80 M. Uziglio's Analt/sis of the Waters of the Mediterranean. 



The most important point in the researches of M. Uziglio 

 into the composition of the water of the Mediterranean, is the 

 proof of the quantity of potash which it contains. According 

 to his analysis, this quantity amounts to 0"0320 grs., or only 

 0-265 of potassium in 100 grammes. Notwithstanding the 

 smallness of this quantity, M. Uziglio presumes that, before 

 long, the potash extracted from the ocean or the Mediter- 

 ranean will replace the product of the lixiviation of wood 

 ashes, just as soda artificially extracted from sea-salt has 

 been long and advantageously substituted for that obtained 

 from marine plants. 



When the petrifaction of shells which occurs at present in 

 the ocean is considered, it excites no surprise that the propor- 

 tion of lime is double that of the potash. In fact, 100 grammes 

 of the water of the Mediterranean contain 0*623 grs. of lime, 

 and the proportion contained in the ocean, according to 

 Figuier and Mialhe, is still larger. The carbonate exists in 

 the Mediterranean in sufficient quantity to form considerable 

 masses of shell-limestone analogous to those of the tertiary 

 formation, and to be substituted for that which composed the 

 shells in their fresh state. This new calcareous matter pro- 

 duces also true petrifactions, analogous to those of the geo - 

 logical era. 



One hundred grammes of the water of the Mediterranean 

 contain 2'914 grs. of chloride of sodium, that is to say, nearly 

 three -hundredths ; the next most abundant salt is the chloride 

 of magnesium, of which 100 grammes contain 0-3219 grs. ; 

 whilst the sulphate of magnesia amounts to 0-2477 grs., and 

 the sulphate of lime to 0-1357 grs. 



The large quantity of sulphate of lime which the concen- 

 tration of the water of the Mediterranean precipitates in the 

 salt marshes, would induce the belief that this salt existed in 

 larger quantity ; and if analysis does not shew a larger pro- 

 portion, it must not be forgotten that the mother waters of 

 the salt-works are frequently renewed. On this account it 

 will be readily conceived that, after a certain time, this salt 

 may be deposited to a considerable extent. 



Vegetables and animals contain considerable proportions 

 of iodine, and yet the latest analyses do not indicate its 



