Abstracts of Memoirs. 353 
guertée) are warm (90° F.), and contain much carbonate of 
lime, with bicarbonate of soda, common salt, and various other salts, 
to the extent of 600 grains to the gallon. One of the number 
(St. Martial) yields as much as 470 grains of salt to the gallon, and 
rises through a mass of travertin 2,000 feet in diameter, and nearly 
7 feet thick. More than one human skeleton has been found 
in this mass. This is the more remarkable, as these waters now 
deposit but little carbonate of lime. The celebrated springs of 
Vichy belong to this group. They are situated in an alluvial basin 
in Tertiary deposits of small thickness, resting on Primary rocks. 
‘The whole is permeated by the mineral waters which probably issue 
from the granite. Springs have been obtained from artificial borings, 
in addition to those that rise from natural crevices. There are now 
thirteen natural springs and three borings. The temperature is 
exceedingly variable (from 54° to 111° F.). The volume of water 
issuing is also variable, but the total is not estimated at more than 
65 gallons per minute. Some of the springs are intermittent. 
Carbonic acid gas issues from the water of some of the springs with 
great violence, but this is somewhat marked by a peculiar and 
rather bituminous odour derived from organic matter. Nearly 
500 grains of carbonic acid by weight are contained in a gallon of 
Vichy water from some of the springs, and about 300 grains of solid 
bases. Of free carbonic acid gas there are from 70 to 200 grains 
per gallon. There are bicarbonates of soda (in large quantity), 
potash, magnesia, strontian, lime, protoxide of iron, and protoxide 
of manganese ; sulphate, phosphate, arseniate and borate of soda ; 
chloride of sodium, and silica. Traces of lithia, iodine, and bromine 
have also been recognized. The quantity of carbonic acid issuing 
from these waters of Vichy is so large, as tosuggest to M. Lecog the 
presence of large deposits of carbon or of solid carbonic acid in the 
interior of the earth. ‘The albuminous matter present is also very 
remarkable, as it presents analogies with the vegetable kingdom in 
its green colour, and with the animal kingdom in its nature. On 
exposure it becomes fetid, but does not yield animalcules. The 
quantity of soluble bicarbonate of soda that issues from the Vichy 
springs and runs away into the Allier, and so to the ocean, amounts 
to nearly 1,400 tons per annum. ‘The quantity of insoluble matter is 
much smaller (amounting to about 100 tons per annum). This has 
formed a deposit in the Vichy basin estimated to amount to not less 
than 3,000,000 tons. At the present rate of deposit, it would take 
upwards of 30,000 years to form such a mass. This is a long period 
for contemporary deposits. All the Vichy waters, however, tend to 
choke up their outlets, and the issue of the water may formerly 
have been much larger than it is now. 
Near Clermont are some remarkable springs. Those of Royat, 
three in number, pass through Tertiary sandstones and travertins. 
Their temperature varies from 86° to 95° F. They yield much 
nitrogen. ‘They contain chiefly the bicarbonates of soda, lime, 
magnesia, and potash, and common salt, but also sulphate, phosphate, 
and arseniate of soda, and chloride, iodide, and bromide of sodi;m. 
VOL. II.--NO. XIV. AA 
