28 SPRINGS OF FRESH WATER IN THE OCEAN. 



soon became putrid, sulphuretted hydrogen being 

 formed in sensible quantities. Now, as sea-water al- 

 ways contains a portion of sulphate of soda or mag- 

 nesia, the formation of sulphuretted hydrogen may be 

 expected to take place wherever terrestrial vegetables, 

 at least, are suffered to decay in the sea. In some of 

 the specimens of water brought from the coast of Africa, 

 as much as 11 cubic inches of this gas were found to 

 the gallon. A plentiful fumigation of chlorine is re- 

 commended as the best antidote, where malaria, caused 

 by sulphuretted hydrogen, is rife. 



In many parts of the ocean springs of fresh water 

 have been observed to burst from the bottom of the 

 sea. On our own coasts, in several places, small wells 

 of pure spring-water gush out between tide-marks, and 

 may be seen at the recess of the tide ; and probably 

 many others exist at a greater depth, which, being 

 never laid bare, escape notice. But these are insig- 

 nificant compared to the great fountains observed in 

 other countries. Several are noticed in the Mediterra- 

 nean, particularly a large jet of fresh water in the Gulf 

 of Spezzia, and another in the port of Syracuse ; and, 

 according to Pliny, the inhabitants of the ancient 

 Aradus (an island off the Syrian coast) obtained their 

 ordinary drinking water from a submarine fountain 

 rising in water full fifty cubits deep. Humboldt* tells 

 us of a still more remarkable submarine spring on the 

 southern coast of Cuba, ten or twelve miles from the 

 shore, propelled through the waters of the sea with 

 such force that boats approaching the spot use the 

 * " Views of Nature," Bohn's ed. p. 1 75. 



