REPORT ON MINERAL AND THERMAL WATERS. 81 



had likewise been confounded with the sulphur given out bj' the 

 same springs. 



In a recent visit to Croft I found this substance in abundance, 

 and traced it as far as the water flowing from the sprhig retained 

 its sulphureous odour, but not when the latter was dissipated. 



Mr. Dillwyn, in his work on British Confervae*, notices the 

 same as occurring, not only at Croft, but likewise at Harrogate 

 in Yorkshire, and Llanwrtyd in South Wales, all of them springs 

 of similar composition, and determined the substance to be a 

 Conferva, which, from its whiteness, he denominated Nivea. 



In the thermal spring of Bath a Conferva of a diiferent species 

 abounds, which, from its colour and appearance, used to be 

 called Bath sulphur, although not a particle of this latter prin- 

 ciple exists in these waters. 



It seems, therefore, to be generally agreed, that the mucous 

 matter found in the mineral waters of this country is owing to 

 the generation of organized beings ; but with respect to that 

 met with amongst thermal and other springs in various parts of 

 the Continent, no such correspondence of opiuion subsists. 



On the one hand, Bory St. Vincent, in a memoir " Sur la 

 Botanique des Eauxf," appears to atti'ibute it in every instance 

 to the growth of a certain class of Confervse, to which he has 

 given the name of Anabaina. 



To this opinion also M. Delarive, in his memoir on the springs 

 of St. GervaisJ, adheres ; and I am informed by Professor De- 

 candoUe, that the waters of Acqui in Piedmont were examined 

 by him with reference to this point, and that he always found 

 himself able to detect in the so-called animal matter which 

 aboui'ds there an organic structure. 



Many chemists, on the other hand, have taken up a contrary 

 view of this subject, amongst whom I may instance Professor 

 Anglada|| of Montpellier, who, in his elaborate work on the 

 mineral waters of the Eastern Pyrenees, has given a detailed 

 description of its properties, as presented in the localiiies he has 

 specified. 



The substance in question he denominates (flairine, from its Described, 

 glutinous or jelly-like appearance. It was observed by him in 

 cold as well as hot sulphureous springs, in all nearly fifty in 

 number. It occurs in flocks, in threads, having the character 

 of mucus, or of membrane, in compact concentric coats or 



• P. 54. 



•j- Bulletin de la Societe Philomaiique, et Dictionnaire Classinue d'Hisioire 

 Nalurelle, art. Arthrodi-e. 

 X Bibliotheqiie Univnrselle, vol. xxii. || MSmoh-es pcur servir, &c., vol. i. 



