One mile nearer the White Sulphur are the Red Springs, or Sweet
Chalybeate. This place has of late years been acquiring considerable
notoriety.
About 200 persons can be comfortably accommodated here. "The waters are
said to be good in neuralgia, and in rheumatic complaints. There are
two springs here, the one near the hotel, essentially the same with the
Sweet Springs, the other containing a larger quantity of iron, which
being deposited about the spring in the form of red precipitate, has
given the name of Red Spring. Professor Rogers' analysis of this water
gives:--
"1st. Solid matter procured by evaporation from 100 cubic inches,
weighed, after being greatly dried at 112°, 40.76.
"A portion of this is combined water.
"2d. Quantity of each solid ingredient estimated as perfectly free from
water:--
In 100 cubic inches.
Sulphate of lime, 14.233
Sulphate of magnesia, 3.107
Sulphate of soda, 1.400
Carbonate of lime, 1.166
Chloride of sodium, 0.037
Chloride of magnesium, 0.680
Chloride of calcium, 0.010
Sesquioxide of iron, 0.320
Organic matter in small quantities.
Iodine, a mere trace.
"The iron is no doubt dissolved in the water as a carbonate.
"3d. Volume of each of the gases contained in a free state, in 100
cubic inches of water:--
Carbonic acid, 46.10 cubic inches.
Nitrogen, 2.57 " "
Oxygen, .20 " "
Sulphuretted hydrogen, a trace,
too small to be mentioned.
"4th. Composition of 100 inches of the mixed gases rising in bubbles in
the Spring:--
Nitrogen, 62.5
Carbonic acid, 37.5
"The temperature of the Red Spring is from 77° to 80° Fahrenheit."