404 Smith on the Harrodsburg Salts. 
inferred that sulphate of lime was present, with perhaps a 
slight trace of muriate of lime. 
7. The remainder of this solution was filtered, and on 
weighing the dried residuum, the loss appeared to be 2 grains, 
so that sulphate of lime probably constitutes nearly of the 
crus residue (48 grains. 4.) 
. The watery solution, (4) which was supposed to contain 
a grains, was evaporated, and left a residue that weighed. but 
34 grains, so that 33 grains must have disappeared in the 
process. 
8. Some of this residue dissolved in distilled water, was 
tested with carbonate of soda, forming an immediate white 
cloud; with nitrate of barytes, the same; with ammonia, the 
same; but with oxalate of ammonia, it did not form any cloud 
until it had stood some time, and then it was slight. From these 
tests it was inferred that sulphate of magnesia was present. 
10. A portion of the dried residuum (7) was treated with 
diluted muriatic acid, which dissolyed nearly the whole of it, 
with considerable effervescence. The new compound, on 
examination, proved to be muriate of lime; so that it may be 
concluded the residuum (7) was principally carbonate of lime. 
n considering the results of the preceding experiments, it 
will appear ‘that more than one half of the substances submit- 
ted to analysis, was easily soluble in water, and from the 
chemical tests used, that it was composed principally of sulphate 
of magnesia, (Epsom salt) with perhaps a small portion of mu- 
riate of lime or magnesia, that of the remainder, about } was 
sulphate of lime, and difficultly soluble in water; and that the: 
rest was perfectly insoluble in water, and consisted principally 
of carbonate of lime, : 
There can be no doubt then, that the Harrodsburg salt, in 
its present state, is very improperly prepared containing in its 
composition a large proportion of matter, that is not only inert, 
but which may produce considerable inconvenience and injury 
in the stomach and bowels, from its ponderous nature and ten- 
dency to form mechanical obstructions. Perhaps the occur- 
rence of such injury may not be frequent, from the circum- 
stance of a large portion of the salt being so insoluble; but, 
s 
«* 
7 
