214 Case of Hernia successfully treated by an Operation. 
forests. And water passing through a stratum of vegeta- 
le mould is known to receive what is called the woody 
taste. It is therefore presumable that the rain water re- 
ceives a tincture from the thick layer of vegetable mould 
through which it is strained, and carries the flavour of it to 
the fountain. The peculiarities of this feeble acid, like 
that of numerous others we meet with in practice, does not 
seem to be defined in chemistry as yet by discriminating 
characters. 
The iron of this mineral water is very easily separated. 
Exposure to the atmosphere is followed by a metallic pre- 
cipitation. Transportation to a distance, as bottles are 
commonly corked, is attended with a deposition of the 
iron. The water, after having been carried to New: York, 
when subjected to experiment im my house, gave no evi- 
dence of a chalybeate quality. when tested by the Prussian 
alkali and spirituous tincture of galls. This same water, 
after being boiled in a kettle, makes excellent tea. The 
heat of ebullition seems to separate the ferruginous ingre- 
dient, and the infusion is thereby treed from all dusky or 
black tint. Still, if this same infusion of green tea is 
mixed with water fresh from the spring, a dark and dis~ 
agreeable hue is instantly produced. A short exposure to 
the heat of 212° thus converts this mineral water into a 
good tea-water. It is employed for this purpose occa- 
sionally. 
If there is any thing that deserves the name of a pure 
chalybeate water in the world, this would seem to be such 
a composition. The iron appears to be united with the 
water without the aid of carbonic, or indeed any other acid ; 
for the weak acidity detected by litmus can scarcely be 
cousidered as contributing to its solution. Some part of 
the iron ore universally diffused among the mincrals here~ 
about, is in a state proper for water to act upon, and to 
produce the martial impregnation remarkably free from 
other admixtures. i 
Schooley’s Mountain, July 10, 1810. 
XXXVII. Case of Hernia successfully treated by an Opera- 
tion. By Joun Taunton, Esq. Surgeon to the City and 
Finsbury Dispensaries, to the City of London Truss So- 
ciety, Lecturer on Anatomy, Sc. Se. 
Nov. 22, 1s10.—M ary MANNING, #t. 67, of a good 
constitution, although she has lived rather freely, much ad- 
dicted 
