5316 THE MEDICINAL SI'RINGS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



5. Barry dale. 



The VVarm-Waterl>erg spring ( Barrydale ) rises from the 

 east end of an anticHne with bent axis in the Table Mountain 

 sandstone. I have not been able to get definite information about 

 its temperature other than that the water is uncomfortably warm 

 to the touch. Medicinally the spring is said to be excellent, but 

 nothing is done to exploit it. 



6. 7^ ark a Bridge. 



( )n the farm formerly called Driefontein. but now known as 

 Tarka Bridge ( District Cradock ) there are several warm springs, 

 which appear formerly to have had some little reputation as a 

 cure, but which have now fallen into disuse. Some years ago 

 several boreholes were sunk on the farm, which yield water of 

 constant temperature. In all the boreholes the water comes up 

 accompanied by a large quantity of inflammable gas. In one of 

 the boreholes (temperature 80.4° F. ) there is a regular daily 

 variation in the amount of water.* 



B. Sulphur Springs. 



7. Alnval North. 



The springs, which are situated about a mile from the centre 

 of the town, emanate from nearly horizontal sandstones and 

 shales of the Upper Beaufort series, v/ith an average temperature 

 of 95° F. There is a small dyke of dolerite 100 yards below the 

 spring's. They issue into a small lake, which is utilised as an 

 oj^en-air swimming-bath. The daily yield, irrespective of the 

 season, is about 1,000,000 gallons. The overflow is carried into 

 the towm in a masonry furrow, and is used for irrigation pur- 

 ])oses. A bath-house, containing a large swimming-bath and 

 several well-e(juipped bath-rooms, is situated between the source 

 of the s])rings and the town. In addition to ordinary baths, pro- 

 vision is made here for electric baths of various kinds. The 

 bath-house is tmder the control of an experienced mavSseiu-. Con- 

 siderable (|uantities of gas issue from the eves of the springs. 

 Whilst this yas is strons^ly radio-acti\e, the water is onlv slightly 

 so. 



According to Prof. liahn"s analysis, the gas consists of: 

 Oxygen 5.4 per cent. ; nitrogen, argon, and helium ()4.6 i)er cent. ; 

 sul])huretted hydrogen, trace. 



'i'he amount of sulphm-etted liydrogcn dissolved in the 

 water is astonishingly small, and alkaline suli>hides are alto- 

 gether absent. The amount of free carbon dioxide in solution 

 is 7.4875 grams per 100,000. The municii)ality has issued an 

 illustrated pam])hlct with detailed information about the town 

 and the springs. 



* Andrew Young. " A Subterranean Tide in tlie Karroo." Trans. 

 /\'oyal ,S\)(-, of S. .Ifrira. 3.(ioi,^), fi], 6i-ro6. 



