flfK1^333 '* ,«!,•?.;■ ^l-T.-f^i::.^..^;^-.--., ,. .•''.^'c-v, f-^fer-•'■■-■ ■■'•*■• UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * . . FOUNDED 1836 WASHINGTON, D. C. GPO 16—67244-1 A COMPLETE TREATISE O N T H E MINERAL WATE R S O P VIRGINIA: CONTAINING A DESCRIPTION OF THEIR SITUATION, THEIR NATURAL HISTORY, THEIR ANALYSIS, CONTENTS, AND THEIR USE IN MEDICINE. /^$^jl'rift*s. By JOHN ROUELLE, I5L^ -------when I thofe alpine mounts afcend I fit me down a penjive hour to fpend. PHILADELPHIA: Printed for the Author, by Charles Cist, and to be sold by Thomas Dobson. m,dcc,xcii. No. 29. Diftritr. of Pennsylvania, to wit: X> E it remembered, that on the eighteenth Day of January, in the fixteenth Year of the Independence of the United States <[if America, John Rouelle, of the faid DiftricT:, hath depofited in this Oifice, the Title of a Book, the Right whereof he claims as Author, in the Words following, to wit: " A complete Treatife on the mineral Waters of " Virginia: containing a Defcription of their Situ- " ation, their natural Hiftory, their Analyfis, Contents, " and their Ufe in Medicine. By John Rouelle, M. D. " -----when I thofe alpine Mounts afcend " I fit me down a penjive Hour to fpend." In Conformity to the A£t of the Congrefs of the United States, intituled, " An A£t for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch Copies, during; the Times therein mentioned." SAMUEL CALDWELL, Clerk of the DiftricT: of Pennfylvania. 400 1qo «» » 111 iiwii^miiiiwwwiiwiiip—'mmwi«imiiiiuiiii i»iwhi hhhmi'i" i n rirv PREFACE. rU E treatife on mineral waters, which I nbw offer to the public, however concife it may he thought, will he offome utility, not only to invalids, hut alfo to mankind in general, on qccoitnt of the variety of obfervations it contains, which may be employed in many other refearches. Water, whether it be confjered in general as an element, according to the old opinion, or as a compound fluid, as it has been proved by recent authors, offers itfelf as a fubjetl very deferving the attention ofphilofophers. In this treatife Ifpeak of it in combination with different heterogeneous/z^- fiances, which do not enter into its covftitution as a fluid, but are foreign to it. Every one knows the great importance of common water in the different functions of the animal ceco- nomy; this fubjetl is much more negletled at this time than it was by the Greeks, That nation, in general very good obfervers of nature, never founded towns, houfes, Sc. without having previoufly well examined the natural hiftory of the place, the kind of waters, &c. as much as the ft ate offcience in their time permitted, Tbefe circumftances are plainly defcribed by Hippocrates, de acre et locis. The Romans PREFACE. Romans, great imitators of the Greeks, were very cautious upon the fame fubjetl, as it appears by the accounts of their architecture preferved by Vitru- vius, fo that among the precepts of that art, after the ground is explored, it is recommended to attend particularly to the water, as a neceffary point for the comfort of human life. Men in their undertakings of this nature too often negletl thefe objetls, and it is only when large cities are built, that the water becomes a fubjeft of thought and refletlion. So it has happened with the feveral towns in Europe, where all thefe con- veniences have been negletled, &c. It is neverthelefs very eafy to make a good analyfis of the waters intended to flupply any city, whether they are taken from a river, run, fprings or wells, and each of thefe waters often has different qualities in different places. Thefe differences, fometimes, depend on the various fubjlances they contain, fometimes, on the difference of their proportions. There are feme of them which are improved by expofure to the open air; fome others require different precautions to retain their atlive principles for the advantage of the animal economy. We have a ftriking inftance of this in Philadelphia, where very few wells can he accounted good, and this is generally the cafe with all the towns in PREFACE. in America. Such inconveniences are not to be met with fo frequently in the old towns eftablifhed by the Romans; for they were fo attentive to this point, thai: aquedu&s were built even for very fmallforts, where a legion or fmaller body of troops was to be quartered -, hence epidemical diforders rctged much lefs with them. We attribute to the air many great effetls upon the body of which we cannot give any good account, hut itjeems very probable that the cor- ruption or alteration of waters at different times may alfo have afhare as a caufe of epidemical disorders. Such is the human mind in a ftate of fociety I In our different inquiries, we diretl our ftudies to unneceffary objetls, while we neglett thofe, which have an immediate connexion with our exiftence. The mineral waters were formerly as much ne- gletled by us as the common. The ancients left no kind of inquiries or experiments upon the fubjetl; they were, however, perfuaded of their efficacy, and Celfus, Galen, &V. recommend them fometimes, as ufeful and even neceffary in different cafes. However, nothing interefting was publifhed before the time of the learned Hoffmann, and mankind is much in- debted to him for having introduced them properly into the pratlice of medicine. If we compare his analyfis with thofe made by different late authors, we may fee what an extenftve field P R E F A C E. field was opened to the inquiries and genius of phi- lofophers ; how many errors were committed upcii the fubjetl until this day, and how neceffary, curious and ufeful thefe inquiries muft be. Any body may conceive from what I have chferved above, my inducements for engaging in that branch of phi - lofophical refearch. Being very converfant in it, I thought that my cbfervations en the waters cf America might he agreeable to the public as well as v.feful, cfpecially as the difficulties of invefiigation are fo great, that they will hinder many from at- tempting it. I begin with the waters of Virginia, becaufe in travelling through that part cf the country where thefe waters are, I obfervedthe errors of the public, and thought it was time to introduce good principles upon the fubjetl inftead of prejudices, which are al- ready too much diffufed through the public's mind. 1 hope during the courfe cf another year to be able to "at Li ifj an analyfis offome of the waters fupp ofed to be good in the other ftates, as 1 intend to give an ac- count of all the mineral waters cf America which are efeemed at this time, fo that cur prefcription cf them may be founded on a knowledge cf their real properties, a::d the public may ha~je better infor- mation reflecting a curious pert of natural hiftory which is fo ufeful to mankind. INTRO- INTRODUCTION. AMONG the advantages of the foil and climate which nature has beftowed on Virginia, fhe has not neglected to fupply this ftate with every thing that is neceffary to pro- cure to its inhabitants health, which is often dif- ordered by different natural caufes. But re- fearches into thefe caufes requiring much time, I fhall leave the fubjecl: for another place, where I intend to fpeak of the different methods of re- storing health, according to the nature and the produces of each of the Mineral Waters. The mountainous part of Virginia, or High Virginia, being under a cooler climate, affords to the inhabitants of the lower parts a comfort- able difference, according to the heat and dry- nefs it occafions. Elence all the different kinds of diforders, occafioned by the rarefaction of the fluids, and by atony, which occur in this country. Thefe conditions of the body are the caufes of a great many different fevers, efpeci- A ally ii INTRODUCTION. ally the Non-humoral Intermittent*, the Double Quartan, &c. which are fo common about the end of fummer. It is to avoid this drynefs that the inhabitants go up the country, to find a cooler air to breathe, and a more nourifhing food, which, together with the ufe of mineral waters that are advifed by the learned phyficians of the different towns, conduce, more or lefs, to the reftoration of their health, according to their constitution, &c. To acquire a true knowledge of thefe waters, and to form a proper opinion of their ufe in me- dicine, a good analyfis of them by a phyfician and a chymift was wanted. But the difficulties attending fuch an analyfis were very numerous, and there was no kind of encouragement for it. Hence the many errors which have attended the ufe of thefe waters. Phyficians could not recom- mend their ufe, not being well acquainted with their properties by experiments. The public opinion, therefore, was followed, and uncertain- ty * This is a kind of fever peculiar to the low part of Virginia, and which I never did obferve in Europe : I look upon it as a fymptomatic diforder, if the patients are at- tentive to have it cured ; but it degenerates into a double quartan, or a quartan, according to the complexion and diet which thefe patients follow. There is no humoral matter at firft, but the fever going on, brings more than is necef- fary for a natural crfit. INTRODUCTION. iii ty was the bafis of the whole matter. Every jphyfician was fenfible of the importance of an analyfis; but no one would leave his bufinefs for a little time to examine the place, and to ftay there to make the preliminary experiments, which would have enabled them to eStablifh fome certain opinions on the Subject. The learned author* of the Notes on the fiate of Virginia, feems defirous, for the good of man- kind, as well as for the happinefs of his country, that thefe waters Should be analyfed by fome chymift, accuftomed to experiments of this kind: and this has alfo been the wifh of the learned in general. No perfon, however, undertook the talk, becaufe the analyfis of waters is the moft difficult part of chymiftry, and that with which a chymiit is generally leaSt acquainted, as it re- flects the fcience of medicine; and yet experi- ments of this kind were chiefly instituted by authors for the purpofes of practice. Besides the difficulties which I have mention- ed, there are fome others no lefs important, fuch as the expence of tranfporting an apparatus through a country very difagreeable to travel- lers. Of thefe difficulties I was unmindful, A 2 when, * Mr. Jefferion. iv INTRODUCTION. when, at the folicitation of feveral gentlemen of merit, I undertook the talk; and indeed, I muft confefs, that I received every kind of encourage- ment, from the politenefs of different gentle- men, and from the hofpitality captain Gurney, of Philadelphia, honored me with, during my Stay there. Physicians and the learned have never en- tertained any doubts of the different virtues and of the efficacy of fome mineral waters. The ancients, who were much better obfervers of na- ture than we, took notice of different virtues and properties in fuch and Such waters; but not being able to give any account of their different actions, owing to their want of a fufficiency of philofophical experiments, they explained thefe actions according to the principles which were received in natural philofophy. Several authors, after the late celebrated Frederick Hoffmann, examined mineral waters; but their experiments being difficult, little light was thrown upon the fubject, in comparifon cf what we have derived from more modern au- thors, or from the new difcoveries which have been made both in natural philofophy and chy- miftry. This fcience which, in the prefent cen- tury, has arrived to fuch a degree of perfection, could INTRODUCTION. v could not fail to throw new light upon the Sub- ject of mineral waters, which had been much neglected; artifts not being fond of operating upon fmall quantities, and not rinding the fame fatisfaction here as in the other parts of the fci- ence, viz. metallurgy, &c. At length the new difcoveries of different kinds of airs, opened a new field in chymiftry, paved the way to the ex- plication of a great number of phenomena, which had not hitherto been unfolded, and more and more encouraged philofophers to purfue the fub- ject, in fuch a manner, that it is now as complete as any other in the fcience. Dr. Brownrigg and Mr. Cavendifh in Eng- land, and other chymifts, both in France and in Germany, about the fame time obferved, that there was a kind of air in mineral waters, fuch as Spaw, Pyrmont, &c. After this, tha mineral fpirit of the old authors, which Paracelfus, Van Helmont, and Becher had called Gas, excited the curiofity of the learned in Europe. They now began to apply themfelves, and to pay more attention to the fubject, which they had former- ly looked upon with indifference. Hales, a learned Englifh philofopher, upon making new experiments on the air contained in all animated bodies in nature, difcovered fo many VI INTRODUCTION. many new fubjects of curiofity, that he gave rife to an emulation for refearches of the kind. The learned excited by thefe new difcoveries, at- tempted a variety of experiments. Dr. Brown- rigg published in the Philofophical Tranfatlions, that Spaw water and a great many others con- tained a mineral fpirit, but without afcertaining of what nature it was. About the fame time two authors, MefTrs. Venel and Rouelle travel- led through fome parts of Germany, and difco- vered that Pyrmont water contained air of a new kind. Venel, one of thefe gentlemen, publifhed a refult of their joint experiments, without having mentioned his operating companion. In this State the difcovery and opinions re- mained, until M'Bride and Black publifhed fomething curious refpecting the air produced by putrefaction, and that obtained from burn- ing lime. Thefe two authors formed a theory founded on new experiments, and then Fixed Air began to be better understood by the learned world. This new phsenomenon, after it became well understood, excited a better method of inquiry. In confequence of thefe difcoveries, Prieftly be- gan his immortal experiments upon this fub- ject, and the learned