24; Mr. West on a 7iewly -discovered Spring 



Now we have seen that this would con- 

 Dry sulphate of soda (exp. A). 

 Chloride of sodium ( — B). 

 Carbonate of lime ( — C). 



57.6 



The remainder, 38.9, having been converted by the heat into 

 proto-carbonate of soda, is equivalent to 54.5 dry, 61 grains 

 crystallized bi-carbonate, agreeing nearly with the quantities 

 found from experiments D and E. 



Following, as 1 do, that doctrine which supposes the bases 

 to be distributed among the acids in a mineral water in the 

 combinations which possess the greatest solubility, we must 

 suppose the lime to be in the state of muriate ; we shall then 

 have to diminish the muriate, and increase the carbonate of 

 soda: so that on this view, the saline constituents of an imperial 

 gallon, in the state in which they exist in the water, are, — 



Soda in combination with carbonic acid, equivalent to 



Bi-carbonate or super-car--^ 



bonate of soda /^^ S^' ^^' ^^'^ crystallized 



Sulphate of soda . 5.8 ditto 13 ditto 



Muriate of soda (chloride 1 ^ ^^ ,. ^ „^ 



f. ,. X ^ I 8.75 ditto 8.75 ditto 



or sodium) . j 



Muriate of hme . , 2.1 ditto 3.75 ditto 



The gaseous contents of the water consist of variable pro- 

 portions of carbonic acid^ sulphuretted hydrogen, and carburet- 

 ted hydrogen ; the latter gas is continually emitted from the 

 spring, in greater quantity than the water can absorb ; and a 

 portion of the other two also escapes from its surface. I have 

 made many experiments on the gas, separated by boiling; but 

 find the results, as I might anticipate, altogether inconclusive 

 and uncertain. In waters containing, as at Harrogate, these 

 gases with muriates or sulphates, boiling may be expected 

 almost wholly to disengage them ; but in this case the affinity 

 of the soda in dilute solution, is likely to retain the carbonic 



