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v 



36 



T H 



N A T U R A 





H 



R 





De 



aqu 



* 



a 



9 





ejus 



T. 



variis fpeciebus 





Of Water, and its different Species. 





HIS fluid mould undoubtedly be confidered as a native foflil, and defervedly 

 accounted one of the moft powerful agents in all the works of nature : but 



we 



have great reafon to believe that it is folid in the natural ftate, and reduced only by the 

 action of the fun (a), to that form in which we generally obferve it. It is the natural 

 diflbl vent of falts, and the general vehicle whereby all growing fubftances receive 

 their nourifhment, or matter of increafe ; but its other qualities depend chiefly on 

 its bed, or the particles with which it is charged : and the degree of efteem in which 

 it ought to be held, when Ample, mould be founded on its purity and lightnefs ; as 

 it does on the nature and action of the particles with which it is impregnated, when 

 in a more compound ftate. m 



We fhall now difpofe the different forts of this fluid, under the following general 

 heads, viz. - 





.»» 



I 



o 



Such as are pure, or the leaft tainted with heterogeneous particles. 



AQUA 



Pluvialis. 

 Rain water 



Nivealis. 



Snow water 





Though thefe are the moft Ample ftates of this fluid, it is far from being pure in 

 cither - 9 and we are now fatisfied, by diftillations, and other accurate experiments tried 

 daily on this fubjedt in its feveral habits and conditions, that we are not to expect it with- 

 out admixtures in any fhape ; for the air, into which it is raifed in the moft attenuated 



ged with a multitude of other heterogeneous particles that mix with it 



1 : and, though many of thefe may precipitate, when it changes 



form, is 



that cond 



folid ftate 



fuch 



nec"ted in the mafs 



arly of the fame fpecific gravity, will ftill remain 





II . Such as are more heavily charged with terrene particles. 



AQUA 





Fontana. 

 Spring water 

 Fluvialis. 

 River water. 



Lacitftris* 

 Pond water. 



4. Cat 'carta. 



Cal carious water 



5. Petrtficans. 

 Petrifying water. 







-- 



1 



Water is moft commonly met with in thefe ftates, in all countries ; but it differs 

 in proportion to the quantity, as well as quality of its admixtures, which muft na- 

 turally vary with the depth, and nature of the the foil, in every region. 



III . Such as are charged with falts of a terrene bafe. 



#* 



AQUA 



Marina^ & muria- 

 tica fontana. 





3. Natrata. 

 Natrous water. 







Sea, and bracki (h 4. Cat bar tica. 



water. 

 Aluminofa. 



Aluminous water. 



Epfom ; or other water, charged 



with purging falts. 























(a) See the Memoirs of the Royal Academy 171 1, and 15, Sur IaMatiere du feu 



The 













** 