of all nations were ambi- tious INTRODUCTION. vii tious to have a fhare in fuch important difco- veries. Among all thefe new and curious ex- periments nothing was tried concerning mineral waters, if we except Cavendifh's analyfis of the pump-water of London. He demonstrated that there was an aerial acid in the pump-water, and likewife other contents. Thefe experiments were the firft, and the belt that had hitherto been in- stituted upon waters in general, and are a rule for any perfon who wifhes to follow this line of philofophical inquiries. Bergmann, in Sweden, illustrated this method much farther; and his way of operating may be looked upon as one of the belt among all the recent authors, who have followed this kind of refearches, fo ufeful in medicine, and fo necef- fary to the human fpecies in the difordered State of health. All thofe inquiries were a great help to phy- ficians to arrive at a certain knowledge upon the matter and to judge better of the virtues and application of mineral waters in different cafes, where their patients may be in want of thefe falutary, natural remedies. Whatever may be the opinion of fome people about the matter, and their doubt refpecting the Viii INTRODUCTION. the properties of waters in general, it is by ana- lyfis alone that all thefe doubts may be removed, becaufe what falls under our fenfes, is a demon- ftrative proof againft incredulity. The medical obfervations which were made centuries ago, proved the contrary. We have therefore a right to conclude jpon the fubject, after a good analyfis, by which we difcover the different principles of any body whatever; and if the chymifts do not always pronounce directly upon the application of fuch or fuch waters, their compound being explained, they acquire a fufficient authority to do it, efpecially when they are practising medicine at the fame time. To deny that authority to chymical refearches, which are known to be fo ufeful and neceffary, Since medicine follows the laws of natural phi- lofophy, would induce the incredulous to Shake the foundation of the belt theory, and refufe that certainty to a fcience fo able to illustrate by its own knowledge all the different branches of fociety, and introduce ignorance inftead of learning. The incredulous, in vain, exclaim that there is no comparifon between the fmall quantities of fome parts of a faline fubftance and their action Upon the animal ceconomy: daily experience, however, INTRODUCTION. ix however, will convince them fully of the con- trary, if they are not obstinate. If phiiofophers had fooner applied themfelves to the fubject, and had reflected upon the different mixtures of fait contained in waters, their division, the large quantity of them drunk by patients, before they found any relief from them: if phyficians, after thefe obfervations, had adminiftred the fame fub- Stances, in proper dofes, with the fame patience, in the fame cafes; if patients were not anxious to be cured in a Short time of a ficknefs of longstand- ing, then it would be more eafy to come to a good rule reflecting the ufe of the fame fubftances, and that would lead us to difcover a new method of curing, fooner and quicker, fuch dilbrders which would otherwife refift the common way, ufed even at this day. These obfervations were made by Skilful phyficians, who- were defirous to find out the fame falts, the action of which they found more powerful; but ignorance, contrary to their view, always oppofing her filter incredulity, together they overturned the belt ways and plans which were propofed to ruin their dominion over the greateft part of the world. Every body knows that as foon as a new difcovery is publifhed, it is directly oppofed by B ignorance X INTRODUCTION. ignorance and incredulity. I hope, this will not be the fortune of this effay. I am not afraid of critics. I have attempted to find out a truth ufeful to mankind, and inquiries after tru.h are my objell. If I have been mistaken fometimes, others, upon new experiments, will difcover my faults, and rectify them for the fake of the human fpecies. That I might be better acquainted with thefe waters and their principles, I examined with care the place in which they run; becaufe the natural hiftory of their Situation affifts us in forming a conclufion, determined by various experiments, neceffary for that purpofe. All the contents of thefe waters exift near them, or a very little way off; and even a naturalist could almoft conclude upon their nature, if chymical experiments were not the only way to prove the existence of what the naturalift has only a fufpicion of. All thefe feats of ruined mountains, one up- on another, are very curious: their irregular formation, their new materials, afford a good many reflections to the obferver who choofes to pay fome attention to them. * In * Thefe obfervations 'will be publimed in a treatife on the natural hiftory of the United States. INTRODUCTION. xi In order to come to a better idea of the different fubftances contained in thefe waters, I followed the procefs formerly ufed; afterwards I tried thofe employed by recent authors, who ufe the new theory of airs: the refults were pretty nearly the fame; 1 fhall only relate here that method which I followed a long time ago, as being at once the molt concordant with the new theory, and more certain in practice. The aeriform fluids being fome of their mbft curious contents, I demonstrate that fuch waters contain fuch and fuch fpecies, but without afcertain- ing the quantity, for want of a proper apparatus; and as it belongs much more to natural philofo- phy, I leave* it to the care and ingenuity of learned gentlemen in this country, who will make addition to what I have begun, only with a view to public utility. I began by expofing each water to a gentle evaporation, in glafs veffels or in earthen ones, and repeated the fame in better ones at home. Balneum maria was the degree of evaporation, and whatever might be the error attributed by Certain authors to analyfis by fire, when it is properly managed, there is no difference per- ceptible; and the fuppofed errors are more in opinion than in fact. However on proceeding in this way, I found no decompofition, no al- B i teration, Xll INTRODUCTION. teration, and the products were the fame; I muft confefs too, that great care is to be taken to keep a constant graduation, and the balneum Should always have the fame quantity of water boiling. By thefe means the water evaporates flowly, and you may obtain the earthy products about the middle of the evaporation. The difficulty of* carrying fo far, by had roads, proper instruments, is a great obstacle to a mul- tiplicity of experiments ; and of thofe I had along with me, I was obliged to ufe what I could, fometimes for one thing, fometimes for another. As for the degrees of heat, &c. I refer the reader to the learned Jefferfon's Notes, and the learned bifhop Maddifon's paper, publifhed in the American Philofophical Tranfatlions, vol. II. That gentleman, on his tour, had a very good thermometer, &c. and mine being one of Reaumur's, I rather choofe to follow Mr. Maddifon's; obferving that hot water and warm Wtf/cr-fprings are not different in fo great a de- gree as is thought by every body. The method of collecting products by pre- cipitation, as propofed by fome gentlemen in Europe, I have often tried; it would not Suc- ceed, or elfe it wo^ld have faved me a great trouble; INTRODUCTION. xiii trouble : that method will do only for earthy precipitates, and I rather chofe to colled them by evaporation, than by any adive precipitant, the feparation being afterwards difficult and un- certain ; and if this method were to be adopted, it can not be but upon large quantities, which is Still more difficult. To be certain that there was no error, they have been obliged to repeat the fame experiments many times, becaufe fometimes there are accidental produds with the natural ones; thele waters being fubjed to alter- ations, according to the State of the atmofphere, as in damp, rainy, Stormy or cold weather, and when the heat is more or lefs moderate. Thefe obfervations remain to be made, and are worth the attention of a good philofopher. In general, fome waters follow the temperature of air, fome others not, as fulphurous fprings ; but thofe which contain a calcareous earth, com- bined with aerial acid alone, are rather cooler than thofe which contain another kind of air, mixed without aggregation : I obferved, a good many years ago, thefe differences; but this is not the place to Speak of them, for fear of being too long. Waters which contain inflammable air, with aerial acid m combination, are rather warm. xiv INTRODUCTIO N. warm in proportion to inflammable air, whicii alone makes the difference between the fiweet fpring and the red fpring: the firft contains aerial acid and inflammable air -, the fecond, aerial acid combined with iron in two different States, to be explained in its place. The firft of thefe waters is by fome degrees of heat warmer than the other, lofes its principles a good deal quicker, and is more difficult to be exported from the place; however all of them may be exported by taking fome precaution. The other method I ufed was by re-agents : this is the common way of attempting to acquire fome idea, refpeding the contents of any kind of waters ; but it is more advantageous in trying common waters than mineral ones. I did not obtain as much fatisfadion by re-agents in gene- ral as I thought I Should : therefore, I never tried but feven of them, which I found to be the only neceffary ones for preliminary experiments. Authors do not entirely agree, which to prefer: every one has his own to which he is ufed, and extols it; but, in truth, I do not find more than feven re-agents, which may deferve that name; and all of thefe are not neceffary at the fame time: however, as they are ufed all"in the common way of analyfis ; I employed them on INTRODUCTION. xv on this occafion for want of fome other thingSj which I could not find on the place. The way of analyfing liquids, as waters, by re-agents, has been introduced in chymiftry, as all errors are, Slowly: chymitts thought they could difcover a great deal diredly, under a kind of myftic operation; but it is nothing more than a conjedure. The learned in that fciencc fixed upon fome experiments, as the adion of galls diffolved in water or Spirits, to know if there was any iron or not contained. The theory of airs brought lime-water to be a certain teft of the prefence of aerial acid; and at laft the learned Bergmann brought in the acid of fugar, to af- certain the fmalleft quantity of lime contained. Thefe re-agents do not always give a true refult; but they affift us in difcovering, that there may be fuch a fubftance to be tried by other ways, ufed and known in chymiftry. I found, by a great many analyfes, the un- certainty of thefe experiments, and how necef- fary it was to difcover a better way; and all experiments in chymiftry having different re- fults, they ought to be tried by all the different methods known in the fcience. For inftance, it is not enough to be perfuaded, that a waiter contains an alkali, it is not enough that a liquor be xvi INTRODUCTION. be turned to green, or any other color, according to the re-agent I may employ: fome other methods are neceffary to determine;, whether there is an alkali, or not, and to difcover of what kind that alkali is, &c. It is not enough, neither, for a water to turn yellow by pouring the fo- lution of a metal into it, to believe that there is fo ne vitriolated fait, if by different experiments I do not prove of what nature the faid fait is. In general, I look upon re-agents as being al- moft ufeleis and unneceffary for analyfing of mineral waters; and I think they are merely a- mufing experiments, affording no knowledge of the compound, unlefs the chymift is particularly ufed to experiments in chymiftry. It is on ac- count of this difficulty, that mineral waters were that part of the fcience which was negleded, till the modern authors began to bring in a new light. From the numerous experiments made by the learned of different countries, it appears, that chymiftry has a better method, and more certain experiments upon the fubjed. There will al- ways be very difficult points to determine, efpe- cially when the chymift himfelf can not go to the place, and try there fuch experiments, as are fruitlefs and uncertain any where elfe, &e. Every body knows the confequence of this, be- caufe INTRODUCTION. xvii caufe there is a great difference between a water carried away to a great diftance, on account of accidents of all kinds. The patient, however, does not regard thefe little differences, provided he is fure of finding a relief to his pains, and a certain adion upon himfelf, to bring about a cure, either complete or palliative. It is, then, the duty of phyficians, in general, to obferve the patients to whom they have pre- scribed waters, and to judge from them, what kind of alteration their ufe has made, and they will then be enabled to determine, by the compofition, how to dired themfelves in a great variety of cafes, on beginning a cure at home, which is to be finifhed by waters. The pradice of medicine will enlarge a great deal, upon enquiring into the different kinds of diforders to be cured, and knowing, by obfervation, the various effeds produced. Then, theory, having obfervation and pradice, would be grounded upon a folid bottom. For the benefit of mankind, it would be even neceffary, for fome time, to fettle there a good obferver, to reduce into tables all the difeafes coming there, and to note the effeds of the waters, to dired the patients to fuch or fuch, and to foibw conftantly the diredion of nature. Such an eftablifhment, for three years, would be more ufeful to fociety ;han twenty C battles; INTRODUCTION. battles; the art of faving one being more necef- fary than that of killing a thoufand. All the indications, which I offer to the pu- blic, in