SARATOGA COUNTY, in New-York, situated on the west side of the Hudson river, north of Albany County. The area is about 772 square miles, or 494,080 acres. The population in 1820, was 36,052. The im proved land amounted to 219,467 acres. It abounds with limestone, some iron ore, marl, and has several streams, and small lakes. There are 60 grist-mills, 159 saw-mills, 2 41 fulling-mills, 45 carding machines, 11 cotton and woollen factories, 5 trip-ham mers, 13 distilleries, and 8 potash works, one brewe ry, and several tanneries.—Spdford's Ga zetteer, 1824.
Saratoga County will be forever famous in Ameri can history, by reason of its having been the scene of several hard fought battles between the British army under General Burgoyne, and the northern American army under General Gates, and for the capitulation of the former on the 17th October, 1777, when 5,763 troops laid down their arms on the banks of the river Hudson, near the mouth of Fish Creek; if to this num ber.be added the killed, wounded, and captured in the several actions previously to the 17th October, amounting to near 5000, the loss of the British must have been upwards of ten thousand men. Bur goyne's narrative of his expedition, containing also the examination of the witnesses by the committee of the British Ilouse of Commons on his trial, give a very interesting account of his campaign. In Wil kinson's Memoirs, may be seen the particulars of the negotiation for the surrender, in which the author had a large share.
The mineral waters of the village of "Saratoga Springs," are, with those of the neighbouring village of Ball-town, the most celebrated places of resort for invalids, and tourists, in the United States: The " Congress Spring" is the one most generally used. According to the analysis of Dr. Steel, a respectable physician of the village, a gallon of the water contains the following ingredients: The temperature of the water is uniformly at all seasons 52° of Fahrenheit's thermometer. Its specific gravity, by repeated trials, was found by Dr. Meade, to be as 1012 to 1000, which is much greater than that of Ball-town. Great quantities of gas are emit
ted from the bottom of the well, and passing through the water, burst on the surface. These bubbles are carbonic acid gas. When a glass of the water is first taken from the spring, it is perfectly clear and trans parent; minute air bubbles are seen extricating from it, many of which, in a few minutes, adhere to the in side of the glass. The taste of the water is highly saline, but brisk and pungent; has no sensible chaly beate taste, and no smell. After a little use, its taste is by no means unpleasant, on the contrary, it is thought by many a most agreeable drink. The first effect of it when taken into the stomach, is an exhili ration of spirits, and a slight giddiness; and if three tumblers be taken early in the morning or at noon, will in an hour or two open the bowels; exercise pro motes their operation, and should be taken between each draught. If these should not produce the effect, me dical advice ought to be taken as to the propriety of increasing the quantity, as injury may be sustained by an imprudent use of the waters. Dr. Ilosack of New York mentions three cases in point, Med. Essays vol. ii. p. 313. The waters also promote urine. There are several other springs in the town, called the Co lumbian, Flat Rock, Iligh Rock, Hamilton, and Pre sident. The first and second are acidulous chalybcates, the three last are saline, and also contain iron, soda, and magnesia.
The Congress Spring water is singularly beneficial in cases of general debility, in old liver complaints, derangement of the biliary secretion, the fashionable disease dyspepsia, and in affections of the kidneys. In the gravel, they are singularly beneficial. The water is bottled to a great extent, and sent to all parts of the United States, and the West Indies. Meade on the Mineral Waters of and Saratoga, Philadelphia, 1817. Hosack's Medical Essays, vol. ii. New-York, 1824. Dr. Steel on the Geology of Sara toga County, in Memoirs of the Board of .dgrieulture of New-Fork, vol. ii. Albany, 1823.