HOT SPRINGS Analyses of the Waters of The Hot Springs of Arkansas Geological Sketch of Hot Springs, Arkansas

THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE WATERS OF THE HOT SPRINGS OF ARKANSAS.

In the following pages there appears first a list giving the name and location of each spring and the date on which the sample was taken for analysis. This is followed by tables giving the temperature and flow of the springs. Then follow tables giving the detailed results of the analyses. On pages 34 and 35 is given the amount of inorganic matter present, by radicles; on pages 36 and 37 is given the per cent of total inorganic matter in solution, by radicles; on pages 38 and 39 is given the amount of water used for each determination; on pages 40 and 41 is given the amount of inorganic matter, by hypothetical combinations; on pages 42 and 43 is given the per cent of total inorganic matter present, by hypotheticaL combinations; on page 44 are given the gases present.

List of springs and date on which sample was taken.

l. Egg Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

2. Arsenic Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain under wall of Arlington Hotel; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

3. Arlington Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

4. Cliff Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, under wall of Arlington Hotel; sample for analysis was taken January 9, 1901.

5. Avenue Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis was taken January 9, 1901.

6. Boiler House Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, in Cellar of Arlington Hotel; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

7. Imperial Spring (north), on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

8. Crystal Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

9. Rector Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

10. Cave Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

11. Little Iron Spring (north), at base of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

12. Little Geyser Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

13. Little Iron Spring (south), at base of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

14. Ral Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

15. Big Iron Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

16. Imperial Spring (south), on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

17. Arsenic Spring (north), at base of Hot Springs Mountain, just back of Arlington Hotel; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

18. Hitchcock Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

19. Sumpter Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

20. Superior Spring (north), on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

21. Alum Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, at edge of sidewalk on Central Avenue; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

22. Superior Spring (south), on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

23. Twin Spring (north), on side of Hot Springs Mountain, in the roadway; sample for analysis taken January 9, 1901.

24. Twin Spring (south), on side of Hot Springs Mountain, at side of road near Arlington Hotel site; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

25. Old Hale Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, under Hale bathhouse; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

26. Palace Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

27. Tunnel Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, in a cluster of springs; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

28. Maurice Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, in a cluster of springs; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

29. Dripping Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, flows from side of cliff; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

30. Arch Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, in arch of creek under Central Avenue; its level is so low that the water can not be utilized; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

31. Haywood Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain, near road; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

32. John W. Noble Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

33. Lamar Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

34. H. W. Wiley Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901

35. Ed Hardin Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

36. Eisele Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

37. Stevens Springs, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

38. Horseshoe Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, under Horseshoe bathhouse; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

39. Army and Navy Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

40. W. J. Little Spring, on side of Hot Springs Mountain; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

41. Mud Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, under free bathhouse; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

42. Magnesia Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, under Magnesia bathhouse; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

43. Reservoir Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, in back yard of superintendent's office; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901

44. Liver Spring (cold), on side of Hot Springs Mountain, abutting Fountain Street, between entrance to mountain roadway and superintendent's residence, now known as the "General Kelley" Spring; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

45. Kidney Spring (cold), on side of Hot Springs Mountain, abutting Fountain Street, between entrance to mountain roadway and superintendent's residence, now known as the "Colonel Hamblen" Spring; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

46. Fordyce Spring, at base of Hot Springs Mountain, under Palace bathhouse; sample for analysis taken May 19, 1901.

47.¹ Spring on the side of Hot Springs Mountain, above Arlington Hotel site; present flow very small.

48.¹ Spring on the side of Hot Springs Mountain, above Arlington Hotel site; present flow very small.

49.¹ New spring on Hot Springs Mountain, above Big Iron bathhouse site and driveway; has large flow and supplies a quantity of water for free bathhouse.

50.¹ New spring on the Maurice bathhouse site, discovered during the reconstruction of the Maurice bathhouse.

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SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF ANALYSIS.

On looking over the results of analysis of the various hot springs it will be seen that the total mineral matter in solution is very nearly the same in all except springs 12, 20, 27, and 43. Spring 12 is nearly cold, and contains only 170.1 parts of mineral matter per million; spring 20 contains only 231 parts of mineral matter per million; spring 27 only 258.7 parts of mineral matter per million, while spring 43 contains the relatively large amount of 310 parts of mineral matter per million. The average amount in all the springs is between 275 and 280 parts per million, seldom falling below 270 parts per million or going above 290 parts per million.

As to the percentage composition of the mineral matter in each hot spring the results are very much the same, except in springs 12, 27, 37, 41, and 43. Spring 12 has a higher percentage of silica and sulphuric acid than the average, and a lower percentage of bicarbonic acid and calcium; spring 27, a higher percentage of silica and a lower percent age of bicarbonic acid and calcium; springs 37 and 41, a higher percentage of sulphuric acid; and spring 43 a lower percentage of silica, bicarbonic acid, and magnesium, and a much higher percentage of sulphuric acid, potassium, and sodium. Although the springs mentioned above vary to some extent from the other springs in the amount and composition of their mineral matter contained in solution, this variation is not enough, in the author's opinion, to make any difference in their medicinal value except in the cases of springs 12 and 43, the first of which is markedly weaker in medicinal constituents than the other springs, and the second of which has much more of those salts present which have a laxative effect.

From what has already been said, combined with the analyses of these waters, it will at once be seen why they have been used with such excellent results in the treatment of rheumatism, gout, syphilis, etc. We may sum up under two heads:

(1) The waters are hot, and consequently possess the medicinal value of all thermal waters, i. e., when used as a bath, in the ordinary manner followed in such cases, they stimulate the flow of sweat and unne, and thus give the system a thorough washing out each day. In this manner uric acid and syphilitic poisons are removed from the body. Mercury and other metallic poisons are also removed, in consequence of which much larger doses of mercury can be given to the patient than would otherwise be possible.

(2) All of these springs contain quite large amounts of calcium and magnesium bicarbonates. The calcium and magnesium salts of uric acid are much more soluble than the uric acid itself. Taking these two facts into consideration, it seems plausible to assume that some of the curative effects of these waters is due to the formation of the more soluble compounds, calcium and magnesium urate, which can more easily be eliminated from the system than the uric acid itself.