this book, are not only made upon obfervations, and refledion, but are founded upon the natural composition of each water in particular: hence, after the analyfis of each water, I intend to give its way of operating in medicine, and its indication in different diforders. Phyficians will then order thefe waters, accord- ing to the peculiarities to be met with in the courfe of their pradice. The diet to be followed on ufing mineral waters, is a matter not to be negleded by phy- ficians. It often happens that diforders very eafy to be cured at firft, turn out differently for want of a proper diet; and as it is frequently in defperate cafes that patients go to waters, the leaft fault in diet is very prejudicial, and de- stroys entirely all the benefit produced by the waters. A moderate diet is the only which is pro- per; high living will never render a constitution healthy, much lefs on ufing mineral waters. The chronic diforders are much more fre- quently to be cured by mineral waters, becaufe rhefe diforders require Something particular in living INTRODUCTION, xix living, and being in general left to nature for their end, the drinking of the waters often completes a cure, which was begun by the com- mon remedies in medicine. The hiftory of each water will form a chapter .of this work, that the reader, who wifhes to be acquainted with one or the other, may find it apart, and fatisfy himfelf by acquiring a perfed idea of it. C i A COMPLETE I A COMPLETE TREATISE ON THE MINERAL WATERS of VIRGINIA. CHAPTER I. Analyfis of the acidulous Water, (commonly called Sweet-Spring.) TH E fituation of this Spring is between two fmall mountains, in a little valley in the county of Bath, and State of Virginia: the water fprings out of the ground in great plenty, * and makes a Stream Strong enough to move a faw-mill and grift-mill. A little way from its fource, it may be considered as a fmall river, falling into one of the branches of James-river. The fituation being quite low, makes it liable to be mixed with a run of v,ver which fpoils it; and there being no bafon, the walking about it V A Complete Treatise on the it makes the mud fail into it, to the great in- convenience of thofe who drink the waters. 'i he ground is foft and tremulous, incumbent upon a marShy mud ; which is the caufe of its being not very clean : another caufe is this, that the bath is quite in the middle of the fpring, and people drink the waters, whilft others bathe in them; fo at leaft it was when I was there; things, however, I hope, are altered. Avery fmall expence would put up the place in good order; If this is not done, the great number of inconveniences will turn it into difcredit, Should the public be well acquainted with them. All the different fubftances, compofing the foil, are an indication to the naturalist, that he is in a country formerly altered by great revolu- tions. The mixtures of old and new revolutions areprefent; whether they have been rolled about by fea, or made by it; at leaft it is certain from the nature and composition of the earth, Stones, foffils, &c. that this part of the mountains is older than any of the adjacent ones. Each fide of the mountains is covered by free ftone (cos communis); fome other parts are a kind of jafper, variegated with white lines ; and the bafis of the whole mountain is a hard earth, compofed in general of clay and limeftone in different propor- tions, mixed with iron and colored by it. There is Mineral Waters of Virginia. 3 is a conftant obfervation to be made here, viz. where we find the loam argillofo-calcarious, the waters are much more impregnated with aerial acid; and on the contrary, where the waters come out of a free fione, cos or quartz, they are cooler, and contain lefs of this acid; becaufe they run through, or over, fubftances, which al- ter them. The whole valley becomes wider, in cdnfe- quence of the acceffion of the waters of the fpring, and the waters being almoft upon a level, Stagnate there. A good many fmall fprings are adjacent, and being moftly upon the edge of the principal fpring, receive at once the waters of the marfh and mountains, by natural declivity. The fediment of the waters has partly rilled up that valley, and it is full offe/enites, cry- ftaHifed like ftalagmites, and underneath it forms crevices or fmall caves, which extend a good way under the ground, and fometimes break and fink down, as I have obferved near a place called Beaver-dam. There is no fafety in build- ing upon thefe places. The cryftallifation being in a confufion, there is no identity but only a juxta pofition, and the rain-water coming through carries away Something, and divides each cry- stal in fuch a manner, that in lucceffion of time, the falling of trees caufes the excavations to break. The 4 A Complete Treatise on the The reader will conceive that formation bet- ter, when he Shall be aquainted with the quan- tity of earth thefe waters contain, which they lofe on running down. Aerial acid being the diffolvent, and having more affinity with atmo- fpheric air, leaves the earth, which fettles upon all other furrounding fubftances; as Stones, leaves, branches of trees, which is a great curiofity. All thefe Singularities are to be fcen at the mill, and at the Beaver-dam, (upon Spaw- fpring-ground) a mile off. The falls of water at thefe places are delightful and very curious; and the fediment is a proof of what is loft by evaporation in the fpace of two miles. There is another dam, lower down, much larger; but its produds are not fo fine, becaufe the whole waters of the valley unite there in a fall, and form a branch of a river : the water then becomes foft, dif- folves foap better than before, on account of the quantity of earth which was diffolved by the aerial acid being now difengaged, which makes the water better for any ufes of human life, &c. If we dig in any part of the marfh, we Shall find the water impregnated with the fame prin- ciples, and diredly a great quantity of bubbles of air rifing at the Surface, and fucceding one another very rapidly. They are aerial acid, mix- ed with a little inflammable air produced by the puire- Mineral Waters of Virginia. 5 putrefadion of vegetables in the marfh. This fmall portion of inflammable air gives to the waters that putrid tafte, fufpeded by the public to be owing to brimflone. This tafte Soon diffi- pates, if we let the water Stand a little while; the want of a proper apparatus here hindered me from afcertainig the exad quantity of thefe two kinds of air, efpecially the marjh-air: but thedif- cuffion of this point would be too long for this book, and thefe inquiries belong more to natural philofophy. Others will do it after me, a man be- ing not able to do all at once; therefore I hope the reader will excufe that omiffion, till a new edition, my intention being only to fpeak of fuch properties as are ufeful in medicine, and to the health of mankind. There are two ways in chymiftry to proceed to a good analyfis; one byre-agents, which are different compounds we add to water to alter the aggregation of other bodies, and the other is fire, which by its gentle heat evaporates all the liquid, and leaves behind all the folid Sub- stances diffolved in the fame. By the firft we may (being accuftomed to fuch experiments) guefs that there is a fubftance of fuch and fuch a compound nature: by fhe laft, the compounds, when they are not D volatile^ 6 A Complete Treatise en the volatile, may be colleded together and after- wards divided by other proceffes known in that fublime fcience, by which we may find out the fmalleft parcels of bodies in nature. These are the two ways which I ufed in this analyfis of the acidulous water; if I have not attained the whole knowledge of it, fome phi- lofophers, after me, can make an addition to what I could not have difcovered, or what I have negleded. I never ufe more than feven of the re-agents mentioned by all the chymical authors; the others being too numerous, uncertain and ufe- lefs. Thefe feven are, a blue infufion of flowers, no matter which, provided it is good (that of violets is what I ufed) the two fixed alkalis; folutions of mercury and filver in the nitrous acid; the tindure of galls; and lime-water. The water is whitifh and clear; has a tafte acidulous and fulphureous after it is drunk; its temperature is warm, and in fummer it follows the temperature of the atmofphere; a great quantity of an elaftic fluid is continually efcaping through it in bubbles. The learned Mr. Maddifon colleded fome in a bladder, and upon agitating it in water, found it was fixed air; the tafte was aci- dulous, Mineral Waters of Virginia, 7 dulous, which is a proof; but he took no notice of the fmall quantity of inflammable air pro- duced by the putrefadion of vegetables, &c. It does not feel heavy in the Stomach, what- ever adion it may have upon that organ; fome- times it occasions a light head-ach after it is drunk, a property common to waters in general, containing either hepatic or inflammable air. But the headach foon diffipates, efpecially when any fundion of the body is beginning to operate, asfweat or urine. It is proper to obferve that very week Stomachs feel a heavinefs at firft; but if the patients are moderate in the ufe of the waters, and their diet, this heavinefs foon goes off. This water fometimes brings on a loofenefs, which is more beneficial than difagreeable: thofe who are affeded with coftivenefs will be obliged to make an addition of falts to help nature to perform her fundions, becaufe a good digestion depends a great deal upon a proper State of the inteftinal tube. I saw at the fpring fome gentlemen drinking an excefs of the water, who in confequence were feized with an atony of the Stomach, to fuch a degree, that they were a whole week in repair- ing the Strength and the tone neceffary to the fundions of that vifcus. Hence it follows D 2 that 8 A Complete Treatise on the that we fhould not make too great an ufe of them, but drink them moderately, and ufe a middle diet, then a patient is fure of recover- ing very eafily. Experiments by Reagents. i. On pouring a few drops of the tindure of galls, in a little time I obferved an iris-like pellicle; and the water was only tinged with a light purple colour. 2. The mineral alkali being mixed with the water, formed a granulous precipitate, com- pofed of an earthy fubftance. 3. LiME-water precipitated a white fubftance, which carefully colleded, feemed to be lime that was before diffolved by aerial acid. 4. Vitriolic acid made a great many bubbles of air come out. 5. A solution of mercury in the nitrous acid, afforded a yellow precipitate. 6. A solution of filver in the fame acid, formed a whitifh precipitate, which foon after af- fumed a purple hue. 7. The tindure of violets was fometimes altered to a red colour; this, however, was not con- stantly the cafe. These Mineral Waters of Virginia. 9 These are the principal refults of the experi- ments which I attempted by re-agents: a great many others I omit here, as unneceffary in this publication; all thefe experiments I repeated many times, in order to difcover if they were constantly the fame; and however conftant they were, I could not be certain of the contents, had I not emploved the other way, of fire, in pro- ceeding to a kind of decomposition or feparation of the whole. For this purpofe I evaporated, in a proper veffel, in balneo maria, two and twenty quarts of the faid water. The fire being put under and the balneum being half boiling, common air firft came out in hubbies; but when the water grew hotter, more of an aeriform fluid came up. Upon colleding this air, it proved to be aerial acid, by all the common experiments ufed fpoken of before, and when the balneum was boiling, there came out much more, till at laft a thick pellicle was formed on the furface of it, and very little air efcaped afterwards. This pellicle commonly breaks of itfelf in fcales, and falls to the bottom of the veffel. The evapo- ration being carried on until it was reduced to a quart, there then appeared a yellowish colour which was probably owing to iron. The water being evaporated to this degree, Still retained aa acidulous 10 A Complete Treatise on the acidulous tafte; and on continuing the evapo- ration, it went off entirely; this taft portion of aerial acid is in a true combination with iron and a little earth. This is the rcafon why it appears a little turbid, and whitifh. Befides the white pellicle forming at the top of the liquor, there is another part of it which falls to the bot- tom, and Sticks very hard to the glafs veffel: Some experiments prove it to be rather the calca- rious mephite and a very little felenites. The evaporation being carried to a fufficient point, I put the whole into a bottle well corked to take along with me, and try fome more ex- periments at home. On opening the bottle it fmelled a good deal of rotten eggs, (or what is called hepatic,) Stronger than it was at the fprings: and a bottle of the fpring-water had hardly any fmell, but was acidulous. The refiduum of the firft evaporation was quite black, the end of the cork of the fame color and covered with fmall cryftals. I exposed this water to a new evaporation : fome bubbles came out, which were fwimminp- upon it: the fmell foon went off, and the whole being reduced to drynefs, I attempted the fepa- ration of falts, to know them better one from another. I poured on the whole a portion of diftilled water, and repeated it till the water feemed Mineral Waters of Virginia. feemed to diffolve nothing more. Then I col- leded thefe lotions, and proceeded to a new eva- poration, till it was brought to the degree of cryftallifation: I took it out and left it to cry- stallize : the liquor was of a brown color, mak- ing no kind of effervefcence with acid or alkali, and forming no precipitate, which were proofs that the falts were perfedly neutralifed. On fol- lowing the evaporation, a faline fubftance adhered to the glafs vcffd, and was fpreading over it, 4 fign that there were falts of an earthy combi- nation prefent. All being dry, and the cryftal- lifabk falts a-part, if we add an acid there is an effervefcence andfomething remains untouch- ed. With the vitriolic acid there is a folution of calcarious earth; and what remains is a litdc «f vitriolated tartar, and Siliceous earth. The cryftals obtained are evidently epfomfah, or vitriol of magnefia, and fome cryftals of marine falts; this is the reafon why the refiduum of eva- poration had a faltifh tafte. After the whole evaporation the marine calcarious fait remains in the waters. This is the caufe of the attradion for dampnefs when it is left by itfelf in the open air. Having difcovered the different faline fub- Stances contained in the water, I am next to explain what kind of earth there is which could not 12 A Complete Treatise on the not be diffolvcd by the distilled waters, and remained upon the filter. I followed the way of diftilled vinegar to diffolve the calcarious earth, and make a. foliated earth or coralline fait of a fcaly figure. The liquor being evaporated, afterwards gave no cryftals, and is thick. Then on precipitating it, it is found to be magnefia, which was in the water in a perfed combination with aerial acid. On entirely drying up the refiduum left by the acul of vinegar, there remains a quantity of earth w hich is not aded upon by acids: it is Siliceous earth, fometimes mixed with a little of clay. As for the iron contained, I feparated it by the filter, and found it to be from i gr. to i- gr. according as the water was taken in clear weather or not. Hence it follows that the acidulous fpring in Bath county, contains in the quart: Of faline fubftances in general, 12 to 15 gr. earthy fubftance, - - 18 to 24 iron, - - - - ito i It is Surprising to find in this water fuch a quantity of contents, but on considering its fituation, in a valley where rain-water carries all kinds of things, adjacent to a marfhy place, where putrefadion yields a large quantity of acid air Mineral Waters of Virginia. 