Eighteenth Annual Meeting. 



23 



These substances are probably combined in the following manner, 

 are expressed in grains per U. S. gallon of 231 cu. in.: 



The values 



It will be noticed that this water is especially rich in magnesium chloride as well 

 as salt, and suggests ocean water in its composition, though it is of about twice the 

 strength of the latter. The water contains also comparatively large quantities of 

 Bromides and of Iodides, substances thus far rare in the waters of Kansas. For 

 purposes of comparison the analyses of some celebrated waters are here inserted, 

 with the amounts expressed in grains per gallon: 



The Atlantic ocean contains 31.16 grains of Sodium Bromide per gallon, and a 

 decided trace of Iodide. The Independence water is utilized to some extent locally 

 for bathing purposes. 



THE RELATIVE BITTERNESS OF DIFFERENT BITTER SUBSTANCES. 



BY E. H. S. BAILEY AXD E. C. FRANKLIN. 



The method of investigation followed was similar to that reported at the last 

 meeting of the Academy, in an article upon the " Delicacy of the Sense of Smell," 

 and also in a paper presented to the American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science, Phila. (1884), by one of us (Bailey), and Dr. E. L. Nichols. Brieily, the 

 method was as follows: We made use of Salicin, Morphine, Quinine. Quassin, Pi- 

 crotoxin, Aloin, and Strychnine. A series of solutions in water of each of these was 

 prepared, such that each member was of one-half the strength of the preceding one. 

 This series was extended till it was impossible to detect any bitter taste in the last 

 solution. The order of the bottles containing the solution was completely disar- 

 ranged, and the test consisted in an attempt to pick out, by tasting of a few drops 

 of the contents of each bottle, those which contained a bitter substance. Some 

 bottles containing pure water were included in the above set by way of comparison. 

 This set of solutions was tasted by forty persons, including some of both sexes. We 

 noted in each case how far down in the series it was possible for a person to go. The 

 average amount detected is as follows: 



Of Salicin it is possible to detect one part in 12,000 parts of water. 



Morphine " " " 14,000 " 



Quinine " " " 76,000 " 



Quassin " " " 90,000 " 



Picrotoxin " " " 197,000 " 



Aloin " " " 210,000 " 



Strychnine " " " 826,000 " 



