286. BORSET WATER is of two kinds. One of these resembles the water of Aix in every respect, except as to the impregnation of sulphur, which is much weaker: its temperature is 132°. The other contains no sulphur: it is, however, equally alkaline, and the heat is as high as 152°, which much exceeds the hottest of the waters of Aix.
Both these waters are used by fullers and cloth-workers, on account of the convenience they afford, without expense, of a sufficiency of hot and somewhat alkaline fluid which is well adapted for the cleansing of woollen cloth.
In the latter of the above-mentioned springs a large portion of earth is suspended. This, as the water cools, is deposited, and forms hard incrustations of considerable thickness round every substance with which it comes in contact. It is not, however, on this account found less useful for the scouring of cloth, boiling of vegetables for the table, or any of those domestic purposes for which soft water is required.
In this spring there is a considerable portion of carbonic acid gas, or fixed air ([26]), which is continually escaping from the fresh water, and is in sufficient quantity to corrode, in a short time, the leaden covering that is used for the vapour baths, and any iron within its reach.
After having supplied several baths, the stream flows into a large fish pond, where it is still of blood heat. In this pond we are informed that carp and tench multiply very fast, and grow to an enormous size; but that their flesh is soft and without flavour, until they have been removed, for about six months, into a pond of cold water, where they become perfectly firm and good for the table.
In their medicinal application these waters are chiefly employed externally, and their great heat allows of every convenience for vapour, hot, warm, and tepid bathing. The village of Borset, or Bordscheit, in which they are found, is situated about a quarter of a mile south of Aix-la-Chapelle ([285]).
5. HOT, SALINE, HIGHLY CARBONATED CHALYBEATE WATER.
287. THE VICHY WATERS are hot, saline, and chalybeate. They vary in some degree in the different springs, have a salt and somewhat bitter taste, and a considerable pungency of smell. They are alkaline, and about the temperature of 120°.
There are, at Vichy, a small town on the banks of the river Allier, about 180 miles south-east of Paris, no fewer than six different springs of hot water, which vary somewhat in their temperature, and in the proportion of their foreign contents. The valley in which this town is situated is highly fertile and beautiful, and abounds in vineyards and fruit-trees.
It is remarkable that sheep, cows, and other animals, crowd to drink this water with great eagerness, and even to lick the stones and sides of the channel through which it flows. Their partiality for it is so great that, at certain times, they are known to swim across the river Allier, in considerable numbers together, without even tasting of that water, and to proceed, without interruption onward, until they reach this their favourite beverage.