MINERAL WATERS OF DUNBLANE. 493 



the state of binary compounds. Even this view, were it adopt- 

 ed, would afford a better explanation of their active powers,, 

 than the view of their composition which is usually received, 

 since it could not at least be affirmed, that such a combination 

 must be inactive. The opinion itself, however, is much less 

 probable ; for if fairly followed out, it leads to the conclusion, 

 that all combinations of compound bodies are simultaneous 

 combinations of the primary elements, — a conclusion from 

 which no inference with regard to specific qualities could be 

 drawn, and which is inconsistent, therefore, with the conclu- 

 sions which in many cases we are able actually to form. We 

 are led, therefore, to the admission, that the state of binary 

 combinations exists ; and it is only necessary to guard against 

 the error of supposing that the products of the analysis are al- 

 ways the original ingredients. 



The importance of the subject, and its relation to the ques- 

 tion, how far chemical analysis is capable of accounting for the 

 medicinal efficacy of mineral waters, will, I hope, affi)rd an 

 apology for the introduction of some of the preceding observa- 

 tions, though they may not fall strictly under the o%cts usiu 

 ally submitted to the Society. 



In a succeeding paper, I sliall have to offer some remarks on 

 the analysis of Sea- water, and salt brines, suggested by the view 

 which I have explained in this. And the same view may per- 

 haps lead to the illustration of a geological problem, hitherto 

 involved in considerable difficulty, the origin of Rock Salt, 

 and the relation of this mineral to the saline impregnation of 

 the ocean. 



Vol. VIL P. IL 3 R 



XYIL 



