90 TRINIDAD. 



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 

 by 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. Desanchos. In the 

 same locality, on the Plaisance estate, are three springs, one nearly 

 cold, another warm, which is used for bathing, and a third un- 

 bearably 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 rheu- 

 matism 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 com- 

 mon salt ; it contained, besides, a notable proportion of iodine, 

 probably in the form of hydriodate of soda and carbonate of lime. 

 A specimen of muddy water from the mud volcano in the Savan- 

 nah Grande afforded, on examination, results very similar to the 



