BAILEY. | Mineral Waters. 35 
air pump. As soon as the pressure of the atmosphere is re- 
moved the gasses which are dissolved in the water rapidly 
make their escape. In some mineral springs it has been ob- 
served that the gases seem to bubble out more tumultuously 
before a storm. In the case of the deep wells of southeastern 
Kansas—where the water is pumped from a great depth and is 
exposed in reservoirs upon the surface —it has been observed that 
the turbidity of the water increases before a storm. This would 
be easily accounted for on the theory that the air at such times 
(as shown by the barometer) is much lighter than ordinarily, 
and on this account the gases which are dissolved in the water 
—especially hydrogen sulfid and carbon dioxid—would escape 
more readily and more abundantly into the air, and thus cause 
ereater turbidity. 
THE FORMATION OF SALINE SPRINGS. 
As has been stated, the ocean water is a type of the mineral 
waters, and in fact the water of the ocean is the original min- 
eral water. ‘This has evaporated and the condensed water has 
fallen upon the surface of the earth, and has the opportunity to 
take up the gases from the atmosphere and minerals from the 
earth. The substances thus dissolved are carried by the rivers to 
the sea. ‘This is a case of solution, and the tendency is simply 
to greatly increase the mineral contents of the ocean or to make 
it more and more concentrated. It is but proper to consider 
what is the origin of the material, especially the gypsum and 
salt in the earth. M. Dieulafait,” discussing this subject, sug- 
gests three hypotheses that have been proposed to account for 
the origin of gypsum and salt: | 
1. Sulfuric acid coming up from the depths of the earth 
may have acted on the calcium carbonate and produced calcium 
sulfate. 
2. Sulfur dioxid, coming in like manner from the lower 
regions, may have absorbed oxygen and become sulfuric acid, 
which has acted on the limestone as noted above. 
3. Salts already formed in the interior have been brought to 
the surface, either in solution or sublimed. 
16. Pop. Sci. Mo., vol. 21, pp. 826-835. 
