THE RED SPRING.
This spring is located on Spring avenue, a short distance beyond the
Empire, at the junction of Geneva and Warren streets. Red Spring Co.,
proprietors.
[Illustration: RED SPRING.]
History.
It was discovered soon after the Revolutionary war, by a Mr. Norton,
who had been driven from the place from fear of hostile Indians
during the war, and who returned about the year 1784 to re-occupy and
improve some buildings erected by him for the accommodation of a few
invalids who came to visit the High Rock, Flat Rock, President and Red
Springs. No other springs were known at that time, or for many years
after. Nearly a hundred years ago the first bath-house ever built at
Saratoga was erected at the Red Spring, and was used for the cure of
all kinds of eruptive and skin diseases for many years. Through the
neglect of the owners, this spring, with others near, was allowed to
fall into an impure condition; the tubes rotted out, and for a number
of years the water of the Red Spring was only used for washing sore
eyes, bad ulcers, and the cure of salt rheum, etc. The springs of
Ballston, and the valuable qualities of Congress water, drew public
attention away from these springs, and it was only a few years since
that the present owners of the spring retubed and secured this
valuable water for public use. The reputation it had long sustained as
a powerful alterative for the cure of blood diseases was confirmed;
and for several years this water has been used with growing confidence
and wonderful results.
Properties.
In a general sense its therapeutic effects are alterative, and it
possesses a particular adaptation to inflamed mucous surfaces;
scrofula in all its forms, dyspepsia in its worst conditions, and
kidney difficulties, with every kind of skin disease, including salt
rheum, which it never fails to cure, are prominent among the diseases
cured by the use of this water.
Its general effect is to tone up the system, regulate the secretions
and vitalize the blood, thereby creating a better appetite and better
assimilation.
The analysis of this water does not indicate any properties that can
account for its astonishing effects on disease, but they are supposed
to be owing to its _peculiar combination_. Scientific men, however,
differ in regard to this point and in regard to the analysis.
A greater number of _invalids_ are now using this water than from all
the other springs in the p
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