392 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 
none of the samples were sufficient to allow the amount of this 
element to be estimated ; but, perhaps, on some future occasion 
it may be possible to bring away a larger supply of the water, or 
in default of that, the residue left by the careful evaporation (on 
the spot) of a fair quantity of the water. 
Lithium was formerly regarded as a very rare element, but the 
spectroscope shows that, although it only occurs in small 
quantities, it is one of the most widely-distributed elements, and 
is found in many minerals, rocks, soils, and in the ashes of 
numerous plants. 
It may prove to be present in these waters in sufficient quantity 
to render them useful at some future time, for either medicinal 
or other purposes. 
(b). Note on Water from a Hot Spring, Savo Island, Solomon 
Group. 
THis specimen, received from Mr. Chas. M. Woodford, in 
February, 1889, was contained in an ordinary fruit bottle. 
On opening the bottle, a strong smell of sulphuretted hydrogen 
was emitted, and the gas continued to escape for two or three 
days, the sides of the measuring flask were marked by small 
bubbles of the gas as it slowly escaped, and the previously clear 
water became milky from the deposition of sulphur. 
The bottle contained rather a large amount of black sediment, 
which, under the microscope, was seen to consist of black opaque 
granular masses, fragments of quartz and other transparent 
minerals, together with a few diatom frustules; the black 
particles were soluble in hydrochloric acid and gave off sulphuretted 
hydrogen, and the solution reacted for iron; hence they were 
proved to consist of iron sulphide, probably of quite recent 
origin, just as is seen in the New Zealand hot springs. (Liversidge, 
New Zealand Hot Springs, Jour. Roy. Soc. of N.S.W. 1887). 
With litmus paper the reaction of the water was slightly acid, 
as might be expected. 
The clear water, on decantation, after long standing, so as to be 
free from sediment, was found to contain ‘764 grammes of total 
solids per litre (53-48 grains per gallon) in solution, and after 
ignition -422 grammes (29°54 grains per gallon of fixed solids 
per litre). 
The residue left on evaporation was whitish, with a silky lustre, 
and emitted an odour of sulphur compounds, as is usual in such 
water residues ; and on ignition gave off much steam from water 
of combination. It rapidly blackened, and the carbonaceous matter 
present burnt off but slowly. 
The amount of water at my disposal rendered it impossible to 
make a quantitative analysis of the salts in solution, but the 
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