13 air fit to diffolve thefe earthy fabftances, where fulphur, Spread in pyrites, as well as in rotten wood, is constantly operating new compositions and decompositions, with all the fubftances it has attrition to, it will not be difficult to find out from where all thofe contents are derived. How they are produced will be very eafily known to any philofopher accuftomed to obfervations ort mountains. The inflammable air being obliged to make its way through the water, impregnates it with the fame hepatic Smell, which is fometimes pro- duced in putrefddion, as in that of eggs. How- ever, I would not perfuade myfelf that there is no hepatic air, becaufe fulphur is to be found there in plenty enough to give fufpicions of it. But thefe particulars belong more to other re- fearches. This uncertainty refpeding the pre- fence of hepatic air, appears much greater upon examination of another fpring clofe by. In the felenitous fediment of this fpring, where putre- fadion has no communication, the water is acidulous, and has no hepatic tafte. Its fituation is fomething higher, out of any run of rainy water, in open ground, more expofed to the fun. This expofition makes the water f.mewhat white; hence it was called buttermilk. A good deal of the aerial acid efcapes into the atmofphere; the E calcarious A Complete Treatise on the calcarious earth being deprived of it, fwims in water, and gives it the white appearance. Being tried by re-agents, it afforded the fame refult, and is the fame with the other in every refped, except in the quantity of acid and in tafte. Now if we recoiled the bottom ground of the whole valley filled up by the fediment of waters or calcarious mephites, or felenites, it is not Sur- prising to find the fame fubftances in water as the bafis and fome other accidental contents, which are produced by all the furrounding fub- ft ances of different natures. The prefence of ful- phur in putrefying vegetables and its re-adion in other fubftances, give the aerial acid and in- flammable air, which make new compounds, &c> in fuch a manner that there is a constant adion and re-adion of fubftances and new compounds appearing, the formation of which is eafily ac- counted for by a learned obferver. If we receive the inflammable air coming out of the marfh without crofting a large fpring, we Shall find aerial acid in a fmaller proportion, but at the fame time it does not fmell fo much of fulphur. This experiment naturally accords with the new theory of the compofition of water, fo much fpoken of fome years ago; and I think I Shall foon demonftrate the daily formation of waters Mineral Waters of Virginia. 15 waters in the mountains of Europe, and in thofe of America: fome few more experiments upon the fubjed will bring the demonstration to a con- clufion. Being now acquainted with the natural and chymical hiftory of the acidulous waters, and being certain of their principles, it will be eafier to afcertain their ufe in medecine in general. I leave it to phyficians and experience to determine more particularly in what kinds of ficknefs they may be better applied, after knowing in general the constitutions of the perfons, who want to make ufe of them, All faline or earthy fubftances have pretty nearly the fame effed and tendency. They are in general laxatives, promoting Some fe- cretion, either that of perfpiration, or Stools, feparately, or fometimes two fecretions at once. Confequently, there will be a good evacuation, according to the fulnefs or plethora, efpecially if we confider the quantity of earthy and faline fubftances which thefe waters contain. The contrary happens, when there is no rule ob- ferved by the perfon ufing of them, becaufe if the Stomach does operate well, the bowels follow the fame laws. But many times, inftead E 2 of 16 A Complete Treattse on the of having a tonic effed, they induce a general relaxation. I observed two or three cafes of this kind when I v.as at the lprin^-. I faw a gentleman in a very defperate fituation, from a weaknefs of the whole body, proceeding from a general relaxation of the fyftem ; he was in the ufe of thefe waters, beginning with a few glafTcs, and drinking no tea afterwards. At laft he drank about two quarts in a day, and recovered entirely, and v/Ljnt home fatisfied : but now and then he took fome gentle remedies to affift nature and the operation of the waters. The exceffive ufe of this water produces the oppofite effed; and when drunk after meal, it works differently, becaufe a remedy that is in- nocent, when taken on an empty Stomach, pro- duces a bad effed when that organ is full, &c. The kind of falts of which I fpoke before, are the fubftance upon whi Ji chiefly depend all the virtues and adivity of this water: it will be enough then, to explain in general, in what kind" of ficknefs it is nectffiry. Among all the different difoiders to which mankind is liable, there are none of longer con- tinuance Mineral Waters of Virginia. 17 tinuance, and more tedious than what are called chronical diforders. That extenfive clafs of dif- orders is more the objed of mineral waters than any other; acute diforders cannot be cured by them, except by the inhabitants of the place, becaufe thefe diforders are Seldom of long dura- tion. It follows from tli^nce that all kinds of languifhing Situations, remaining after fevers, whether acute or intermittent, may be relieved by ufing this water, and following exadly the djredion of a good phyfician. If there are any obftrudions of the vifcera, they mutt firft be at- tended to, in order to prepare nature for a revo- lution neceffary to accomplish a complete cure, without any danger. All diforders having a vice of the humors, as, a vifcofity of the lymph, king's evil, Simple or complicated, may be begun with fuccefs, and be finished by other waters, the acidulous beino- not able to complete the cure. All kinds of fwelling of any of the vifcera without fcirrhofity, as, fwelling of the liver, fpleen, pancreas, me- fenteric glands, may receive great relief, fome be cured, fome others not, according to the duration of the ficknefs, the hardnefs and the bulk of the fwelling, which many times, f?r want of adion. hinder phyficians from undertaking a folid cure. Persons 18 A Complete Treatise on the Persons fubjed to an extraordinary heat of body, as of the bowels and different parts, may be cured, and efcape great accidents, which al- ways follow thefe difpofitions. In thefe cafes, a proper ufe of the water and of the bath, relieve them entirely. Some patients require now and then to be aSfifted by remedies, of a kind, fuit- able to their ficknefs, as purges, tonics, &c. or elfe they remain weak after ufing the waters. This great phenomenon of the human ceco- nomydeferves great attention; becaufe if the heat is too great, the body remains weak. All the fyftem of nutrition is Suffering, if not fufficient in proportion, there happen more accidents, as heavinefs, languor, till that fundion is reftored, or the critical matter is carried off by another fecretion in a larger quantity. The firft part of this obfervation is more ap- plicable to the people of the fouthern States, where the perfpiration being great, and the body weak, nutrition has hardly time enough to be operated, fo as to fupply what is neceffary to the Strength of the body. This is the reafon why they are in general, thin, weak, very often Sick, and fall into confumptive diforders, Sec. The contrary happens in the northern States to the greateft part of the people, nutrition being there in Mineral Waters a/Virginia. 19 in proportion more than the body has occafion for; hence very fat perfonSj and very frequently acute fevers almoft as dangerous as in Europe. This theory being well known, nobody will think it extraordinary, why the Virginians on going up the mountains, will foon repair more fubftance, and be fatter there, than they can poffibly be lower down. They foon repair their weakened Stomachs, hence all the Strength of body : they recover as foon as they have entered the mountains, where they find exadly the op- pofite of their native places, in which the fur- rounding things have a propensity to deftroy all the bodies living by fluids; the rarefadion of blood, heat> hot winds, &c. all have a tenden- cy to evaporation. In the mountains it is quite otherwife : all has there a tendency to keep frefh and cool: hence, their better health, becaufe there is little or no fweat, perfpiration being moderate and equal, and the organic fundi- ons better: then the harmony of organized be- ings is more complete, and constitutes health,. efpecially when the people join to it that fine. virtue, frugality. The people of the mountains, however, are very often fick, and as often as any, becaufe of; their way of living: I obferved among them a great 20 A Complete Treatise on the great number of cafes-of rhumatifm, obstructi- ons, eruptions of different kinds; and acute dif- orders more frequent; I infer from thence, that there are pretty nearly as many patients there as. any where elfe; but I repeat it, their way of living is the caufe of it. The Germans who live in a better way are not liable to fo much fick- nefs, their induftry preferving them better, however liable they may be to the infirmities incident to mankind. CHAPTER II. Analyfis and natural hiftory of the fpring called Red-Spring, hut which would be more properly called Spaw. THIS fpring comes out of a kind of rock of the argillofo-calcarious kind, fpreading from the mountain down the valley, which pro- duces acidulous waters all over. This Stone is Sheeted like, compad, but is foftened a great deal by expofure to air, and breaks cafily after- wards : the interftices are often filled up with an cchreous earth, left behind by the waters and the loom between the crevices: it is of a marl nature and ferrugineous. Thz Mineral Waters of Virginia, The water going through all thefe interftices containing aerial acid, carries along parcels of the iron, which precipitate as foon as there is any contad with the atmofphere, when another part remains in water in a folid combination with the acid. The fuperfluous iron fettles upon any Surrounding bodies Under its native color of a fine red crocus. This appearance was the caufe of the name given to this water of red chalybeate water; but it does not contain, in fad, more chalybs than any other ; the difference is in the two ways the aerial acid diffolves iron, as it has been publifhed by Mr. Lane and Rouelle in the Philofophical Tranfatlions for the year 1770. Among the variety of waters which I tried, I found none that comes nearer to Spaw-water, confequently, as it is a well known name I thought it better than that of Red-fpring which in itfelf is accidental, and not founded upon its na- ture. This water, when drank at the fpring, has a very light, acidulous, chalybeate tafte, mixed with fomething putrid; which tafte is frequent in all Springs containing iron, and is owing to a phenomenon, the explication of which would require more time than I can devote to the fubjed in this place. I believe, however, it depends upon a readion of the two airs upon iron, &c. F The 22 A Complete Treatise on the The waters leave no kind of aftringency upon the tongue, and do not diffolve foap. Clofe by in the marfh, coming out of the hill, are other fprings of the fame nature, and fome exadly like the acidulous water, fpoken of above. Experiments, by Re-agents. i. On pouring into this water fome drops of the tindure of galls, it produced a purple hue, which became a little more colored upon Standing four and twenty hours. 2. The vegetable fixed alkali precipitated a white powder, and air was obferved. 3. Mineral alkali produced the fame effed. 4. A solution of mercury turned the water yellow; which renders it probable that there are fome vitriolic falts prefent. 