Mineral Waters of Victoria. 281 
No thermal spring has yet been discovered. 
The Ballan spring is one of considerable interest, it 
belongs, as I have stated, to the fourth class, and contains 
117-4 grains of solid matter per gallon, or 1:677 parts in 
1000. It is clear, sparkling, inodorous, with a pungent, and 
slightly alkaline taste. 
An analysis shows the 117-4 aos of solid matter to 
consist of :— 
4 In 10: 0 parts. 
Carbonate of Soda - - 68:8 - - 0-983 
Carbonate of Lime~ - - OD - 0-274 
Carbonate of Magnesia - - 22°4 - - 0:320 
’ Carbonate of Iron - - 1°6 - 0-023 
Chloride of Sodium ++ trace KCl - 5A =1\2 O:087 
Sulphuric oo ‘ pended 
Bromine 
117-4 1-677 
It also contains a large volume of carbonic acid in solu- 
tion, but from the imperfect manner of collection, no two of 
the bottles which I received contained the same amount. An 
average determination gave 187 cubic inches of carbonic acid 
in 100 cubic inches of water, or 519 cubic inches to the gallon, 
deducting 103 cubic inches, which is the amount that 
would be required to convert the carbonates into bicarbon- 
ates, we have 416 cubic inches per gallon remaining that 
may be considered free. It is probable that the water may 
be collected containing much more gas than this, as it was 
effervescing rapidly when bottled. 
The spring rises in a basin-shaped cavity at the foot of a 
low silurian range, near the township of Ballan, the rocks of 
this range are slates and sandstones, containing but to a very 
limited extent any of the ingredients of the water. It at- 
tracted the attention of those living in, the district many 
year ago by its effervescence and agreeable taste, and was 
reported on by Mr. Daintree, late of the Geological Survey, 
but no attempt was made to bring it into general notice 
- until the present year, when an enterprising Melbourne firm 
leased from the Government the land in which it occurs. 
They intend to bottle it and offer it for sale as a seltzer or 
rather a seidlitz water. What peculiar medicinal properties 
it may possess I do not know beyond its being a very mild 
aperient. 
The medicinal properties of mineral waters have been 
U 
