THE THERMAL SPRINGS OF SELANGOR AND MALACCA. 45 



the surface of the water having a green and in some cases a 

 bright orange red colour. The consistency and general 

 appearance of this substance varies from a loose, fibrous 

 structure resembling soft, dense moss, to a gelatinous, homo- 

 geneous texture not unlike India-rubber. A careful micros- 

 copical examination of these masses showed that they consist 

 of decayed organic matter derived from leaves and other 

 vegetable substances which find their way into the water and 

 undergo decomposition at a comparatively high temperature. 

 They represent a dense magma of cells of most variable shape 

 and appearance, reprensentative of almost every kind of vege- 

 table cell in existence. How far this growth may be looked 

 upon as a whole, as an individual, as a living thing increasing 

 actively, or a dead product growing passively by mechanical 

 addition, — these are questions of considerable interest, to be 

 settled by a separate investigation, and I hope to discuss this 

 subject fully in a future paper. In several specimens of the 

 vegetable matter from Ulu Klang and Setapak, a distinct 

 form of algae was found, and I have since been informed, that 

 similar specimens had been found in Ayer Panas water, 

 Malacca, and sent to the British Museum for examination. It 

 appears, however, that this has led to no further results. 

 The temperature of the springs ranges from about ioo° to 

 185 F. in Selangor, and 95 to 130 F. in Malacca. It varies 

 moreover in each spring according to the distance from the 

 feeders, being highest at the point where they enter. 



A number of complete analyses were made of the air in the 

 vicinity of the springs. The air was found to be of normal 

 composition though free from active oxygen or ozone. Air 

 collected close to the springs was found to contain traces of 

 hydrogen sulphide and rather more than the normal amount 

 of carbonic acid and ammonia. The details of these analyses 

 will be given subsequently. 



All the springs contain a considerable amount of dissolved 

 silica. On keeping samples of the water part of this 

 is deposited in a pulverulent state, sometimes, however, very 

 thin, soft, transparent, glistening films separate from the water 

 and these on analysis are found to consist of silica, organic 

 matter and traces of sulphur. 



