316 On the Waters of the Dead Sea. 
tion with his no less renowned countrymen MM. Maequier 
and Sage,* in the year 1778 (vide Table). At that early 
period, however, analytical chemistry had not attained to 
such a degree of accuracy as that of which it is now suscep- 
tible, and consequently there is little or no doubt but that 
they must have overlooked many of the most important con- 
stituents. The same remarks apply to all of the three ana- 
lyses which follow next in the series ; namely, that of Dr 
Marcet in 1807, of Professor Klaproth, and of M. Gay-Lussac 
in 1818. The former of these analysts was, moreover, in- 
convenienced by the smallness of the quantity which he ope- 
rated upon, which did not amount to more than an ounce and 
a half. 
The great differences which are to be observed in Pro- 
fessor Klaproth’s numbers (vide Table) as compared with 
those obtained by the other two experimenters, according tu 
Dr Marcet, are occasioned by that chemist having employed 
too low a temperature for the purpose of desiccation. 
The last two analyses of these waters that have been 
published, are those by Professor Gmelin of Tiibingen, and 
by Dr Apjohn of Dublin. The former appeared in the year 
1826, and the latter in 1837 ; they are given in the synoptical 
table at the end.+ 
On comparing the results of these six analyses, it will be 
seen, that in no two instances do they agree either in the 
proportion or composition of the contained salts. The two 
latter, by Gmelin and Apjohn, are evidently the ones most 
to be depended upon, for the reasons already stated; but 
even between these, many very great differences occur. The 
lower specific gravity of Apjohn’s specimen, which was occa- 
sioned by its having been collected at the close of the rainy 
season, and at about half a mile’s distance from the mouth of 
the Jordan, may, it is true, partly account for these; but it 
certainly will not explain the absence of the chlorides of 
aluminum and ammonium, both of which were found by 
* Mémoires de l’Academie des Sciences, p. 69. 
+ An analysis by Dr R. Marchand appeared this year in the Journ. fiir Prakt. 
Chem. B. xlvii. 353.—Ip, 
