HOW— ON BRINE SPRINGS OF NOVA SCOTIA. 79 



evidence of its presence was very decided, the quantity was quite 

 large enough to admit of determination, but the trouble involved in 

 the exact estimation of this element is really so considerable that I 

 contented myself with qualitative results. No doubt this valuable 

 substance exists in other brines of the Province, but it has not before 

 been proved to be present. It is fi-om brines that most if not all 

 the bromine of commerce is obtained. Boracic acid was found by 

 evaporating somewhat less than a third of a gallon of the water, 

 when it was perceived to exist in distinct traces. The presence of 

 this acid is particularly interesting ; it is probable or at least pos- 

 sible, that if due search were made most if not all the brine springs 

 of this Province which rise in the lower carboniferous rocks would 

 be found to contain it. I have already shown* the existence of 

 boracic acid (in two minerals), and also of a small quantity of rock 

 salt, in the gypsum of Windsor, and now we have the same associa- 

 tion observed in water from rocks (most probably) of the same 

 formation at a distance of some 60 miles. When I detected the 

 borate in gypsum, the late Dr. Robb, of Fredericton, strongly ad- 

 vised me to search waters issuing directly from the plaster rocks for 

 boracic acid : the interest attaching to such an enquiry is increased 

 by the result now brought forward. Gypsum is often associated 

 with rock salt in other countries, and it is found Avith boracic acid 

 (m the mineral boracite) in Germany. 



Brine Spring, Sutherland's Kiver, Pictou Co. For information 

 respecting this spring, 1 am indebted to Rev. Dr. Honeyman ; the 

 water issues in the bed of the river, so that it can only be got at in 

 the dry season ; the outlet is situated a little above the falls due 

 to disturbance of rocks which are probably lower carboniferous. 

 The spring was discovered by persons observing cattle to drink at 

 it, and it is now much resorted to and its waters are drunk for a 

 variety of diseases. 



Salt Pond, Antigonish. Dr. Honeyman informs me that salt was 

 formerly made from this pond, and that a bathing house exists here : 

 the region is lower carboniferous. 



Brine Springs at Whycogomagh, Cape Breton. Of these, Dr. 

 Honeyman tells me there are two, of which one is medicinal and 

 the other is employed in the manufacture of salt. They rise in 



* Silliman's Journal, Sept. 1857, and July 1861. 



