Till-: MKIMCINAI. STRIXCS oF SOl'Tll Al'klCA. 535 



4. Montagu. 



The only one of the springs of tiiis group which has attained 

 to more than a local reputation is that at Montagu. The si)ring 

 appears to have been known to and frequented by the liottentots 

 and Businnen before the advent of the white man, but little was 

 done to make it attractive until it was acquired by the New Cape 

 Central Railway in 1907. The company has erected a bath-house 

 and a comfortable hotel, a glass-covered verandah connecting 

 the two. In addition to the bath-house, which contains eight 

 separate bath-rooms, a swimming-bath has Ijeen constructed. Of 

 late radio-active peat baths have been installed, and the erection 

 of an inhalatorium is contemplated. The water is strongly radio- 

 active, and is compared in its composition and nature with the 

 waters of Buxton in Derbyshire. Pfiiffers in Switzerland, and 

 Gastein in Austria. As far as its radio-activity is concerned, it 

 is said to be stronger than any of the Ruro|)ean springs with the 

 exception of Gastein. Excellent results are recorded in the 

 treatment of sciatica, but the \\ater is also claimed to be a specific 

 for rhetunatism. neuralgia, and nervous exhaustion, eczema, 

 acute indigestion, and gravel. The gas. of which an analysis is 

 appended, bubbles freely through the water. Medical treatment 

 is in the hands of Dr. C. H. Muller. of Montagu, and his \vife, 

 who is also a Doctor of Medicine. Detailed information can be 

 obtained from a panqihlet issued by the New^ Ca])e Central 

 Railway Company. The spring rises from northward-dip])ing 

 Table Mountain sandstone, and its temperature is 112.3° F. 

 The attached analyses by Prof. Hahn of the peat used at Mon- 

 tagu show it to be very similar to that em))loye(l at Franzensbad 

 and Karlsbad. 



Dark. Brown. Fight brown. 



Sample F Sample IF Samj^le TIF 

 Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 



Organic substance 84.81 84.25 85.02 



Ash 15.19 15.75 14-98 



Ether extract i .27 1.17 0.95 



Sulphur trioxide 9.16 8.85 8.45 



Ferric oxide 8.31 7 - 9^ 8 . 38 



Humous substance 75- 09 71-^.5 '^^■83 



The gas issuing with the water consists of: Oxygen 10.5 

 per cent., nitrogen 87.6 ])er cent., and carbon dioxide 0.6 per 

 cent. 



Table ok Ion-Fq['i\-alexts ( Monox'alf.nt Ions). 

 Cations Anions. 



K 0.009 CI 0-037 



Na 0.038 SO^ 0.034 



Fi 0.0002 HCO.. 0.030 



Ca 0.031 



Mg 0.022 



Fe o.ooi 



Al 0.057 



Total 0.1582 Total o.iot 



i 



