- description
- # CHAPTER 85. The Fountain.
## Overview
This is chapter 85, titled "The Fountain.", from the text file "moby_dick.txt". It spans from line 14424 to line 14610 of the source file.
## Context
This chapter is part of "BOOK III. (_Duodecimo_), CHAPTER III. (_Mealy-mouthed Porpoise_)" and is contained within the larger collection "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)". It follows "[CHAPTER 84. Pitchpoling.](arke:01KG8AM9QPS70REJ6JPGG4NTZ7)" and precedes "[CHAPTER 86. The Tail.](arke:01KG8AM9QN704AKJS0W1C1Z4DH)". The text was extracted from the file "[moby_dick.txt](arke:01KG89J198KE6FY8WPVJQQRCZ6)".
## Contents
Chapter 85, "The Fountain.", discusses the nature of whale spouts. It delves into the biological necessity of whales breathing air, their unique respiratory system involving a spiracle, and the scientific debate surrounding whether their spouts are composed of water, vapor, or a mixture. The chapter explores the challenges faced by whalers in understanding and dealing with the spout, noting its potential toxicity and the difficulty in definitively identifying its composition. It concludes with a philosophical reflection on the whale's "ponderous and profound" nature, likening its contemplative exhalations to the deep thoughts of great thinkers. The chapter is divided into four chunks, detailing these aspects.
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- CHAPTER 85. The Fountain.
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- CHAPTER 85. The Fountain.