160 SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



resting-place for the washings of great part of South America for 

 ages ; and its own comparatively small streams have but modified 

 here and there the grand deposit*." 



Having been amply gratified with our visit to this singular place, 

 which to the usual magnificence of the West Indian landscape unites 

 the striking peculiarity of the local scene, we re-embarked in our 

 vessel, and stood along the coast on our return. On the way we 

 landed, and visited the plantations of several gentlemen, who 

 received us with hospitality* and made us more fully acquainted 

 with the state of this island : a colony which may with truth be 

 described as fortunate in its situation, fertile in its soil, and rich 

 beyond measure in the productions of nature ; presenting, in short, 

 by a rare combination, all which can gratify the curiosity of the 

 naturalist, or the cupidity of the planter; restrained in the deve- 

 lopment of its astonishing resources, only by the inadequacy of 

 population, the tedious and ill-defined forms of Spanish justice, and 

 the severe, though we may hope transient, pressure of the times. 



[Geological Transactions.^ 



SECTION VIII. 

 Medical Springs, or Mineral Waters, commonly so called. 



1. Introductory Remarks. 



WATEKS holding minerals in solution are usually called mineral 

 waters. But as all water in a natural state is more or less impreg- 

 nated with mineral substances, the name mineral waters should be 

 confined to such as are sufficiently impregnated with mineral mat. 

 ters to produce some sensible effects oil the animal economy, and 

 either to cure or prevent some of the diseases to which the human 

 body is liable. On this account these waters might with far more 

 propriety be called medicinal, were not the name by which they 

 are commonly known too firmly established by long use. The 

 medicinal materials usually found in waters of this kind ar gasseous 

 acids, sulphur or sulphurets, purging salts, and metals. They are 



* Vide Mr. Lochhead's Qbserv, on the Nat. Hist, of Guiaoa, Edin. Twns. 

 vol. iv. 



