46 



The Chlorides in the Irish Sea are about 30 per mille. 

 „ English Channel „ 31 „ „ 



„ beyond the Eddj^stone are 32 „ „ 



As the requirement for a potable sea water does not 

 arise except in mid-ocean, the proportion of 32- per mille. 

 must be taken as the basis of calculation. 



This represents as near 20* per mille. of Chlorine as 

 possible. 



From the analysis shown it will be perceived that the 

 Chlorides of Sodium and Magnesium are in great pre- 

 ponderance. 



It is to the former of these that the baneful effects of 

 sea-water when drunk, are to be ascribed, for Chloride of 

 Sodium or common salt produces thirst, probably by its 

 styptic action on the salivary glands, and scurvy by its 

 deleterious action of the blood when taken in excess. 



Sodium Chloride being the principal noxious element 

 in sea-water, and Soda in combination with a vegetable or 

 organic acid, such as Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, or Malic 

 Acid, being innocuous ; the conclusion is that the element 

 of evil to be voided, is Chlorine. 



After describing various experiments and calling atten- 

 tion to the power of earthy matters in abstracting salts 

 from solutions by which he hoped the process would be 

 perfected; an Imperial pint of water from beyond the 

 Eddystone was shown mixed with 960 grains of Citrate of 

 Silver and 4 grains of free Citric Acid. 



Each part of the Chlorides requires three parts by 

 weight of the Silver Citrate to throw down the Chlorine, 

 thus — 



3 NaCl + Ag3C6H607 = Na3. Q,B,0^ + SAg.Cl. 



The Silver Chloride formed a dense insoluble precipitate, 

 and the supernatant fluid was decanted and filtered through 

 a rubber tube and handed round as a beverage. 



