310 Anal jfses of Books, [April, 



whole weight of the saline contents of a gallon of Buxton 

 water amounts to fifteen grains ; my experiments make it ra- 

 ther less ; but I am inclined to think that Dr. Scudamore 

 has stated the chemical analysis of this water with great ac- 

 curacy. 



In the analysis of the Tunbridge waters, I think Dr. Scudamore 

 has been rather profuse in the application of the tests to indicate 

 the presence of iron : thus, after observing an evident ochery 

 deposite, the unequivocal action of tincture of galls, we have 

 the confirmino- evidence of prussiate of potash, and sulphuretted 

 hydrogen, which are again rendered doubly sure by the infusion 

 oi tea and coffee, whilst with cocoa or chocolate no action ap- 

 pears. Now with all deference, I submit, that these last ob- 

 servations might have been spared, as they serve merely to com- 

 phcate the subject, and are devoid of any particular interest, 

 for I have never heard of the application of Tunbridge water in 

 preparing food. 



The quantity of oxide of iron, obtained from Tunbridge water, 

 Dr. Scudamore states to be 2*22 grains ; it is not, perhaps, a 

 matter of much importance, but I may observe that this quan- 

 tity of iron is rather over-rated, for it was weighed in the state 

 of peroxide, but ought to have been reduced to that of protoxide, 

 in which iron always exists in mineral waters ; this will make 

 the quantity of oxide about 1*99 grain. 



The analysis I shall next notice is that which Dr. Scudamore 

 has given of the Bath water : this water I analyzed about seven- 

 teen years since ; and, as well as every preceding and following 

 analyst, I failed to ascertain the presence of magnesia, now 

 •shown to exist in the Bath water by Dr. Scudamore ; my error 

 arose from employing ammonia, on the supposition, which I did 

 not then know to be erroneous, that this alkali would throw 

 down minute quantities of magnesia. I have, by employing 

 lime water in the mode already pointed out, ascertained the 

 correctness of this author's statement. It appears that a pint 

 of the water contains, however, only about 1*6 grain of muriate 

 of magnesia. 



In other respects there is no very material difference between 

 Dr. S.'s analysis and mine ; but I may observe that he committed 

 a slight error in supposing me to have stated, that iron cannot be 

 jdetected in the Bath water after it has cooled; what I have 

 shown is, that if cooled without the presence of oxygen or at- 

 mospheric air, it retains its property of being acted upon by 

 tincture of galls and showing the presence of iron ; it is, indeed, 

 upon this circumstance, that the peculiarity of the Bath water, 

 as far as regards its chalybeate impregnation, depends. 



The only remaining analysis which 1 shall notice is that of the 



JMalvern water ; some discussion has arisen between Dr. Phihp, 



who formerly analyzed this water, and the author of the present 



work, as to whether this water contained any iron. Operating 



