66 TRINIDAD. 



silica, and to be impregnated with sulphuretted hydrogen, and 

 that pretty strongly, and with carbonic acid gas : its specific 

 gravity is 1-0016." 



The Maraccas spring may be considered as having a rather 

 powerful action on the human frame, since a febrile condition 

 has been invariably produced after a few days' bathing in its 

 waters ; such baths, however, have proved very advantageous in 

 several instances, and this spring might be resorted to in many 

 cases of chronic disease. 



The other mineral spring is also cold; it has not been 

 analysed hy the learned doctor, but Messrs. Criiger and Leotaud, 

 who examined it, found therein the following ingredients to 

 sixteen ounces : — 



Grs. 



Muriate of soda 2*349 



Sulphate of soda ..... 3 # 471 



Sulphate of lime 6-776 



Sulphate of magnesia . . . . 6-417 

 Oxide of iron 6-231 



The metallic taste is so strong that it is almost impossible to 

 swallow any quantity of the water : this spring is in the ward 

 of Pointe-a-Pierres, on a small property belonging to M. 

 Desanclos. In the same locality, on the Plaisance Estate, are 

 three springs, one nearly cold, another warm, which is used for 

 bathing, and a third unbearably hot. Dr. Davy found that the 

 hot springs were "slightly impregnated with sulphuretted 

 hydrogen and carbonic acid gas, and contained minute quantities 

 of carbonate of potash, lime, and magnesia, and of silica, with a 

 trace of phosphate of lime ; so dilute are they, that their specific 

 gravity does not exceed 1'0003." And yet their medicinal 

 virtues, particularly in cases of rheumatism and nervous debility, 

 have been strikingly displayed in more than one case. 



Dr. Davy remarks, besides, that the mud volcanoes may be 

 considered as mineral springs : — " The water, muddy as it is, in 

 its ordinary state, from clay suspended in it, when filtered 

 becomes perfectly clear and transparent. A portion so treated, 

 procured from Cedros, was of specific gravity 1*0147, had a 

 faint bituminous smell, and slight pure saline taste. Its chief 

 ingredient was common salt; it contained, besides, a notabl 

 proportion of iodine, probably in the form of hydriodate of soc 

 and carbonate of lime. A specimen of muddy water from tl 



