S36 ANNUAL R it G I 5 T E R, 1794* 



ter, some consider sulphureous wa- 

 ters as impregnated by the fumes 

 only of sulphur : others assert, that 

 these waters contain sulphur com- 

 bined with an alkali: and each par- 

 ty thinks, and possibly justly, that 

 its opinion respecting particular 

 lyaters is supported by the analy* 

 jation of them. Artificial sulphu- 

 reous waters have often been pre- 

 jiared on the former of these prin- 

 ciples ; and they have been pre- 

 pared on the two principles com- 

 bined by M. Le Roy, of Montpel- 

 lier, who applied a strong and con- 

 tinued heat to water mixed with 

 small quantities of sulphur and 

 magnesia, until the fumes of the 

 sulphur had strongly impregnated 

 the water. 



My metliod is founded on the se- 

 cond principle. Its simplicity, and 

 the probability, that it is similar to 

 that pursued by nature in the f jr- 

 mation of some of the most powerful 

 Sulphureous waters, induced me to 

 make trial of it. The same consi- 

 derations may possibly be deemed, 

 by gentlemen of the medical facul- 

 ty, a recommendation of this artifi- 

 cial medicinal water for trial in the 

 course of their practice. 



The method is this : mix sulphur 

 and magnesia, in the proportion of 

 four drachms of each with one 

 quart of cold water. Care must be 

 taken, that every particle of the 

 sulphur and magnesia be made so 

 .wet as that none can float. Pour 

 .this mixture into a vessel in which 

 it may be conveniently shaken se- 

 veral times every day, during the 

 space of three weeks. I^et it then 

 settle for two days, and rack off the 

 liquor. This, first racked off from 

 the sulphur and magnesia, will be 

 of the colour of water, and free 

 from any bad smell. If a like 



quantity of water be poured into 

 the vessel in which the magnesia 

 and sulphur remain, and be fre- 

 quently shaken, it will in a fort- 

 night be found to be as strongly 

 impregnated as the former ; and in 

 like manner, may many successive 

 impregnated liquors be obtained ; 

 but they vnW differ from the first in 

 baring a yellow tinge, and emit- 

 ting a foetid odour. However, in 

 their component parts and medici- 

 nal properties, all these impreg- 

 nated liquors seem to me, from the 

 trials I have made of them, perfect- 

 ly to agree. These liquors almost 

 instantly change the colour of sil- 

 ver. They are most effectually de- 

 composed by powdered nutgalls and 

 alum, the alum being added a few 

 minutes after the nutgalL In this 

 process a very copious precipitation 

 ensues. 



Flowers of sulphur and magnesia 

 are to be mixed with water in the 

 proportion of four drachms of each 

 to a quart of water. They should 

 previously be ground together in a 

 glass mortar, for the purpose of 

 breaking all the small lumps of sul- 

 phur which would otherwise float 

 on the water. They should then 

 be gradually wetted with the wa- 

 ter, and worked up with it by the 

 hand. When so mixed, as that 

 none of the sulphur floats, the 

 whole is to be poured into a close 

 vessel, in which it may conveniently 

 be shaken two or three times every 

 day for three weeks. After that 

 time, it is to settle for two days, 

 and then the liquid to be racked 

 off fine. The same ingredients will 

 impregnate the like quantity of 

 water two or three times, to an 

 equal degree of strength,, in a 

 space of time somewhat shorter 

 than the first. 



N.B. 