5. A solution of filver disturbed the water very little: after a long Standing it looks only a little pale, but gives no fediment. This feems to be a proof of the prefence of a very fmall quantity of muriatic falts. 6. Lime-water produced a white precipitate; which is a proof of the prefence of aerial acid, difengaged from its bafis. 7. If fome drops of an acid are poured int» the water, there is no kind of motion. This leads Mineral Waters of Virginia. 23 leads us to fufped there is no kind of alkali prefent, which experiments will prove to be true. It is very eafy to fee, from thefe experiments, that there is nothing certain refpeding the con- tents of the water; and this analyfis by fire will prove Sufficiently. I proceeded in the fame way as before, and expofed about ten quarts to a Slow evaporation, in balneo marias. A great number of bubbles of air came up, which upon being colleded in a bladder, were found to be aerial acid, by all the experiments proper for afcertaining this point, and which are too long to be repeated here. As it efcapes from the water, a white pellicle is forming at the furface, compofed of the calcarious earth left behind by the aerial acid: when all of it is diffipated, the pellicle falls down in frag- ments of different fizes. In the progrefs of evaporation the water doe3 not change at all its color; this is only the cafe when it is reduced to one half of its bulk; then it turns yellowim, and the iron contained begins to feparate. This progreffion fcerris very exad according to the quantity of acid in the fluid; thofe fubftances which contain molt of the acid5 F 2 lofe A Complete Treatise on the lofe it firft, and' others afterwards. This obier- vation is a proof of what I faid before concerning the two ways in which iron is diffolved in water; namely, a fufpenfion by the aerial acid and an intimate combination by the fame fluid. At laft, on following up the evaporation, the water af- fumes a deeper color, till all the iron falls to the, bottom, or fwims in it, or till all the water is dried up. I proceeded, as before, by lotions with diftilled water, and having evaporated all to- gether to a point of cryitallifation, I found, fome days after, cryftals of different forms, as felenites, vitriol of magnefia, and a very few cryftals of marine fait. The earthy refiduum being dried, I poured into it diftilled vinegar, and the greateft part of it was diffolved; being evaporated to a cryftalli- fation, it was found to be coralline fait. The mother remaining after cryitallifation being pre- cipitated, gave an earthy fubftance, which proved to be a magnefia, which had before been dif- folved by aerial acid. There remained upon the filter that portion of iron mentioned above. Thefe are the proceffes by which I came to an cxad knowledge of the contents. I tried a good many Mineral Waters of Virginia. 25 many other experiments to come to that point, which it would be tedious to relate, and ufelefs to the reader. It follows that this Spaw water contains, by the quart, as follows, viz. Of aerial acid, - calcarious earth or lime, - 4 gr. aerated magnefia, 3 iron aerated, r - 2 felenites, - - •=- - 1 vitriol of magnefia, - 1 ' cubic muriatic fait, 4- iron combined, r Upon feeing this table, no body will be fur- prifed at the great quantity of fubftances con- tained in this water: and it would be more acidulous than the firft Spring if the fuperfluity of aerial acid was not taken up by the iron; fiich is the bulk of aerial acid in thefe waters till it comes in contad with the atmofphere; without this happening, the water would be as acidulous as Pyrmont, or at leaft as Gronfiein- water, which is fent about for Spaw-water. The acidity would be greater, again, in thefweetfipring, if the inflammable air did not alter it. But 26 A Complete Treatise cm the But to return, the inferior part of the hill of argillofo-calcarious Stone, contains a good deal of martial pyrites. Being broke into pieces, and left to flake, as it were, and put afterward-. in any water, it impregnates it with the putrid irony tafte, fpoken of before. It is not then to be wondered at, how waters, running through thefe pyrites, may contrad that tafte, efpecially on account of their containing airs, very attrac- tive of dampnefs, or fluids, in general. Being now acquainted with the principles contained in the Spaw-water, I may very well deduce their application to the animal ceconomy; and phyficians, according to different cafes, may advife them as falutary remedies, either by themfelves, or afiifted by other remedies. Adive fubftances in this water are four in number, namely : aerial acid, magnefia, vitriol of mag- nefia, and iron. They have all the fame pro- perties, in general, moderating one another, as ftimulants, tonics, and antifeptics. This is the reafon, why in weak ftomachs and bowels they ■are mild purgatives, and when the tone is re- ftorcd, they become aftringents. If there is any acrimony or fournefs of the prima via, they re- lax, &c. They prove very effedual from the acid, leaving the earthy fubftances to form a new combination. When the aerial acid goes off, Mineral Waters of Virginia. %'■[ off, then they muft be applied in cafes of re- laxation of the whole fyftem of the belly, whe- ther it is in the Stomach, bowels, or other parts. A moderate quantity will operate very well:, a too great one will increafe a flow circulation of the mefenteric fyftem. Sometimes weaknefs after a long ficknefs may be altered with great fuccefs, on drinking a litde at once, ufing a moderate exercife, and a fober diet, and no tear unlefs made with bitter plants, &:c. otherwife internal obftrudions, &c. will often be the refult of error. Those patients, who wifh to drink this water as. a tonic, muft previously be purged once or twice, afterwards they fhould, bathe three or four times; then begin with a pint in the morning and one at night, eating no flipper, drink fmall glaffes at once, and condud themfelves in fuch a manner, that all the water may be digefted before any meal. The contents of this water being moft constantly the fame, I think it ought to be confidered as the beft of all. It comes out of the rock, and has no kind of impurities as the acidulous; it is fomething cooler, and its fituation is in a place much lefs alterable; the fame ground contains acidulous waters of the fame kind, and they might frequently be mixed, either together er feparately, jn wine, or in any other drink. This' 28 A Complete Treatise on the This kind of water is more certainly adapted to the constitutions of this country, becaufe there is but one kind of air contained in it, which cannot be disturbed by the accidents of the val- ley, as putrefadion, &c. inconveniences to be found in the other fpring, as I explained above. It only remains for the owner to provide accom- modations as good as poSfible, that every body may find the difference, naturally existing be- tween the two waters, but unknown to the public, who are apt to follow what has been before con- sidered as rules, that are often very bad, and contrary to the views entertained by patients on fetting out for the fprings. There is yet to be obferved, that this water, when left by itfelf in a bowl, will lofe a great deal of its Strength, which fome Stomachs can not bear, becaufe iron difengages itfelf from a great part of the aerial acid, which going off, the water then becomes lighter. There are a great many other experiments which I made, concerning the pradical ufe of thefe waters, but they are too long to be men- tioned here, and would be too tedious to the reader. This water may be carried any where in the United States, on taking particular care for the purpofe: Mineral Waters of Virginia. 29 purpofe : it retains all its tafte. I carried fome bottles down with me, and one of them, three months after, was as good as when I put it in the bottle, and being analyfed for a point of compa- rifon, I found in it pretty nearly the fame quan- tity of aerial acid. This is a great proof of its more intimate mixture, and of a good aggre- gation of the whole. This water has, then, over all the others, the" rare advantage of being fit to be tranfported any where we may defire. The others lofe a great part of their aerial acid, and then they become difagreeable. I believe, how- ever, they could be managed in fuch a way as to render them tranfportable. It is probable, the owner of this place, being a gentleman of fortune in Philadelphia, will do all he can for the beft accommodations, and will eftablifh more baths, and a pump or a bafon proper for the people meeting there to drink the waters, and have the benefit of the whole ; a lit- tle decoration, and more conveniences, fuch as feats, fteps, &C; are neceffary to give an eafy accefs to this place, to be out of the fun, rain, &c. which fpoil water. Physicians will afterwards fettle a proper diet for their patients going up there, becaufe every thing is not to be found in plenty in a country G fo 3° A Complete Treatise on the fo little inhabited, and where the inhabitant* having hardly enough to fupply themfelves, can not fpare much for the great number of people reforting up every year. If the inhabitants of Green Briar did not bring their provisions to the bath, the fprings would not be fupplied. I muft inform the public, that all the waters which come out of the meadow, in different places, are of the fame nature, and only vary in the quantity of their aeriform fluid. I tried about a dozen of them, in different places, and in the fame place there are a good many other fprings, but which do not always contain the fame proportion of fubftances, fo as to bring them to any comparifon with one another. CHAPTER III. Of the Hepatic-water, called Sulphureous. ON croSfing a middle ridge, called by the in- habitants Alleghany, there begins the county of Greenbriar, Situated in a valley, which is very large, and very fertile. It is the laft in- habited country in this diredion to Kentucky. The waters coming out of this ridge, turn weft, and fall into Greenbriar-river, and this again into Mineral Waters of Virginia. J.i into the Kannaway. After having croffed a great many mountains of different heights, but low; all of them compofed chiefly of freeftone of va- rious colours, intermixed with fchiftus lamellaris recens, and following then a little Stream coming out of the faid Alleghany very low in that place, the brook comes out of a kind of freeftone mixed with mica, which is very fine. The Stone is in forms of a rhomboidal fhape, and is cut by the waters into Steps ; it is in Sheets, fome being thin, fome thicker. This is very curious to be feen, and brings a o-reat many obfervations to the naturalift. The top of this mountain feems to contain minerals, there being very few trees upon it, and a very poor vegetation ; indeed there is none in many places. I found there the myrica afplenii folio, and hypericum arhorefcen-, very extraordinary Shrubs for this place. On following this little path, we went in a large bafon Surrounded by mountains, cut Strait, and terminated by different conical tops; three fmall vallies reunite there as in a cavern. I had, on feeing this fituation, a thought, that there had been a volcano, but finding no complete proof, I waited till I fhould have feen the whole place. There is a good farm in the middle of that fine fpot, &c. About the weft- end of that place, having the fhape of a funnel, G 2 there A Complete Treatise on the there is a little hill, in comparifon with others clofe by; upon the weft declivity of this hill there is a large place filled up with all forts of Stones, more or lefs worked by fire. The water comes out among all thefe ftones, and leaves a whitifh fediment all round. The fmell, which is that of the hepatic air, may be perceived at the diftance of half a mile. Very few birds at- tempt to crofs over the fprings: to them it is a new avernus. Vegetation is very indifferent upn on the hill, but lower down it becomes better. These fprings form a pretty Strong Stream a fmall diftance from the bath-houfe. The waters now leave no more fediment upon the Stones; they retain very little of the hepatic tafte, and about three miles off there is nothing of it. Then one may fee more birds flying. In the declivity going to the fpring, is a run made by the rain-water, which falls into the fpring, fome- times fpoils it, and brings in Strange compounds. Upon the oppofite fide of the hill is the true bafon of the whole fpring, which would be a good deal bigger than the warm fprings, if it was cleaned a little for the various ufes of the people, and the benefit of the owner. The place has been entirely overturned by fome great revolution, all kinds of materials of old Mineral Waters of Virginia. S3 old mountains are mixed with thofe of new ones; all cemented by fire. A great many ftones which have evidently been worked by fire, arelike pumices, very light, fall of air-holes, and not fo heavy as thofe which have undergone that torrefatlion. I brought fpecimens of each, to Shew to any body curious in thefe fubjeds, which were viewed by feveral gentlemen there. From all this I infer, that the place I call the large bafon, is an old crater of a volcano, filled up a long time fince by the deftrudion of Surrounding matters. The waters having waftied away all earthy fub- ftances, there remained only ftones and their fragments of different Sizes, as may be feen upon the fpot, where, on walking, one feems to tread upon old afhes, fuch as are round iron works. This creaking found is never to be obferved but where there are volcanic afhes, pumices, &c. as about the volcanos. Nobody will fuppofe that there were any iron works or any glafs houfes there. This obferva- tion, which is quite new for this country, is. not the only very important one made upon the natural hiftory of thefe mountains, and of the country. I said above, that the large bottom, joined by three narrow vallies, was Surrounded by the mountains j4 A Complete Treatise on the mountains, cut Strait, and divided by cones of various bignefs. It is not improbable, that in this place there was the great focus of the whole, and that the hill where thefe waters fpring, was the pafiage of laves, and of afhes, accumulated upon there. This gives a better explanation of the Stones of the old mountain found there, where there is nolimeftone, and no kind of fub- ftances produced by recent revolutions, becaufe thofe fubftances have been wafhed away. Notice may be taken of it on the whole hill, upon the Stream clofe to a high road, where the Indians were ufed to come for paint. There I found a yellow and red bolus: clofe by there is a kind of black fubftance, which has been thought to be coal; but it refembles rather fome kinds of manganefe, or the fchiftous-ftone, which lies at the top of pit- coals. I could not try any experiments upon it, but whatever it is, it gives a new Strength to my difcovery of the volcano. Some people have thought it was a coal, becaufe of the appearance of the difcovered iris between the Sheets on breaking it; but this is not a Sign peculiar to coal, it is not to be met with in any accumu- lations, which are of another kind. What is againft this opinion, is this, that being expofed to fire k does not burn, but turns grey, and keeps its folidity, whereas coal would fall int® afhes, more or lefs folid, and be very light. The Mineral Waters of Virginia. 