MxCowx\e[VsAnalijsi3 of a Chalybeate Water. S86 



The ferro-prussiate of potash gave immediately a very dark 

 blue precipitate ; and when much diluted, the sulpho-cyanate of 

 potash produced a red precipitate. These reactions of course 

 were due to the presence of peroxide of iron. ^. 



Recently after the water had come into my possession, it gave 

 with ammonia a dark olive precipitate, becoming reddish by ex- 

 posure to the air. This reaction showed that some protoxide 

 of iron accompanied the peroxide. After it had been kept some 

 weeks in a corked bottle, it gave a precipitate with ammonia 

 which was reddish-yellow on first falling. With the red cya- 

 nuret of iron and potassium, a blue or greenish-blue precipitate 

 fell, either immediately or after a short time. The action with 

 this reagent continued much the same, even after the water had 

 ceased to give a dark-coloured precipitate with ammonia. These 

 appearances also showed the presence of protoxide of iron. ^Ji 

 '■ The infusion of nutgalls produced a very fine deep blue, in- 

 dicating the presence of peroxide of iron, or rather a mixture of 

 the peroxide and protoxide*. >j'» ii^^\ Myi^i^' iuuii « io 



When the precipitate by aflliftbfti^'M^S^bdilet} with cauiSlSfc 

 potash ley, the alkaline solution, examined by ordinary means, 

 showed the presence of alumina. 



After precipitating by ammonia, filtering and concentrating 

 considerably by heat, oxalate of ammonia indicated a little lime. 



When the oxalate of lime had been separated, and the liquid 

 again concentrated, carbonate of ammonia and phosphate of 

 soda showed the presence of magnesia. 



i3'jWith muriate of baryta, the water, even when considerably 

 diluted, gave a precipitate; showing abundance of sulphuric 

 acid. 



When a little of the water was precipitated by ammonia, and 

 the clear liquid considerably concentrated, sulphate of silver 

 caused a slight muddiness, and after a time a very slight pre- 

 cipitate collected, which was dissolved by ammonia ; indicating 

 the presence of a minute quantity of muriatic acid. 



The constituents of which we have thus found evidence are, 



- • So ^eat is the concentration of the water, that the resulting mixture 

 is of sufficient consistency to constitute a writing ink ; and it has been used 

 by several persons for this purpose, at least when a little gum-arabic has been 

 added to the mixture. 



