308 On Spring and River TFater, as 



augmented our knowledge of the composition of water. It 

 has, however, heen almost exclusively mineral waters which 

 have attracted the attention of chemists ; and the careful study 

 of the more ordinary kinds of water, whether for drinking or 

 employment in the arts, has heen nearly wholly neglected. 

 Hence, in the accomplishment of the task he had undertaken, 

 M. Dupasquier soon found that the most valued opinions con- 

 cerning the properties both of river and spring water were al- 

 together vague and unsatisfactory ; that so far as Hygiene was 

 concerned, no progress had been made since the days of Hip- 

 pocrates ; and that as it regards their employment in the arts, 

 and especially in dyeing, not only has the subject been studied 

 in the most superficial manner, but many gross errors are still 

 prevalent, not only among the common workmen, but among 

 those scientific individuals who direct and assist them. 



In endeavouring to supply the many deficiencies which ex- 

 ist on the subject, the author undertook long and laborious re- 

 searches, which present original views ; and he directs atten- 

 tion to the following points : 1st, To the influence, upon the 

 animal economy, of the temperature of the water which is 

 drunk ; 2d, To the utility, in water, of certain substances 

 which are foreign to its atomic constitution ; 3d, To the diffe- 

 rence which exists between the various salts of lime found in 

 potable waters, as it respects their wholesomencss, and the 

 arts ; Ath, To the comparative action of the different calcare- 

 ous salts upon soap ; and, hth, To the part assigned by nature 

 to the carbonate of lime in the process of digestion, and its in- 

 fluence upon the colouring principles of dye-stuffs. 



We must here omit all that the author has said respecting 

 the historical portion of the subject, and also his analysis of 

 the various springs of the different wells and fountains of the 

 city of Lyons ; but shall introduce a few of his statements 

 concerning the waters of the Rhone. This river, taking its 

 rise from one of the largest glaciers in Switzerland, previous 

 to reaching the Lake of Geneva, receives a large quantity of 

 water, which is produced by the melting of the snow and ice 

 which cover the summits of those Alps through whose valleys 

 it wends its way. It is reckoned there are about forty-two 

 important glaciers which supply their contributions to this 

 river, including in this enumeration those which pour their 



