2K)8 Atialj/ses of Books, [April, 



Qxygeu of the water of crystallization amount to six times that 

 of the protoxide of iron, presupposed in the salt, instead of 

 five times and a half. The volume of the carbonic acid gas 

 obtained in this experiment was again to that of the azote, as 

 3 : 2, and the whole of the carbonic acid obtained weighed 6-25 

 gwins. 



No conclusion can be drawn from these experiments before 

 the quantity of carbonic acid retained by the base is determined. 

 If the azote and the carbon in these salts be in the same propor- 

 tion as in cyanogen, one-third of the quantily obtained, or one- 

 fourth of the whole of the carbonic acid, is wanting. But if, on 

 the contrary, the base remaining in the calcined mass be in the 

 state of common carbonate, the volume of carbonic acid is to 

 that of the azote as 2i- : 1. 



{To be continued.) 



Article XV. 



Analyses of Books. 



4^\Chemical and Medical Report of the Properties of the Mine- 

 ral Waters of Buxton, Mai lock y Tunhridge Wells ^ Ilarrogatey 

 Bath, Cheltenham, heami)igtony Malvern, and the Isle of Wight, 

 By Charles Scudumore, MD. Member of the Royal College 

 of Physicians, &c. &.c. 



In noticing this work, I shall, of course, confine my observa- 

 tions to the Chemical part of it, and I shall admit as provedj, 

 without making any inquiry, or expressing any doubt, that their 

 medicinal qualities render these waters worthy of being drank ; 

 and there then can be no hesitation as to the importance of a 

 perfect knowledge of their chemical constitution, whether it 

 may or may not enable us to account for the beneficial effects 

 which every day's experience would lead us to beheve that they 

 produce. 



The analysis of the Buxton water appears to call for a few 

 observations. I think the method employed to determine 

 the presence of magnesia ambiguous, and the means used to 

 ascertain the quantity of magnesian salt rather tedious. The 

 plan adopted by Dr. Scudamore for ascertaining the presence of 

 magnesia was that proposed by Dr. Wollaston, of lirst adding 

 carbonate of ammonia, and then phosphate of soda to the water. 

 Now I have found that the salt usually called carbonate of am- 

 monia, and which is, in fact, a sesquicarbonate, always holds 

 some carbonate of lime in solution ; and this is particularly likely 

 to occur when carbonate of lime exists in a mineral water^ so 



