Analysis of the Hot Springs at Bath. 355 



colour was immediately produced, and from its mtensity it 

 was evident that carbonate of lime had increased the power 

 of infusion of galls as much in employing the carbonate as 

 the sulphate of iron. 



It may be concluded, from these experiments, that the ef- 

 fects produced by carbonate of lime are not attributable en- 

 tirely, if at all, to the conversion of the sulphate of iron 

 into a carbonate. Hence I was induced to examme the ap- 

 pearances produced by the action of the various alkalies and 

 earths upon infusion of galls and solutions of iron. T he 

 results are by no means uninteresting, but the limits usually 

 allotted to an analysis will hardly admit of the necessary de- 

 tail ; I shall therefore relate only such i'acts as appear requi- 

 site to explain the changes occurring in the Bath water, re- 

 serving the statement of the remaining experiments for a 

 future opportunity. 



I now proceeded to examine the salts produced by eva- 

 porating the water and crystallisation. 



(u) A quantity of the water was evaporated to dryness : 

 the residuum was treated with distilled water as long as that 

 fluid continued to dissolve any portion of it. This solution 

 was again evaporated, and upon cooling yielded a considera- 

 ble quantity of acicular crystals. These were again dissolved 

 in distilled water; and to a part of the solution nitrate of ba- 

 rytes was added, which occasioned a copious precipitate. 

 The same effect was produced by oxalate of ammonia ; but 

 ammonia caused no precipitation. These crystals were there- 

 fore sulphate of lime. By further evaporation the solution 

 afforded cubic crystals of muriate of soda and prismatic cry- 

 stals of sulphate of soda. 



The next object to be attained was the weight of the total 

 quantity of the various substances held in solution by a given 

 portion of the water. This has been given, with consider- 

 able variation, by different analysis, as will appear by th« 

 following statement. From a quart of the water 



Dr. Lucas obtained 33^ grains gf dry residtmm. 



Dr. Charlton - 34 



Dr. Falconer - 17* 



Dr. Cibbes - S3i 



Z2 T» 