35 The hepatic water comes out through all thefe volcanic remains : a great number of bub- bles come up at the furface, which received in a bladder, prove, by various experiments, to be hepatic air, mixed with a little of aerial acid. The fluid has an adion upon the eyes, nofe and breath, and occafions a head-ach, which foon goes off, if you Stay there. Sometimes, in this water, and in hepatic air, vegetables grow very well, even in the fpring: thefe plants be- long, I believe, to the genus of conferva, &c. There is alfo a light white fediment, mixed with fulphur, ail along the little canal conduding water to the bath-houfe, which is very large, and convenient for the place. There is not fuch a quantity of fulphur as a great many perfons believe; on the contrary there is very little, and the vegetables being covered by it, make it ap- pear in greater quantity than there is in reality. The natural hiftory of the place and the feat of this fpring being known, it is now neceffary, for public utility and the good of mankind, to make inquiries concerning the feveral fubftances contained in thefe waters, in order to enable us to distinguish one from another, and to judge of their medical properties, which more deServe our attention than thofe that have only philofo- phical curiofity for their objed. 1 36 A Complete Treatise en the I used the fame way and proceflVs for analy- fing this water, that I did in the others, fome particular experiments excepted, which were ne- ceffary according to their fulphurous nature, &c. This water is very cool in fummer; it has no other tafte but fulphurous. Some perfons find a little acidulous tafte: it is very clear and white: the fmell goes off if it Stands by for a little while; if however it is carried off in a bottle well corked, it retains a long time its vapour, which makes it more eafy to be tranfported out of the place, to be ufed for different purpofes, according to the people's defire. Experiments by Re-agents. 1. The blue tindure of violets was a little changed to a green color, which foon went off; this feems to be owing to calcarious falts. 2. A spirituous tindure of gall-nuts gave a very light purple color; which is a proof of a fmall quantity of iron. 3. Fixed vegetable alkali, produced a white precipitate. 4. A solution of filver turns it black; it is owing to the fulphurous vapour, or to a little of that fubftance contained in it. 5. A piece of filver put in the faid water turns black: Mineral Waters o/Virginia. 37 black: this is a full proof of the existence of fulphur and its vapours. 6. Common fpirit of nitre, pretty ftrong, formed no precipitate; that is a fign of very little fulphur. 7. It does not diffolve foap. These are the principal experiments which I tried; all the others, which it would be too tedious to relate, are additional proofs of thefe, and help us in forming a conclusion refpeding the contents. That I might better difcover what kind of earth and falts are contained in this water, I evaporated, in the fame manner as before, eight quarts, and proceeded to a flow evaporation, in order to obtain the eafier, forne produds apart; the refuk was as follows. The hepatic air obtained was not inflammable on account of the quantity of aerial acid mixed along with it. After this, fome aerial acid left its combination with lime becaufe of its attradion to the atmofphere. This earthy fubftance ap- pears in a degree of heat before the water boils, and as foon as the air begins to efcape, it falls to the bottom of the veffel, in the form of fcales; fometimes it is alone, fometimes it is mixed with H a little 38 A Complete Treatise on the a little of felenites, when there is any in the waters- Aerated magnefia feparates afterwards, either be- caufe it is in fmaller proportion, or becaufe the combination of air is more intimate. In the progrefs of evaporation to drynefs the refiduum feems to be rather earthy than faline} it has a fmell of fulphur, and is black. On repeated lotions of it, the whole being fil- tered to have the falts diffolved in water, and evaporating all thefe lotions to a point of cryital- lifation, few days after there appeared different kinds of cryftals, eafy to diftinguifh with a mag- nifying glafs. Every time I poured new diftilled water to the refiduum, it fmelled of fulphur. The falts obtained by the evaporation of the lotions, were vitriol of magnefia, felenites, and a little of mineral alkali; the mother water, which was brown, upon being examined, was found to contain calcarious marine fait and iron. It ap- pears from thefe experiments, and a good many others, too tedious to be related here, That the earthy part remaining upon the fil- ter, which was partly combined with hepatic air, partly with aerial acid, is of a calcarious nature. The quantity to the quart is 20 gr. which is a large quantity; but I Shall immediately explain in Mineral Waters a/Virginia. 39 in what manner this quantity is contained in the water. The other produds are iron and a very little of fulphur. It is probable that the two airs contained are the folvents of the calcarious earth of the waters, becaufe it feems to agree pretty well with the property which fome authors give to aerial acid of diffolving fo much by inches. * As for the hepatic air, nobody has yet afcertained the quan- tity it may diffolve in earthy hepar. ^ It is certain, however, that on precipitating it, the hepatic air on flowing out, carries away fome of it, as it is to be obferved at the fpring, where having an eledive attradion with the atmofphere, fome earth fettles upon the ftones, as I tried there. As for the formation of hepatic air, whether it comes out of an hepar, or of a volatile Julphurous acid, whether altered by aerial acid and common air, the re-adion then is occasioned, either by a cal- carious fubftance, or the little quantity of marine alkali very common in thefe kind of fprings. The water contains by the quart as follows, viz. Of hepatic air, - aerial acid, - , calcarious earth, - 12 gr. H 2 Of * See Btrgmann on the aerial acid and lime. 40 A Complfte Treatise on the Of vitriol of magnefia, - - 5 gr. felenites, 2 calcarious marine fait, - 11 iron, more or lefs - - 1 fulphur precipitated, - -£- The hepatic air gives a ftrong impreflion to water, without yielding much fulphur. Hence I look upon the hepatic air contained in water to be accidental; it does not conftitute exadly its nature, but the water coming through volcanic materials meets fome hepar and a decomposi- tion is operated: then the water charges itfelf fo much with the hepatic air, but not always in the fame quantity; becaufe fometimes water is Strongly impregnated, fometimes it is lefs, with- out altering the odier -contents, and affording another virtue in »:he ufe of it. What I fay is confirmed by experience, and the treatment of different difeafes, as, e. g. itch, &c. the cures of which ought to be perfed, but are not. Where real fulphurous waters are ufed, the cure is complete, the difeafe never appearing again, as it dees upon many people having ufed of this water. It is very eafy to fee, after what I have faid above, and from the contents of thefe waters, that their properties are uncertain; this is the reafon why fome ufe them as aperitives, and the Mineral Waters of Virginia. 4.1 the common idea is to believe them good for any cafes where the others did not operate any thing upon the patients: as for this, it remains to know if other waters have been taken properly, and with the true application to the cafe. From mence phyficians will take care of Stories often in contradidion with the nature of things. This difference of effeds leads fometimes to a difcovery of a morbific caufe unknown before. We have now only to determine to what kind of diforders thefe waters may be applied. All the cutaneous or fan difeafes, as, common itch, all kinds of pimples, red fpots, whether fcorbutic or not, fome fiftulas or runnings, and cracks of the fkin, without an internal vice of the humors, having only the fkin for their feat without complication, may be relieved entirely, on drinking this water and bathing in it now and then the whole body, wafhing frequently in the day. The bath being very cold, it is neceffary to take care not to be in a fweator perfpiration, becaufe it would not fucceed fo well on account of the coldnefs of the water. A quart in the morning and one at night, eating no fupper, is the true quantity to drink: fome may drink three quarts, obferving that it muft 42 A Complete Treatise on the muft be at leaft three or four hours before or alter any meal. Persons afflided with any external difeafes, muft be rubbed all over when they are bathing, and this frequently in the day with the water, in order to raife a better circulation all over the fkin. This is a point quite neceffary for receiving com- plete benefit of this water, and induce in the fmall veffels an ofcillr.tion loft for Tome time, and to take their primary fundions in the fyftem. A great part of thefe diforders is otten nothing but a continual error of circulation, caufed by a ple- thora ad vafa. All comes in order when the fluids acquire by remedies their natural fluidity, and the proportion to the fhape of the veffels; without that, error follows and the fluid breaks out and occafions all kinds of fore:, more or lefs difficult to cure, according to its nature, whether ferous, or lymphatic, or mixed. All thefe are much more difficult in the fe- male conftitution, on recount of the laxity of their veffels, and the tenacity of lymph. Thofe, on the contrary, of a ferous appearance are worft, becaufe the Serum corrodes the fmall veffels by the acrimony of the falts contained in the blood. This difference of fluid is the great caufe of various ulcers, and thefe treated by acids, as lemon-juice, Mineral Waters a/Virginia. 43 Umon-juice, vinegar, tic. may be cured fooner than by zny ointments, as I have experienced for twenty years that I have pradifed the different branches of phyfic. All kinds of the Swelled glands, having a fcorbutic origin, whether in Suppuration or not, being well prepared before, may be relieved by hepatic waters; but in thefe cafes there are fome other remedies to be enjoined by phyficians, and a proper diet fuitable to the cafe: then fur h difeafes may be compleated by a crifis aflifted by waters. There are Some other kinds of difeafes to be cured by hepatic waters, fuch are nodes, callofities in different parts of the body, which are troublefome, and painful at certain times. No other remedies will remove them but cold or warm hepatic waters. In general, all kind of lymphatic difeafes, from accumulation, except thofe of the venereal kind, may be attempted and cured by hepatic waters, or at leaft alleviated a great deal. CHAPTER 44 A Complete Treatise on the CHAPTER IV. Of the Warm-Springsy or Thermales BESIDES the cool mineral waters of dif- ferent qualities, as I have explained before, nature, always wife, has formed fome other kinds, of a different composition and temperature, and they are endowed with \irtues, which contribute more or lefs in the cure of tie different difeafes in which they may be advifed : they begin cures which the cool waters alone can complete. From the unequal distribution of the nervous fluid arifes a flow circulation, or none, in fome of the remoteft parts: by the help ofthermales, diforders from this caufe, may be fooner relieved than by any other means. Irregular motions of the mufcles fall under the fame obfervation. All the waters exciting a hot fenfation were called thermales, after the latin name therma: as this is generally a known name, I Shall retain it here, with regard to the two fprings of which I have yet to fpeak. The firft is lefs hot or warm. This wonderful fpring. is Situated pretty nearly in the middle of the new mountains, at the bot- tom of one trad of the chain called warm fpring mountain, in Bath county, one of the higheft ridges after the blue ridge: but refpeding its height, Mineral Waters of Virginia. 