered the watering-place a celebrated
one. I have sent Mr. Cook an account
of the results obtained. Since my
observations were communicated, Mr. Cook
has allowed me to peruse a copy of a letter
from Professor Rogers, dated in May, 1835,
in which is contained a notice of a peculiar
organic matter contained in the water. He
has therefore anticipated my discovery, by
some years. I do not, however, consider this
substance identical with baragene or glairine
of the Warm Springs of Italy and France.
It is, so far as I know, new and peculiar, and
sulphur, and so combined as to neutralize the
distinctive characters of the sulphur. The hy-drosulphuric
acid gas (sulphuretted hydrogen)
found in the water, is produced through the
agency of this body; either by its action on
the sulphates present, or more probably the
substance itself disengages hydro. sulp. acid,
before reaching the surface of the earth, abstracting
oxygen from air already dissolved
in the water. It is in favour of this view that
less oxygen is present in this than in common
water, the mixture of oxygen and nitrogen in
river water often giving 38 per 100 of oxygen.
I have minutely examined the saline contents
of the water, and the results sent you are
those which have been checked by independent
experiments. The almost entire absence
of chlorine, or muriatic acid, is a singular fact.
I examined every bottle for chlorine, and although
in most of them traces were found,
they were not constantly observed, and quite as
likely to be derived from accidental sources, as
from the water. The largest quantity found
would have carried my decimals to four, or
five, and is wholly unimportant. The water
when chlorine is present, but the appearance
is fallacious. I have arranged the acids and
basis according to the views of Murray and
Berzelius, and experiments show that in this
case these views are correct. The alkaline
action of this water is due to the solution of
the carbonate of magnesia in carbonic acid
(Murray's fluid magnesia), and the peculiar
substance distinctive of this water seems to be
dissolved in this solution.
"You will not fail to observe that the chemical
history of the peculiar `sulphur compound'
is incomplete. My principal object in
addressing you at this time is to request you
to furnish me with more of the `red deposit,'
as a source of it. Professor Rogers supposed
the sulphur was deposited and mixed with it.
I believe no trace of uncombined sulphur can
be found in it, in its fresh state; and when I
fermented it, hydro-sulp. acid was the form
it appeared in. I deem this a very important
distinction, in a medical point of view, and
incline to the opinion that all the sulphur in
this compound is in a state fitted to be absorbed
in the animal system, as no other
perhaps hydro-sulp. acid. The opinion
that substances of delicately balanced
affinities in their changes give rise to changes
in other bodies, is gaining ground among the
most learned physiologists and chemists, and
such a view of the effects of some of the constituents
of mineral waters is perhaps a correct
one. I exclude of course all those waters
wherein one stable constituent of great
activity gives character to the water, and include
those which differ but little in saline
constitution from well-waters generally, but
contain besides, a substance in a state of passing
from one form of matter to a new form
and constitution of matter. These views
would be more acceptable, if experiments had
demonstrated their truth: for this we must
wait.
"Chemists are indebted to M. Liebig, for a
clear exposition of the phenomena attending
fermentation and decay. Many had, doubtless,
entertained similar opinions, but for an
explanation of some of the most recondite
changes, resulting from chemical action, he
was the first to propose the transfer of action,
may be alone a stable substance.
"The chemical history of the sulphur compound,
shows that, like yeast, it has the power
of inducing changes among the constituents
of another body, like those it is itself undergoing.
Healthy surfaces and tissues may resist
its power, and the water in which it is dissolved
may not produce any effect of disturbance
on a healthy stomach. Waters containing a
minute portion of the salt called Hydriodate
of Potash, may be used as an ordinary beverage,
without any marked action. But diseased
organs and impaired vital action allow of
marked effects being produced by such waters.
Experiments, made on larger quantities of the
deposit from the Spring, demonstrate the existence
of phosphates, in small quantity. The
origin of this singular substance, which for
past ages has been poured out from the strata,
is a question of great interest. The quantity
would indicate that the source of supply can
only be the organic matter of rocks constituting
an extensive formation. Its composition
leads me to infer that we are drawing curative
effects, as we do articles of beauty and luxury,
"The `red deposit' I inferred from chemical
observation to be exhibiting signs of vital
action. Dr. Rogers had earlier made the observation
from inspection. In relation to
some compounds referred to above, baragene
and glairine, botanists have arranged them
as organized beings, in the species Tremulosa,
and suppose the seeds to be brought by the
water to a suitable place for germination; so
much for the evidence obtained by the aid of
lenses and eyes. On the other hand, it has
been demonstrated by chemists, that the substance
present in the water is not the substance
which the botanists have named:
lenses and eyes cannot see it; it unites to
other bodies and plays a certain part, can be
separated, and retains its former properties.
The circumstances, under which substances
of this kind are deposited, seem to have been
overlooked, or misunderstood. In all cases the
waters have been slightly changed in constitution,
after leaving that point in their courses
below which, deposition never takes place.
acid, losing a part of this, in contact with the
atmosphere, will deposit so much of a body
held in solution in carbonic acid, as was dissolved
by that part which has passed off. It
is always a very small part of the whole quantity
which is deposited; the bulk goes forward
with the water. Rocky strata change waters
in this way, and when several kinds of stone
are wetted by the same water, some produce
this change, others do not. In the matter
thus deposited, the seeds of organic matter
vegetate, often with surprising rapidity. I
have seen the silicious shells of animalculæ,
after the death of these active little beings, fall
to the bottom of a glass vessel, closely stoppered;
and within a week, a close deep-green
covering of moss has completely invested and
covered the remains. In the Red Sulphur
Spring, the red lichen seems to have found in
the sulphur compound a congenial soil, for its
ramifications extend throughout it. The
black mud seems to have changed the sulphur
compound, combining through it ferreous salts
with the sulphur, and giving oxygen to the
you will observe that the marble-slabs, pieces
of wood, metal, &c. act differently in producing
or receiving the deposition,—sunlight and
shade often cause different effects.
The phenomenon mentioned by Mr. Hayes, has caused
much speculation at the Springs. The colour undergoes
various changes of hue in an incredibly short space of time.
Since the new temple has been erected over the fountain, the
rays of light falling differently on them sometimes affect the
brilliancy of the colour, but the quantity of the deposit never
varies. It is also true that wood is more favourable to the
appearance of the deposit than marble.
| CHAPTER XI. The mineral springs of western Virginia | |