BRIEG.

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extremely clear, without taste or odour, and retains its transpa-rency when bottled. After much rain the springs are turbid. Inthe emetic spring no constituent parts have yet been found thatwould account for its peculiar property. Two hundred pacesfrom the hot baths is a spring of ice-cold water, which flows onlyfrom May to September.

The bathing-houses are wretched wooden huts only half-roofedin ; the interior is divided into four square reservoirs, in each ofwhich upwards of twenty people may sit at once; for it is herecommon for persons of both sexes to bathe together, nay una-voidable, in consequence of the system pursued. The practiceis for the bather to begin with remaining in the water half anhour, increasing the time by degrees to eight hours a day, (namelyfrom four o’clock in the morning till nine or ten, and from twoto six in the afternoon) till a violent cutaneous eruption appears ;after which the time is gradually diminished. Without societyor amusement it is not likely that any person would submit tosuch a prescription. Double dresses of thick linen and woollenstuff prevent any violation of decorum. The Gentlemens’Bath, as it is called, is the best. It has a closet for dressing andundressing ; the bathers, on descending into the water, sit downupon benches placed round the side of the bath, or low chairs madefor the purpose. Hot pure spring w'ater is constantly runninginto each reservoir from a pipe, at which each bather can fill hisglass for drinking whenever he pleases. Many have before thema small floating table from which they breakfast, or upon whichthey lay glasses, snuff-boxes, handkerchiefs,books, newspapers andthe like. The young females decorate them with Alpine flowers,which, though half withered recover their life and freshness in thehot spring water. A cross passage separates the four reservoirs,each of which is surrounded with a light railing. Hither personswho do not intend to bathe come to visit their friends and ac-quaintance in the water, and to shorten the time for them byconversation.