45 height, I Shall fay nothing, having had no baro- meter with me to meafure it, &c. All the fides of the mountain are moftly compofed of freeftone, lamellated in all kind of ways, but in general inclined to the horizon. This freeftone feemed in fome places to have been warmed by fire, and fome parcels which have been Spread about for a long time, are fo. norous upon being touched with iron. Sometimes a white quartzous vein croffes it. On the one fide there is a fchiftus rufus lamellatus mollis, which being walhed away by rain, after it has been broken by injuries of the air, forms the humus arabilis, or ground of the vallies, where there is any husbandry established. Under this bed is a blue marble inclined to the horizon ; this is croffed by a white vein of crystallized aerial me- phites, or common calcarious fpar. This mar- ble is very good for lime, and could be worked with advantage for any other ufes. About fixty yards from this place, is this famous fpring contained in a large bafon built in Stone, of which the diameter may be twentySour feet, and of an odogonal Shape: the place is not covered, the-c is only a wall to keep the bathers out of fight. The fituation of this bath is one of the mofi agreeable in thefe mountains, and it is more eafy to 46 A Complete Treatise on the to find in its neighbourhood, neceffary provisi- ons for to be well accommodated. The air is very good there. It would require but little repair to render it one of the moft agreeable fpots for fpending the whole fummer; but im- provements can not fo foon take place. The bath might be divided, fo as to have cool water when neceffary, and each patient might have his room and a bath clofe by, which would parti- cularly fuit the convenience of rheumatic perfons. The water coming out is in fuch plenty as to be able to turn mills if they were eftablifhed upon it, about half a mile off. However blue the waters may look, it is ne- verthelefs as white as all the others: that blue colour proceeds from the fragments of blue mar- ble at the bottom, and the refledion of the Sky. The tafte of the water is fomething acidulous and foetid or hepatic. The elaftic fluid efcaping through the water in bubbles, is no other air but the hematic : it makes fome impreffion upon the nofe, eyes and breath, occafioningafmall head-ach which foon goes off, and ftill quicker, on moving out of the column of it. This hepatic air is very volatile, and evaporates when expofed in an open veffel, before it can be brought to the houfe, when all the tafte is gone, the water be- ing Mineral Waters of Virginia. 4? ing ftill warm. This is a proof of the incomplete combination between the air and water : howe- ver, all its properties depend upon the quantity of air contained, which induces perfons to go to the fpring and drink there. This water being moftly recommended as preparatory to the ufe of the others, the bath is the principal objed to be considered. I took notice of it myfelf, and likewife other perfons there, that the water was rather relaxing to the ftomach, therefore in a plethoric conftitution it caufes a lofs of fluid by fweat and by bath : care therefore, is to be taken of thefe matters, upon ufing of it. This firft effed being once over, then it operates as a falutary and very agreeable bath. The queftion now is whether this water Owes its properties to hepatic air, or aerial acidy both being contained in it. As I think there is more hepatic air, its properties are rather to be attributed to the latter; Experiments by Re-agents, i . The water drunk at the fpring has a ftrong hepatic tafte and fmell. 2. There is no alteration of a blue tindure af- ter eight and forty hours. 3. It makes no kind of effervefcence. I 2 4. Phlo- 4S A Complete Treatise on the 4. Phlogisticated alkali produces no altera- tion on it. 5. Fixed alkali precipitates a little of a white powder. 6. Mineral alkali does the fame. 7. A solution of mercury difengages only fome air bubbles. 8. A solution of filver turns it a little of a pale hue, and throws out a good many air bubbles. 9. It does not diffolve foap. 10. Lime-water occafions a fmall white preci- pitate. These are the principal among all the differ- ent experiments I tried upon this water by re- agents. I fhall now proceed farther by evapo- ration, and compare both ways in order to dif- cover the true nature of this very difficult water. I first evaporated three quarts, but finding hardly any refiduum or pellicle, I added to it ten quarts, to evaporate, as before, in balneum ma- rias. In the progrefs of evaporation fome air bubbles came up Sticking to the veffel. A piece of filver left in it a long time was not altered at all, which is a Sign that it contained very little or no fulphur. The evaporation being reduced to Mineral Waters of Virginia, 49 to a quart, became clouded, and then a little of fediment began to feparate, which being col- leded and examined, was found to be nothing but calcarious earth, which had been before dif-* folved by aerial acid. There are hardly two grains of this earth to the quart, which is a proof of the fmall quantity contained in it before the evaporation. On continuing the evaporation to drynefs, and then diffolving the refiduum by different lotions in diftilled water, and evapo- rating it again, I found atlittle of marine calca- rious fait ; hence it follows, that the warm fpring water is one of the lightest known; it is almoft as pure as diftilled water mixed with fome he- patic air. It contains to the quart: Of hepatic air aerial acid - - calcarious earth felenites - calcarious marine fait These are all the contents which I obferved, I could not determine the exad quantity of air, but leave this matter to the care of fome future philofopher, who will vifit the fpring with a pro- per apparatus, to afcertain this point, according to fome new experiments lately made in Europe. What- or 50 A Complete Treatise on the Whatever fulphureous tafte this water may have, it is notpoffible to find any fulphur in it: whether it is all diffolved by hepatic air, or flies off; at leaft it is certain that there is no fediment of it, as is the cafe with refped to the water at Aix-la-Chapelle, where there is none to be found. When there is a fediment of it, Bergmann found out the belt procefs to difcover it; but this pro- cefs would not fucceed upon the thermal hepatic water of this kind. The quantity of hepatic air, is in a fmall proportion, and as it is very volatile, nothing can retain it to enable us to eftimate the quantity of the fulphur contained in it. All thefe taken together, make it one of the lighteft waters hitherto known. Plomhieres water in Lorraine, in France, is very light, but it con- tains more felenites, &c. than our thermal water. On following the meadow, in the middle of it, there is another fmall fpring as warm as the other, which has not been opened: its water falls into the Stream of the other fpring. I believe this water is better for internal ufes than the great fpring: it appears, that fome iron, dif- folved by aerial acid, is contained in it. The hepatic air is not fo ftrong, and, in general, there are more contents in it. All Mineral Waters of Virginia. 51 All the right fide of this hill contains warm waters, whilft the left fide contains none at all 3 the bottom of the run is covered by calcarious mephites, which is fometimes cryftallized, and fometimes in rocks or maffes. The great fpring, as 1 have already faid, is fituated upon a blue marble which decays (lowly, and the water de- ftroys the calcarious earth to fuch a degree, that there is no folidity in the walk I believe it would not be eafy to make any folid building on the fpring, on account of the great number of crevices formed by the water in the rock, as it is in all other fprings. All thefe vallies are compofed of the fame materials. The waters, in fucceffion of time, have left their fediment under irregular forms, with intervals; new waters coining over, have either rilled them, or wafhed fome away, in fuch a manner, as to make them fall, or have formed holes on dropping upon a foft fediment. All thefe things are to be feen upon the place; hence that variety of caves, almoft all formed in cal- carious Stone, and where there are, or have been, fuch caves, the water has generated air; and affifted by aerial acid, has diffolved all the fub- ftance to carry it a little way off, and there left it, on account of different attradive bodies, fuch 52 A Complete Treatise on the fuch as the atmofphere, falts, &c which it met on running down. A great peculiarity in thefe mountains, is this, that we find, between two ridges of eld freefone, cos antiquns, materials of a more recent revolution, which has brought there calcarious blue earth, and it is upon this bafis that we dif- cover all the mineral waters. Is this accumu- lation owing to a revolution, which took place before the other, or was it left there by the fea ? On going down about two miles, and follow- ing the Stream, which cuts its way through the rock, we obferve the blue Stone covered by the fedi- ment of water. All this is formed by a felenites, and the calcarious mephites, or calcarious Spar. Good, cool, frefh water is frequently to be found clofe to the warm water ; becaufe it comes from a higher place : the one iffuing out of the the rock is cool, the other fprings out of the bottom. It is poffible, however, that they may have a communication in fome place. The cold one takes hepatic air on falling upon the place of decompofition, and impregnates itfelf; the remaining air comes up along with it, and appears under bubbles, becaufe the water can not diffolve it all. This Strength of expanfion is greater on account of the heat and attradion with Mineral Waters of Virginia. S3 with the water and common air. In the fweet fprings putrid fermentation is the principal agent, as a good many experiments, which it would be tedious to relate here, will explain in time, the fubjed belonging to the natural hiftory of mountains in general. Having fufficiently fpoken of the warm fpring, it now remains to give fome information about its medical properties. Hepatic air is the moft adive of its produds: that alone has a real effed upon the animal ceconomy. The heat is another agent we muft pay attention to, when pa- tients wilh to ufe the water of which I am fpeaking. As for the falts and earth contained in it, I look upon them as being of very little effed. Their quantity being fo fmall is not fufficient to prevent the relaxation which the bath often induces. It may be ordered by phyficians as an aperitive in all kind of rheumatic pains, palfy, rigidity of the mufcular fibre, as well as in fuppreffed per- fpiration, catching of cold upon the place, &c. This water may likewife be employed with ad- vantage in particular cafes. The hepatic air in the warm bath will greatly affift the cure of cu- taneous difeafes, as, itch, leprofy, elephantiafis, all the fcorbutic eruptions, old ulcers, Swelled glands, irregular pains after old rheumatifm, &c. K In A Complete Treatise in the In thefe cafes it ought to be advifed by all the learned phyficians of this country. I do not fpeak of this water as being able to operate complete and quick cures; but as a good preparative to be employed before ufing any of the others, which by their materials may better accomplish a cure to the fatisfadion of the patient. Any body who wiShes to try of this water muft ufe it with care, in order to avoid the relaxation which would keep him weak, and hinder the good effed of this, and of the others, to be taken for this purpofe. To drink this water it is better to put it in a bottle at the fpring and cork it well; let it cool, then drink it, or elfe it is liable to relax the ftomach. When this precaution is taken, it produces no fuch effed, weak Stomachs will di- geft it eafy, efpecially if it was poflible to add fome aerial acid; then it would be very eafy to give it all the properties of other waters. Every thing in this renders it capable of receiving any new mixture: but it is not neceffary to attempt it, the others being at hand for any purpofe we may defire. CHAPTER Mineral Waters of Virginia. $$ CHAPTER V. Of the Thermal water which is hotter than the preceding. ABOUT fix miles from the preceding fpring, on following the road between the two high ridges, we come to the end of a valley, where the water, or brook, has cut its way through the petro-filex, down to Jackfon's river. This bottom is covered by the various materials of the destroyed mountains on each Side, and offers all kinds of ftones, as, freeftone of different colors, the red kind efpecially, which is fonorous. There is plenty of the blue marble crofted by a white vein of calcarious mephites: all the fur- rounding fubftances are bottoms of old cavities filled up by fragments of all kind of materials. The uppermoft of the mountain is cut in different cones all round, which are moftly fierile, or at leaft vegetation is very poor all round about them, and in general there is little of water in proportion to the mountains. The fprings are upon a hillock, and come out among mud and graffes of different kinds; fome holes have been cut in the calcarious fediment u^on the declivity, to make a kind of bath. The water fprings through thefe fediments, and is of K 2 a middle 56 A Complete Treatise on the a middle temperature, between half boiling and warm water, fo as to fupport that heat very well on bathing in it. Whatever may be the heat of this water, it does not prove unfavorable to ve- getation : there are plants growing in this water, and all the kinds of plants natural to fprings in general live as well in this as in a cool water. This may be attributed to the aerial acid, which probably keeps them from being overheated, be- caufe thefe waters contain more of this acid than they can retain in combination, There are in the composition of the place ad- jacent to thefe waters all kinds of fubftances; but the chief of them is always of a calcarious nature, colored with iron, brought and accumulated there by the waters a long time ago. It feems that there is here a continual decompofition and rv.adion of one fubftance upon another. It is highly probable that pyrites or mundics, contained under ground, are the caufe (by their deflagra- tion) of the heat and new composition of aerated water. Calcarious earth joining to the vitriolic acid of pyrites raife a heat, and then the aerial acid, diiengaged from its combination, breaks up in the water, carrying along with it fome part of the iron left. This is the reafon why the iron ' is to be obferved at the fpring, fettling upon the ftones, when a little of it remains yet in water. This Mineral Waters of Virginia. 