Origin of {he Muriatie Acid. 26'/ 



isxamined by the fame re-agents as the hepatifed folution c£ 

 Jron (viii. 1.) with nearly a fimilar refult; a minute quan- 

 tity of fulphuric acid was detected ; pruffiat of potafh gave 

 a fmall white cloud ; tincture of galls a flight yellow tinge. 

 Repeating the experiment with gas extricated by the muriatic 

 acid, there was, in this cafe, no trace of fulphuric acid, and 

 the liquor was not at all rendered turbid by prufhat of pot- 

 afh. From both thefe folutions pure potafli feparates a very 

 minute white precipitate. 2. But, in one refpect, thefe fo- 

 lutions differed from the folutions of iron ; for, by thefe, 

 nitrat of filver is inftantaneoufly decompqfed, and a copious 

 precipitate feparates ; it is of a dark brown or yellow colour, 

 as if from a combination of fulphur. Oxygenated muriat of 

 mercury let fall a white matter, much more plentifully than 

 from the folutions of iron. Tartrite of potafh is decompofed, 

 and a fine cryftalline fubftance is feparated, which is the tar- 

 trite of manganefe. 



3. This folution is affected by metals in a manner fimilar 

 to the folution of iron. A piece of clear iron becomes 

 quickly covered with ruft, and an ochry matter feparates. If 

 the liquor be boiled in a copper veffel, fome matter alfo 

 feparates of the fame colour, and the furface of the veflel is 

 evidently acted upon. Thus the analogy between thefe 

 hepatifed folutions and the water of this fpring appears to 

 me completely eftablifhed ; and it may be concluded that 

 this water contains a triple compound, the bafis of which is 

 iron and manganefe, and the folution of which is effected by 

 hepatic gas. 



X. ORIGIN OF THE MURIATIC ACID- 



The coincidence between the artificial products and the 

 nntural waters of the -fpring is fuflicientiy pioved : another 

 coincidence remains to be confidercd, much more interefting 

 and more unexpected— the coincidence between the hepa- 

 tifed folution of iron and the oxygenated muriat of iron. I 

 had almoft concluded, from tl\g rcfcmblance between the 



properties 



