SPA.     A  general  name  for  a  spring  of  mineral  water ;  so


VEKBA    NOMINALIA.  287

called  from  Spa,  a  town  of  Belgium,  famous  for  its  mineral
springs.  Spa  water  is  the  lightest  and  most  subtle  of  all  the
mineral  Avaters,  and  is  said  to  give  great  relief  in  all  disorders
of  the  kidneys,  ureters,  and  bladders,  whether  occasioned  by-
stone,  gravel,  or  ulcerations.
SPANIEL  (Fr.  epagnenl,  L.  hispaniolus).  A  dog  used  in
sports  of  the  field,  remarkable  for  his  sagacity  and  obedience.
Some  derive  the  word  from  Hispaniola,  now  Ilayti ;  but  it
is  rather  from  Spain,  whence  the  breed  {canis  Ilispanicus)
were  first  brought.  Indeed,  the  Spaniards  themselves  were
anciently  called  Sj^aniels  by  the  English.  See  also  P.  Cyc;
Duchat's  Notes  on  Rabelais ;   Maturin  Corderius ;    Pennant ;

and  especially  Menage. To  follow  like  a  spaniel,  to  fawn,

to  cringe,  to  be  obsequious  ;  a  mean,  cringing,  fawning  person.
SPANISH  BROOM.  A  shrub  of  the  genus  Spartium,
thickly  set  with  verdant  flexible  rush-like  twigs  ;  from  Spain.
SPANISH  BROWN.  A  species  of  earth  used  in  paints,
whose  colour  depends  upon  the  sesqui-oxide  of  iron ;  from
Spain.
SPANISH  CHALK  (French  chalk).  A  variety  of  steatite
or  silicate  of  magnesia  ;  from  Spain.
SPANISH  FLY  (Cantharides).  The  blister-fly ;  so  called
because  the  best  are  brought  from  Spain.
SPANISH  NUT.  A  bulbous  plant,  the  Morcea  Sisyrin-
chium  of  the  south  of  Europe  (^Miller') ;  originally  from  Spain.
SPANISH  WHITE  (white  bismuth).  Nitrate  of  bismuth;
also  called  pearl-white,  magistery  of  bismuth,  &c.;  a  white
earth  from  Spain,  used  in  paints.
SPARMANNIA.  A  genus  of  plants,  nat.  or.  Tillacece ;
called  after  Sparmann,  the  Swedish  botanist,  who  accompanied
Captain  Cook  in  his  second  voyage. — Crahh.
