THE MEDICINAL SPRINGS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 2I9 



of Windhuk. In the table of ion equivalents the silicic acid has 

 been calculated both as the ortho- and meta-acid. 



The values for the ion-equivalents are obtained as usual b}' 

 dividing the weight of each ion (expressed in grams per 100,000) 

 by its atomic weight (or the sum of the atomic weights), and 

 multiplying by the valency in order to obtain monovalent ions. 



Table of Ion Equivalents. 



Cations. Anions. 



Ka 0.9669 X I = 0.9669 HCO. 0.40CS4 X I = 0.4084 



K 0.10099 X I == 0.10099 SO^ 0.166 X 2 = 0.3320 



Mg 0.04278 X 2 -- 0.08556 CI 0.1830 X T -- 0.1830 



Ca 0.0892 X 2 = 0.T784 SiO, 0.1476 X 2 = 0.2952 



Al 0.0137 X 3 =--^ 0.041 1 or(Sir)^ 0.1476 X 4 = C).5904) 



1.3729 1. 2 186 



or 1.5138 



Dissolved Gases. — Apart from the carbon dioxide previously 

 referred to, the water contains dissolved sulphuretted hydrogen in 

 small quantity, which intermittently rises to the surface in 

 bubbles. 



The radioactivity also fluctuates between the limits 3 and 10 

 Mache units. 



Classification. — The spring is described as a radioactive 

 alkaline-muriatic-sullidic bitter water. In my previous paper I 

 classified the springs only according to the principal divisions, 

 there being hardly sufficient data to justify the introduction of 

 additional mixed groups. In view of the ])redominance of 

 sodium bicarbonate, and of the presence of appreciable quantities 

 of the bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium, the inclusion of 

 these springs in the group olf alkaline waters rather than in any 

 other seems justified. 



Therapeutic Properties. — Medical men who have had ex- 

 perience of the effect of these springs are agreed as to their 

 efficacy, and the concensus of opinion is that their use is indicated 

 in cases of digestive and metabolic disorders, of catarrhs of the 

 respiratory organs, and female complaints. 



The other two springs have also been examined, and do not 

 differ materially from the one described. 



Apart from geysers, the Windhuk springs belong to the 

 hottest springs known. The well-known Karlsbad Springs are 

 only a fraction of a degree hotter than the average temperature 

 of the Pahlquelle (73.8" as compared to 73.5°). 



{ /' ) (ikOSS-BAKMEN. 



The thermal spring on the farm Gross-Barmen (District 

 Okahandja ) has a temperature of 64-65°, a feebly alkaline 

 reaction, and smells and tastes strongly of suljihuretted hydrogen. 



