J j4 ARTIFICIAL CHELTENHAM WATER* 



ed by an easy rim en t the quantity of acid required for the soda and mag'-' 

 experiment. ne sia he may employ; as it is very simple, and easily per- 

 formed. Weigh out the proper quantity of the carbonates, 

 and put them into a common wine Or ale glass, with about ' 

 an ounce of water; add gradually the acid to them, con- 

 stantly stirring them until they are dissolved, and all eifer- 

 vescence has ceased ; taking care, that no excess be employed, 

 which may be known by the acid taste, or by turning to a 

 red the natural blue vegetable colours, (as infusion of lit- 

 mus, or of red cabbage leaves in hot water) ; note exactly 

 the quantity of acid that was used, and make a measure 

 containing ten drops less than that quantity, which is easily 

 done by marking a slender ounce phial or glass tube, by 

 means of a tile, or a diamond. If this is found to answer 

 well, a good parcel of the same ingredients as those of the 

 experiment should be procured and kept in close vessels. 



Farther pre- Th e cor ^ 9 should be previously fitted to the bottles in 



cautions, . ... • 



which the artificial water is to be prepared, that no time 



may be lost after putting in the acid ; and the bottles should 

 always be kept on their sides, that the liquor may cover the 

 corks, and thus prevent the escape of the gas. The mag- 

 nesia should be in fine powder, that it may dissolve more 

 readily : the soda is best not to be so, as by itsslotv solution* 

 the magnesia will meet the acid in a more active state, and 

 there is no danger, that the soda will not dissolve readily 

 enough. By minding these precautions, a bottle of the wa- 

 ter may be made ready for use in less than a minute: but it 

 will keep very well, only observing to shake the bottle be- 

 fore opening it, as the iron precipitates in part. 



Strengthofthe The strength of the water may be varied at pleasure, br 



water may be ° . . m . * 



varied. altering the quantities or the salts with respect to the water, 



but mijnding the relative proportion of the acid to the car- 

 General pro- bonates. For a pint bottle the quantities are: carbonate of 

 price? 11 * an soda four scruples, or eighty grains; carbonate of magne- 

 sia two scruples, or forty grains; sulphuret of iron two 

 grains. This is a full dose for an adult, and more than 

 should be taken for a constancy, during a course of this wa- 

 ter. The expense of preparing a pint bottle is about one 

 penny; the strong sulphuric acid or oil of vitroil, is only 

 eight pence per pound, and the soda the same price, or nine 

 pence, by the single pound. VIII. 



