THE THERMAL SPRINGS OF SELANGOR AND MALACCA. 6l 



6. — The water contained Chlorine, but no Sulphates, and 



about 1.4 grams Sodium Chloride per litre. 

 7. — A mineral found in the spring is described, having a 

 spec, gravity 2.1, cavernous and tuberculous structure, 

 whitish grey colour with small black dendritic particles 

 in it. The composition of this is given as : — 

 Silica, ... ... 91.8 % 



Water, ... ... 7.5 „ 



Tin Oxide, ... ... 0.5 ,, 



Iron, ... ... 0.2 ,, 



Aluminium, ... ...traces 



100. o 



From this the author draws the remarkable conclusion that 

 this substance is a kind of opal similar to geyserite, but con- 

 taining tin as a peculiar, and characteristic constituent. 



He goes on to say that this is the first time that tin has 

 been found in statu nascenti as it were, viz., in the act of 

 deposition from its mother liquor, and looks upon this as an 

 important contribution to the theory of the formatiom of tin 

 ore. 



It needs but a glance at the statements above cited to show 

 that they are of no value at all, in fact mostly absurd, but I 

 append a few remarks upon these points, lest a casual reader 

 of the paper should be deceived by them and attach credit to 

 the grand but unfortunately erroneous deduction (No. 7) in 

 which that paper culminates. It seems strange that matter so 

 devoid of point and substance should have found its way into 

 the Compt. Rend. : — 



1. Bad Smell. — Most waters would have a bad smell after 

 being carried from Selangor to France. 



2. Bubbles on heating. — All water, unless specially treated, 



gives off bubbles on heating. 



3. Syrupy Residue on evapoi'ation. — The water leaves a 



solid residue. The ash is more than 4 milligrams per 

 100 cc. 



4. White, viscous vegetations. — These are probably the 



