112
FRENCH LICK AND WEST BADEN SPRINGS.
These Springs are situated in French Lick township, in Orange county, and are about one mile apart. They are owned and controlled by separate parties. The French Lick Springs are owned by Dr. W. A. Bowles, who has leased them for a term of years to Messrs. Ryan and Tucker. The West Baden Springs are owned and under the control of Mr. H. Wilkins and his son-in-law, Mr. W. F. Osborn. These Springs are within fifteen miles of Shoals, on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and eighteen miles from Orleans, on the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad; from which points coaches are run daily to the springs. The water, at both French Lick and West Baden, issues from fractures in the lower carboniferous limestone, where it forms a junction with the millstone grit. This is the most common source of mineral water throughout the western country. Beginning with the French Lick, we have, in the hills above the Springs, forty to fifty feet of sandstone, beneath which

113
is seen four to eight feet of limestone, eroded and fissured at the outcrop, and containing large quantities of saline sulphuretted water, which breaks out in a multitude of places along the branch, and a number of them have been curbed with wood and stone, and each one is claimed to possess peculiar curative properties. A qualitative chemical examination, at the fountain head, revealed that they all contained the same elementary constituents, but in varying proportions. The principal constituents being:
Temperature of air, 93° F.; temperature of water, 56°.*
Numerous bubbles of sulpheretted hydrogen and carbonic acid gas, mixed with oxygen and nitrogen gas, were continually escaping from the water. I succeeded in collecting a small quantity which served for the analysis:
Free carbonic acid.
Free sulphydric acid.
Sulphuric acid.
Carbonic acid.
Hydrochloric acid.
Soda.
Potash.
Lime.
Magnesia.
Some bottles of water were collected from several of the Springs and sent to the laboratory for quantitative analysis, but I was unable, during the time allotted to chemical work in the laboratory, to make an analysis of more than one of the Springs, and selected, as the most important water, that taken from the Spring known as "Pluto's Well." The others will be analyzed during the progress of the survey.
Quantitative analysis of the water of French Lick Springs, taken from "Pluto's Well," given in parts in 1,000,000, or pounds in 100,000 gallons in the first column, and in grains in an imperial gallon in the second column.
___________________________________________________________________________
* The standard thermometer used at the Indian and Trinity Springs was accidentally broken, and the temperature here given was taken by a common thermometer obtained at the Springs.

S. G. R. --8

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The gaseous contents in one imperial gallon are represented in cubic inches: 
      Carbonic acid,     -     -     -   7.337
      Sulphydric acid,    -     -     -  6.717
      Oxygen,     -     -     -     -    5.407
      Nitrogen,    -     -     -    -   18.504
                                     ___________
              Total,    -    -    -     38.045
                                     ===========
Total solid matter in one gallon, 381.85 grains. 
                         PARTS IN 1,000,000, OR      GRAINS IN ONE
                        POUNDS IN 100,000 GALLONS.      GALLON.
    Silicic acid,     -     -     -      9.42            .6594   
    Oxide of iron,      -      -         1.90            .1330
    Lime,       -        -       -     675.92          47.3144
    Soda,      -       -       -      1140.20          79.8140
    Potash,      -      -      -        41.72           2.9204
    Magnesia,      -      -      -     723.26          50.6282
    Alumina,      -     -      -        48.10           3.3670
    Chlorine,      -       -     -    1185.96          83.0172
    Carbonic acid,     -      -        690.55          48.3385
    Sulphuric acid,     -      -       845.55          59.1885
    Iodides and Bromides,     -         trace            trace
                                     __________      ____________
            Total,     -      -       5362.58         375.3806
                                     ==========      ============
The above constituents are probably combined as follows: 

                         PARTS IN 1,000,000, OR      GRAINS IN ONE
                        POUNDS IN 100,000 GALLONS.      GALLON.
    Silicic acid,     -     -     -      9.42            .6594
    Oxide of iron,      -     -    -     1.90            .1330
    Sulphate of lime,     -       -    223.03          15.6121
    Sulphate of soda,     -      -      58.16           4.0712
    Sulphate of potash,      -          17.31           1.2117
    Sulphate of magnesia,      -       954.41          66.8087
    Sulphate of alumina,       -        85.46           5.9822
    Carbonate of lime,        -        574.00          40.1800  
    Carbonate of soda,    -      -      68.52           4.7964
    Carbonate of potash,      -         47.48           3.3236
115
    Carbonate of magnesia,     -       753.00          52.7100
    Chloride of calcium,      -        470.04          32.9028
    Chloride of sodium,      -        2027.04         141.8928
    Chloride of magnesia,     -         72.81           5.0967
    Iodides and Bromides,      -        trace            trace
                                     __________      ___________
           Total,     -      -        5362.58         375.3806
                                     ==========      ===========
This is a most excellent mineral water, and well deserves the celebrity which its hygenic virtues have gained for it. The hotel is pleasantly situated on elevated ground and contains a large number of well ventilated rooms, and is supplied with everything that is necessary to make guests comfortable. At the time of my visit, it was filled with a goodly number of invalids who expressed themselves as being benefited by the use of the water. I am under many obligations to Dr. Bowles and Messrs. Ryan & Tucker for kind attention while at the Springs.
West Baden Springs. -- These Springs are about one mile north of "French Lick Springs," in the valley of French Lick Creek. Here, also, the sulphur water breaks up in a great many places, at the junction of the millstone grit and the lower carboniferous limestone. Curbs have been placed around a number, and each one is supposed to have its peculiar virtues.
I made, at the fountain head, a qualitative analysis of the three that were most used, and found in all the same elementary constituents:
Temperature of the air, 93° F.; temperature of water, 55°.*
A whitish, slimy deposit is formed on the gum, mostly sulphur, with some oxide of iron.
Free gases:
Sulphydric acid.
Carbonic acid.
Oxygen.
Nitrogen.
Sulphuric acid.
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* Temperature taken with a common thermometer obtainen at the Springs.

