THE BATHING AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS.
85
bably is bat an accidental ingredient, as upon dry destilla- tion the granite rocks of Wildbad equally yicld this sub- stance.
By placing glass-tubes into the principal spring, in Order to ascertain the force witli which the water ascends, it was found, that the nature of the spring in this respect was, on a small scale, similar to that of the Carlsbad Sprudel, inasmuch as the water rose by degrees to the height of thirty-five frencli inches, wliere it remained stationary, while in general the deptb of water in the basin, sand and all, from the origin of the spring to the level, does not exceed twenty-ninc inches.
As has already becn stated, the tcmperature of the Wildbad sources differs from 88° to 100° of Fahrenheit in the several springs. This temperature never varies, and neither the many changes in the atmospheric air, nor the internal comniotions of our planet Iiave ever been known to possess any influence upon it. Dr. Gessner, who visited Wildbad ao. 1745, more than a Century back, found the temperature of the Fürstenbad 94° of Fahrenheit, = 27,56° of Rcaumur; in the Hoelle it was 100° F. = 30,22° R.; in the Frauenbad 93° F. = 27,11° R. , and in the horse-bath, which lay on the site of the present Catherine-baths, the thermometer indicated 84° F. or 23,11° R. The low temperature found in the latter, howevcr, as has since been proved, rcsulted from the badness of the contrivances for collecting the water; — the pipcs were nearly choked with rubbish, and the basin leaked on all sides. Since these impediments were removed, the waters of this source Iiave ever retained their proper temperature of 91® F.
All medical men who Iiave liad occasion to speak of Wildbad from their own experience, agree that the wonder- ful eures the Wildbad waters are known to have effected,