214 



ON THE AlB AND RAIN OF MANCHESTER. 



used a platinum basin, which was carefully cleaned, and, to 

 prevent all mistakes as to organic matter, kept red hot for 

 some time. There was however no difference to be perceived 

 from that collected in the larger vessel. The rain was very 

 alkaline, and contained scarcely a trace of carbonic acid. 



Boiling removes all taste, and standing alone removes the 

 taste of the oily matter and leaves only the taste of smoke. 

 The smoke here shews that it was not out of the range of 

 chimnies, although the wind was west. 



The taste was that of the flattest and most insipid water, 

 which could not be drunk with pleasure, independently of the 

 nauseous taste. 



The water was very clear, but on standing it produced and 

 deposited a number of organic bodies of the monad kind, 

 small enough certainly when seen by themselves, but in 

 clusters large enough to be seen lying at the bottom of the 

 vessel. 



The clear water above was a solution of organic and in- 

 organic substances, giving the following results : — 



Organic matter 2'625 grs. per gallon. 



[■ -875 1 

 Inorganic " J 1'33 - in three experiments, 



[2-100 j 



By boiling the carbonate of ammonia is driven off, at 

 least this seems the only way of accounting for the loss of 

 alkalinity. 



On burning the residue after evaporation, ammonia is given 

 off, and a strong smell of feathers, characteristic of albumi- 

 nous compounds. 



The ash is alkaline, with fixed alkalies, like the ashes of 

 plants and other organic matter. 



Cavendish-street, June 8th, 1851. — The taste of this water, 

 collected of course directly into the vessel, was the same as 

 that which comes from the roofs of the houses* The taste is 

 nauseous and chiefly of smoke. 



