Vol. X, No. 5.] Hot Springs in Raj Darbhanga. 149 



[N.8.] 



The results of the chemical analysis of the four hot springs 

 are so similar that 1 can discuss them together. 



The waters are exceedingly pure, total solids ranging 

 from 54 to 7-5 in 100,000 parts of water. The siliceous 

 matter is the highest and represents more than half of the 

 solids, ranging from 28 to 5-1. The waters are very poor in 

 lime and magnesia and consequently the hardness is very low, 



ranging from 0-88° to 116°. 



Judging from the composition of the waters they would be 

 excellent for steam raising and other technical purposes. For 

 drinking purposes they are not as good as they contain less 

 lime and magnesia than is recommendable for daily use, a 

 little harder water being preferable. However the water of 

 the hot springs would be very safe to drink in case of epidemic 

 diseases prevailing in the country. They also would be very 

 suitable for the manufacture of aerated waters, provided the 

 necesary precaution is taken to avoid contamination , as they 

 themselves are free from bacteria. The waters have no medici- 

 nal properties. 



The hot springs are perennial. According to local informa- 

 tion there is never a diminution in the outflow of water and 

 occasionally, as in Bhimbandh, new channels open out increas- 

 ing the outflow. The quantity of water in the dry season is 

 the same as in the rainy season. 



The temperature of the Bhimband spring has been noticed, 

 as above mentioned, during the last 100 years several times, 

 and has been all this period and at different times of the year 



about 148 C F. 



Considering all these circumstances, the source of the 

 water must be looked for underground, otherwise a difference 

 in quantity would have been observed in the dry and rainy 

 seasons and also a difference in the temperature. 



Buchanan Hamilton expressed an opinion that probably 

 "the heat is first communicated to some gas?ous fluid, and 

 this rising until it meets the water of a spring, heats it and 

 issues in part along with it ". I do not agree with this opinion. 

 Most probably the water is a juvenile water which comes out 

 of the depths of the earth. When the gases come to the colder 

 strata the water is condensed and is driven to the surface b\ 

 pressure from below. The air-bubbles may have the same origin 

 or may have been carried from holes in the rocks, which after- 

 wards are filled with water. The pureness of the springs leads 

 to the conclusion that they are formed within the quartzite 

 area as their principal constituent is silicic acid. 



I examined the water from an artificial well opposite Mr. 

 Sunder's bungalow and the figures obtained by analysis are 

 quite different to those of the hot springs. The well contained 

 4400 total solids in 100,000 parts and the hardness was 



15-83 



O 



