Observations on the mineral waters in the south western part of Virginia : in a series of letters / By a physician of Philadelphia [William E. Horner].

  • Horner, William E. (William Edmonds), 1793-1853.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the mineral waters in the south western part of Virginia : in a series of letters / By a physician of Philadelphia [William E. Horner]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Muriate of Soda, Sulphur, 6.09 .52” Another fountain near this, called the Sweet Spring, appears to have about one half of the strength of this, judging from the colour of the precipitate formed by the aforesaid solution of sugar of lead and the subnitrate of Bismuth. In other respects it is similar. Aug. 21st. Visited the Red Sulphur, distant sixteen miles from the Salt Sulphur. The road is extremely hilly and bad, and abounds constantly in precipitous inclinations on the sides, which make it trying to the fortitude of persons not accustomed to mountain passes. This spring is situated in a deep glen, made by abrupt mountains of four or five hundred feet in height, whicli overhang it so closely that the sun must have several degrees, from fifteen to twenty probably, of elevation for its rays to reach it directly. There are two fountains here a few feet apart and of nearly equal taste. Their temperature is 68°. Their water produces no effect upon a solution of Prussiate of Potash, capable of indi¬ cating the presence of iron. But a very copious black precipi¬ tate is formed with subnitrate of Bismuth, also with a solution of sugar of lead, exhibiting a dose of sulphuretted hydrogen gas but little inferior to the White Sulphur, and superior to that of the Salt Sulphur. About twenty grains of a precipitate form the residuum after evaporating a quart of water of either spring. A few yards from the springs their water is received into a large box, the bottom of which is covered with a black slimy de- posite, on the top of which is a thin layer of sediment of a brilliant red or lake colour, the reflection from which is very strong when the sun shines upon it. The spring has been named from this sedi¬ ment, the nature of which is undetermined; some of it was brought to Philadelphia for analysis, but it had undergone such changes from delay or agitation on the route, as to make its character undistinguishable. The water of the Red Sulphur appears to contain but little besides sulphuretted hydrogen, it shows traces of muriate of soda and of iron.—-The muddy deposite found in the bottom of the box is curious—it seems to consist in some measure of a precipitate formed by an union of the iron of the wa¬ ter with the tannin of the oak leaves or other vegetable matter which falls into the box.—-The red precipitate consists perhaps of some of the combinations of iron. The Red Sulphur has been frequented for forty or fifty years, but its retired situation, the difficulty of approaching it, and its location in a mountain dell, kept the number ofdts company at a small amount, till within a short period, when it fell into the hands of its present enterprising proprietor Mr. Burke. Sens! -