57 This place (of all the different fprings that I have feen in Europe and in America) affords one of the greatest proofs of the opinion of philofo- phers concerning the caufe of heat in fome fprings; but not of every one, as I took notice of in this travel. Here, however, there is no better ac- count to be given, and none more probable; becaufe there is plenty of pyrites: all the place is compofed of a calcarious mephites, the water out of that place and clofe to this ground is cool, and contains the other principles, except that it is not hot. Hence, and from a good many other experi- ments, I conclude that the Hot fprings owe their thermal and aerial properties to a decomposition of a pyrites, by the calcarious earth, and the vitriolic acid reading upon each other; it thus produces aerial acid, which flying up, carries fome iron along with it, and makes this water a chalybeated thermal water. All the Spongy fediments around the Spring, about half a mile, on following the Stream, arc of the fame nature. The water detains its heat as long as there is any fubftance of the fame com- position, till it is mixed with other waters. Thefe fediments are So much penetrated by the waters, that on walking upon them, there is a crepitus or 58 A Complete Treatise en the or noife, under the feet, and on breaking ground we fee water underneath. Any vegetable fubStance falling in, is foon covered by a libht incruliation, and retains its Shape very accurately, and this incrultation is effeded in a Short time. The reader who is well acquainted with the theory of the different kinds of air, will eafily perceive that there is a combination to form a new water. Thefe Springs coming out of the calcarious fediment, diffolve and fettle what they took before upon the place, and there is only loft the fluid, which efcaping, is regener- ated in proportion. This is the nature of ther- mal aerd water, which is very different from the preceding in its degree of heat, in the aerial acid which it contains, and in there being no hepatic air. Sec. Hence, their medical properties are very dif- ferent, the one being a palliatif and the other a curatif if it is properly ufed. This I Shall prove farther by analyfis, and thus enable phyficians to take this difference into consideration. Experiments by Re-agents. The water has no particular tafte, neither e.cid> hepatic or aftringent. It is tvery clear, a great Mineral Waters of Virginia. 59 great quantity of air bubbles comes through it to the furface, which being gathered, proves to be afuperfluous aerial acid. 1. Gall-tincture poured in the water alters it but very little, but leaves an iris pellicle at the top: this is a proof of a very fmall quantity of iron, the greateft part fettling in the fpring as foon as there is a commu- nication with the atmofphere. 2. A blue-tincture was not altered at all; this proves that the water has no fuperfluous aerial acids as would have been thought by the tafte of it. 3. Fixed alkali produces a white fediment of a calcarious nature. 4. A solution of mercury forms a yellow pre- cipitate, which was much more evident when I poured it in the fpring itfelf; all the water was then turned yellow. 5. A solution of filver turned the water white. 6. It does not diffolve foap. 7. Lime-water is precipitated by it. All the different fmall fprings upon the Spot give the fame produds: it is not therefore necef- fary to believe that they are different, except in the fenfation of the heat, according to the difference ef the conftitution, and irritability of the fkin. I HE Co A Complete Treatise on the The more central the fprings are, the greater is the heat, which is moft owing to their being nearer the focus of the accumulated bed of reac- tion ; however, this heat is always fupportable, and never caufes any irritation of the fkin, and it may be fupported by any patients without the inconvenience of a fteam, as in the warm bath and hepatic cool bath. The only thing neceffary here, are good ac- commodations, both for the patients a-part, and for fuch people who go there only for amufement and for company in fummer. This fpring might be improved a great deal, and with ad- vantage to the owner; becaufe it is a fine place, and it is but a fmall journey from it to the Spaw- fprings. All the experiments related above, would be fufficient enough to prove the principles of this water, and to convince us of its properties ; but there remain fome others to be difcovercd yet, upon which it depends as much, fuch as falts which muft be contained in it; and to de- termine of what kind they are I (hall proceed, before, by evaporation. I evaporated ten quarts of this water. A good deal of aerial acid came up Swimming at the Mineral Waters of Virginia. the furface j then followed a white pellicle co- vering the whole, which foon falls to the bor> torn, till there is no more diflblved by thd aerial acid. Being evaporated to drynefs, the refiduum was impregnated with a pretty Strong fulphurous fmell, which, I believe is owing to that readion upon pyrites, This fmell is very 6ften perceived in places where iron is moiften- ed) or in ftagnating waters, and is attended with an iris pellicle, improperly called oityk This water feems to contain about eight grains of an earthy fubftance to the quart, and about five grains of different faltS) which is a very proper quantity to make a good mine- ral water for drinking cold. Hence it is not furprifing that it operates fo well, in different diforders, ufed as a bath. In both cafes it is able to give great relief to patients. FYorn all the experiments it was found to contain as fol- lows, vizk 8 gr, 2 I 2 4- and lefs. Accord- Of aerial acid lime aerate^ - vitriol of magnefia - felenites calcarious marine fait iron L i$l A Complete Treatise on the These are the true proportions I found by repeated trials, whatever may be their variation from accidental caufes; but their virtues not being thereby affeded, they may be very pro- perly applied to in different difeafes, according to the advice of phyficians. Heat and aerial acid are the principal agents in this water for external application : for inter- nal ufes the other contents are fufficient to have a very great effed, even in a fhort time, as di- luents, and aperitives; and being kept well corked to cool, it operates as a tonic. However, dis- cordant it may feem to be, we Shall find the oppofite properties when the water is cooled. Hence it may be good in all pains of the rheumatic kind, in palfy, atony of any part whatever, Sec. I obferved a very great glandu- lar fwelling cured in a fhort time, by bathing in, and drinking of it. The bath is very good to bring out again any humors which have been cured by repellents, as in diforders of the fkin, in which it is very beneficial. All kinds of tophus, or hardnefs, may be cured by bathing a long time, alfo expanfion of the milk caufing all kind of tumors, whether running or not, will certainly be healed, if the patients be well go- verned, Mineral Waters a/Virginia. 6$ verned. A great many other accidents of the lymphatic fyftem may be cured in the fame way. Diseases which are occasioned by local ple- thora, may be removed by bathing, and laftly venereal pains, frequently called rheumatifm, Stiffnefs in joints, &c. will be a great deal alle- viated, and the whole cure could be effeded, on joining other remedies fuitable to the cafe. These few remarks are fufficient to give a general idea of the feveral properties of thefe waters, to any phyfician, a little acquainted with his bufinefs, and any reader may very eafily un- derstand the explanation I have given. As for regimen, and diet, they muft be direded ac- cording to the cafe and circumstances, and they can not be determined but on feeing the patient upon the fpot; I therefore thought it ufelefs to give any table of them, and what I began on the fubjed, is not yet complete enough to ap- pear in public: this requires fome more obfer- vations and inquiries, refpeding each diforder in particular, and the application of the different fprings, which I intend to treat of for the good of mankind, if I find fufficient encouragement for it from the public. L 2 CON- 64 A Complete Treatise on the CONCLUSION. FROM all the experiments and refearches related in this treatife on the mineral waters of Virginia, I am led to conclude, that thefe are endowed with more powerful properties than any that I have analyfed formerly when I travelled and lived in Europe. The mineral waters, fuch as, Spaw, Seltzer^ Tyrmont, in Germany; PlombiereSy Bourbonne, BagniereSy Bareges, in France ; the firft of which are acidulous, the fecond hepatics or fulphurous, have fome properties common to ours, but not to the fame degree and certainty. A good many of them have not yet had their properties afcer- tained; their analyfis being not corred, and there not being experiments fufficient to enable phy- ficians to adyife one water in preference to an- Qther, And even in Paris, phyficians of high reputa- tion are rather governed by public opinion, from the patients defire, than by the certainty of ana- lyfis, and by experiments made after a folid method equally good for fociety. Being perfedly acquainted with all this infufr ficiency, I have attempted in this treatife to lay the Mineral Waters of Virginia. 65 the whole of my inquiries upon a folid bafis, that of obfervation and experiments. In writing this treatife I have endeavoured to cxprefs myfelf in a plain Style, that I might be understood by every body, whether learned or not. Thus opinions, not having a iufficient foundation, it is to be hoped, will exift no longer, and truth, refulting from all thefe in- quiries, be eftablifhed in their place. General diredionsfor ufing waters, being not fufficient for every body, I thought that particu- lar explanations or defcriptions and comparifbns would be much more eafy to be understood by any perfon wanting to ufe thefe waters, elpecially for thofe, who are not acquainted with phyficians, or who live far from them. I therefore colleded all the properties of the different waters existing upon the fpot in the fame valley, and upon the fame bottom, under the name of acidulous, that nobody might think that one or another was endowed with a different virtue than the principal fipring; the difference which might be between them, refiding only in the quantity of inflammable and aerial acid. This I obferved in making experiments upon butter- milk fpring, and fome otliers all round thefe places, 66 A Complete Treatise on the places. It is of no confequence to patients which of thefe waters they ufe: they will anfwer the fame purpofe in the different cafes in which they may be applied. What I have faid in this treatife, I have proved to be true by the natural hiftory of the place, and accordingly it was impoffible to be otherwife; hence I found out that there was only a difference between the acidulous and /paw; this laft having all round it acidulous water, as good as that of the other place, and this having no fpaWy makes a great difference upon the whole, the greateft part of patients wanting more to ufefpawy either alone or mixed, &c. I came, next, to an examination of the ful- phureous, or cold hepatic waters, it being proper to ufe them after the preceding ones, in a good many cafes, already explained. From their principles I concluded, that they ©ught to follow according to the great cool tem- perature they have in fummer, which, affifted by their other contents, renders them very great tonics, in a great many diforders, giving at once to the whole vafcular fyftem an ofcillation necef- fary to a good circulation of the fluids. Ex- Mineral Waters 0/Virginia. 67 Experiments had confirmed my obfervation, before I had finished my analyfis. I found that a preliminary ufe of the acidulous orfipaw water was neceffary, in order to prepare the body to receive the benefit of the others, or elfe it would fail in many cafes, as I had opportunity, of ob- ferving it there, in different cafes, where atony was a principal caufe of the complaint; then a fudden impreffion and adion of cold and hepa-1 tic air, help the cure miich quicker than it would have been operated before. I thought it better to fpeak after of thermals ; which are the fecond clafs of waters. There is a great difference be- tween them, in the degree of heat, and in the variety of their principles; one being hepatic, affords very few contents, and is one of the Ughtcft waters in the world. The other, which is much more efficacious, contains aerial acid -t this makes a great difference in their composition and virtues. The properties of the hepatic ther- mal, are fuch, as to be an excellent preparative in any kind of cures, where relaxation is necef- fary. I explained the reafon cf it in its place, and this obfervation is very neceffary, becaufe thofe already in that habit of body muft avoid their ufe, for fear of a greater relaxation and vice verfa : then there will be more fatisfadion foz the patient, &c. •But • ♦ n 6*8 A Complete Treatise &c. But thofe of a full complexion of body having other kinds of difeafes, may ufe them without being much afraid o" this, at leaft for a week. These few remarks fufficiently fhow, how any one may come to a reftoration of health by ufing thefe waters, efpecially when there is no error Committed in diet, &c neceffary conditions, when we are defirous of our own confervation, or to keep ourfelves in health, which is fo pre- cious to our exiftence* The great number of experiments which I made, and the obfervations of feveral kinds ne- cefTary upon thefe matters, engaged me to publifh this treatife, for the welfare of fociety. There is nothing in it without having experiments and obfervations for its bafis; the errors I may have committed were not in my power to avoid : I attempted to be ufeful to my fellow-citizens, and to mankind in general. P I N ? St rW..Hist wz. mi. jra :v55ao eim