Springs at Lemington Priors, 191 
trayed. In his analysis of the acidulous waters of 
Medvi in Ostro-Gothland,* he has noticed a resi- 
duum of 4% grains of iron, dissolved partly by he- 
patic gas, partly by carbonic acid. Now, we have 
seen, that there is no decomposition of these liquors 
by boiling; nor does any oxyd precipitate how long 
soever the evaporation be continued.’ The hepatic 
gas seems to be totally decomposed: nitric acid 
dropped into these liquors precipitates nothing. 
Are we then to conclude with Mr. Kirwan, that 
hepatic gas does not dissolve iron or any other me- 
tal? As the gas itself is decomposed, this, in strict 
propriety of language, must be allowed to be true; 
but, that some solution is effected during ‘the de- 
composition, the following remarks evince. 3. A 
piece of clean and bright iron was put into some of 
the hepatised solution (if I may be allowed so to 
call it, while its true composition is unknown); it 
soon became turbid; a copious ochry precipitate 
fell down; and, in twenty-four hours, the whole 
surface of the iron was covered with rust. 4. Let 
the solution be boiled in a copper vessel, a precipi- 
tate also separates of an ochry colour; but it is 
smaller in quantity than in the former experiment. 
5. Digest a piece of clean iron in the solution after 
it has been. boiled in a copper vessel; much ochry 
matter still separates; but there is no vestige of me- 
* Bergman’s Essays, Dissertation y111, 6, 
