i76 ANALYSIS OF THE 



point out a few applications which follow from it, connected 

 with the chemical constitution of waters which contain simi- 

 laringredients. 



Sulphate of lime has been often stated as an ingredient ex- 

 isting in mineral waters, with muriate of soda, and muriate of 

 lime. It is almost superfluous to remark, that it is probable 

 the original ingredients, in all such cases, are sulphate of soda 

 and muriate of lime, and that the sulphate of lime is a product 

 of the operation, or rather, that the portion of it equivalent to 

 tlie quantity of muriate of soda, has this origin. 



It is a curious fact, which strongly confirms this, that in al- 

 most all the analyses of mineral waters since the time of Berg- 

 man, when they can be presumed to have been executed with 

 any precision, where sulphate of lime is an ingredient, muri- 

 ate of soda is also present. It is obvious, that, if the sulphate 

 of lime has this origin, muriate of soda must also be formed. 

 On the other hand, in the greater number of those analyses 

 in which muriate of soda is an ingredient, we find also sulphate 

 of lime ; and, with the exception of the water of Harrowgate, 

 sulphate of lime is always present, where muriate of soda and 

 muriate of lime are conjoined. 



But the principal interest belonging to this view, is derived 

 from its relation to a question which has often been brought 

 under discussion, — Whether chemical analysis is capable of 

 discovering; the sources of the medicinal virtues of mineral wa- 

 ters ? This question some have been disposed to decide in the 

 negative, from finding examples of waters possessed of active 

 powers, in which analysis does not detect any ingredients of 

 adequate activity. 



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