Visit to the Virginia Springs [pp. 613-616]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
say that it combines the valuable properties of the
White and Red Sulphur. This is probably true
to some extent. The BlueSulphuroperates upon
the liver with great energy, and at the same time
acts as a tonic. These are, respectively, qualities
of the White and Red Sulphur. The White Sul phur, although it scarcely ever fails to rectify de rangements of the liver, depletes, and generally to
some extent, produces debility. The latter effect,
we believe, is never produced by the Blue Sul phur, owing probably to its tonic properties. We
do not know, however, how far either has claim to
preference. As to the similarity between this
Spring and the Red Sulphur, we suppose it ascer tained that wherever there is a derangement of the
sanguiferous system, except where the lungs are
affected, the action of the Blue Sulphur is equally,
if not more salutary, than that of the Red. This
water-is, however, very exciting; perhaps even
more so than the White Sulphur, and should con sequently, like that Spring, be avoided by pulmo nary invalids. There is also an approximation in
the action of the Blue and Salt Sulphur waters.
Both of these Springs are efficacious in affections
of the stomach. Where the invalid retains a con siderable degree of vigor, or where the system is
irritable, the Salt Sulphur would be decidedly pre ferable, as that water occasions very little of the
unpleasant, and in such cases, perhaps injurious
excitement caused by the Blue Sulphur water.
Where dyspepsy has advanced so far as to occa sion extreme debility, probably the Blue Sulphur
should be resorted to, at least for a while, as that
water would sustain and strengthen the system, at
the same time that it removed the disease. These
remarks are the result of the observation of the
practical effects of these waters, and of the experience of others, without pretension to professional
skill. We believe, however, that they will be
found strictly correct.
The similarity between these Springs to which
we have alluded, need not be injurious to either,
whilst the probabilities in favor of the restoration
of an individual who comes to these mountains for
health, is increased by this circumstance. It is the
opinion of those who have been most at these watering places, that after two weeks constant use of
any water, it begins to lose its power on the system.* If the use is discontinued for a few days,
or if you resort to another Spring for a short time,
a return to the original Spring is attended with the
same effects as when first resorted to. A variety
of waters, therefore, even when their qualities are
to some extent similar, is a decided advantage.
The invalid who has gotten his system charged at
one Spring, can resort to another of a sufficiently
different character to secure the object of a change,
and yet resembling the original water sufficiently
* Perhaps the Red Sulphur is an exception.
to suit the necessities of his case. A turnpike
will soon be completed from Lewisburg to the
Blue Sulphur, and again connecting with the Ka nawha turnpike, west of the Springs, which will
render this place easily accessible.
After a sojourn of a week, I again turned my
face towards the Salt Sulphur. I had as a com panion an intelligent gentleman, extensively ac quainted with the country; and in accordance with
his proposition, we determined to reach that place
by a route somewhat different, and offering more
natural attractions than that by which I had come
over. In the course of the evening, we passed
through some of the finest farms in Western Vir ginia. I do not believe that the prairies of the
"far West" can exhibit more luxuriant fields of
corn than some of those in this section of Green brier. We passed the Muddy Creek Mountain at
a gap, and our way, although little more than an
indistinct bridle path, was more pleasant than that
by which I had before crossed. The view from
the highest point on this gap, almost defies descrip tion.
From the section of country which we had left
behind us, rose Keeny's Nob, a huge peak upon
which the Indians used to light signal fires, and
which derived its name from some romantic cir cumstance-rearing its summit far above the adja cent mountains, and spreading out its swelling
sides and the projections of its base over the neigh boring country; from this, and continuing round
to the right, before us, were alternate ridges and
vallies, covered with dense forest, as yet ap parently untouched by the woodman's axe, and
only broken by the Greenbrier river, whose high
and bleak naked cliffs could be seen at the distance
of some miles. Beyond, was Peter's Mountain,
coming down from the west, and running off to
the east, in a straight unbroken line. Immediately
before us, were the variegated fields of a few rich
grazing farms. Farther on, the mountain upon
which Lewisburg is situated, excluding the White
Sulphur from the view; and in the distance, the
"back bone" of the Alleghany, which you cross
five miles beyond the White Sulphur on the turnpike, whose line could be occasionally discerned as
it wound among the spurs of the mountain. To
the left lay some cultivated country, terminated
by ridges upon ridges of mountains. The sun
was in thelast hour of his daily course, and with his
evening rays illumined the hills, giving the varied
hues, from the brightest to the deepest green, to
the waste of "silent wilderness" which stretched
far away to that quarter of the horizon. We
were soon, however, obliged to relinquish this
scene, combining so much of the grand, beautiful
and sublime, and hasten down the mountain, in
order to get as far as possible through the worst
of the hills and hollows before night should overtake us.
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