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Hydrochloric acid.
Carbonic acid.
Soda.
Potash.
Lime.
Magnesia.
A number of bottles were filled with water from the different Springs and sent to the laboratory for quantitative analyses, but I could spare only the time to analyze one and selected for the purpose the water from the Spring with a stone curbing, as it appeared to be the most frequented.
The gaseous contents in one imperial gallon are represented in cubic inches: 
     Carbonic acid,      -      -      -      -    6.198
     Sulphydric acid,       -      -      -        5.931
     Oxygen,      -      -      -      -      -    2.093
     Nitrogen,       -      -      -      -        6.572
                                                ___________
              Total,     -     -     -     -      20.794
                                                ===========
The mineral constituents are given in parts in one million, or pounds in one hundred thousand gallons, in the first column, and in grains in one imperial gallon in the second: 
                             PARTS IN 1,000,000,OR,    GRAINS IN ONE
                              POUNDS IN 100,000 GALS.     GALLON.
    Silicic acid,      -      -      -     7.50            .5250
    Oxide of iron,         -       -       1.50            .1050
    Lime,      -      -       -      -   539.11          37.7377
    Soda,         -       -       -      765.26          53.5682
    Potash,    -     -      -      -      19.37           1.3559
    Magnesia,     -      -     -     -   610.76          42.7532
    Alumina,       -      -      -        43.50           3.0450
    Chlorine,       -       -      -     779.26          54.5482
    Carbonic acid,        -       -      675.21          47.2647
    Sulphuric acid,    -     -     -     601.30          42.0910
    Iodides and bromides,      -          trace.          trace.
                                      ____________     ____________
           Total,      -      -         4042.77         282.9939
                                      ============     ============
The above constituents are, probably combined as follows:
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                             PARTS IN 1,000,000,OR,    GRAINS IN ONE
                              POUNDS IN 100,000 GALS.     GALLON.
    Silicic acid,      -      -      -     7.50            .5250 
    Oxide of iron,         -       -       1.50            .1050
    Sulphate of lime,       -      -     191.70          13.4190
    Sulphate of soda,      -      -       53.28           3.7296
    Sulphate of potash,    -     -        23.48           1.6436
    Sulphate of magnesia,       -        619.83          43.3881
    Sulphate of alumina,    -      -      77.28           5.4096
    Carbonate of lime,     -      -      709.43          49.6601
    Carbonate of soda,      -      -      19.08           1.3356
    Carbonate of potash,         -        10.71            .7497
    Carbonate of magnesia,      -        671.48          47.0036
    Chloride of calcium,    -      -     124.78           8.7346
    Chloride of sodium,      -      -   1337.18          93.6026
    Chloride of magnesium,      -        195.54          13.6878
    Iodides and bromides,     -    -     trace.           trace.
                                       ___________     ____________
           Total,    -      -     -     4042.77         282.9939
                                       ===========     ============
This water, judging from the analysis, possesses the same medicinal properties as that of the French Lick Springs, but it contains less free gases and a less quantity of solid constituents in a gallon; being a difference in degree rather than quality.
The lithographic view at page 112, presents a view of the springs and adjoining grounds. It was gratuitously furnished by the proprietor, Mr. H. Wilkins.*
It will be seen from this view, that the large and commodious hotel is situated on a hill some fifty feet above the valley of Lick creek, in the midst of a charming grove of native forest trees. The grounds around the hotel and springs are tastefully laid out and well kept. All the comforts that surround the most fashionable watering places are to be found at West Baden, and the gentlemanly proprietor does all in his power to please his visitors.
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* I promised the proprietors of the French Lick Springs that if they would furnish a photographic view of their Springs, that it should be lithographed and published with the analysis; but it has not been received.

1870 Table of Contents

Geology Library, Indiana University, Bloomington