Analysis of the mineral waters of Avon, Livingston county, New York.

  • Salisbury, Samuel, 1806-1850.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Analysis of the mineral waters of Avon, Livingston county, New York. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    river, in a rich alluvion of black loam, near which a considera- ble stream of water, formed by the union of two smaller streams, called the Great and Little Conesus, empties itself into the river. The vallies of these united streams are narrow, with steep and precipitous banks, a short distance from the springs ; and present to the geologist, bituminous shale, superincumbent upon transition li-nestone. The mountain limestone is found in the bed of the smaller of these streams. Upon the higher ground, at a distance from the river, boulders of every variety of size are found strewed ; and vegetable remains have been found from fifty to an hundred feet below the surface, showing evident indi- cations of diluvial action. The banks of these two streams are, in many places, from one to two hundred feet in height. The Great Conesus is from eight to nine miles in length, and takes its rise from the Conesus lake, which is nine miles long and from a mile to a mile and a half wide. LOWER SPRING. This Spring, in its original state, formed a large pool of per- haps fifty feet in diameter ; in this the early inhabitants were in the habit of bathing. It was the one first made use of; and either from its less disagreeable taste or less nauseating qualities, it has always been more resorted to than the rest, and has been gener- ally more effective. Dr. Francis, who has for many years re- commended these waters, gives a decided preference to this spring. It seems to me, however, better to use those which ap- pear best adapted to the disease which it is proposed to treat, and to the age, sex, constitution, and habits of the patient : in most cases, the lower spring is undoubtedly superior. In the other springs, the hydrosulphur'.c acid is too abundant for most persons, and oftentimes occasions a distressing nausea and vertgo. The water of this spring seldom produces any nausea or vertigo, nor is it common for any unpleasant sensation of the stomach, to follow its use even in large quantities. It rises from a fissure in a 2