the Mineral PValers of Dunblane and Pltcaithly . 269 



portion of sulphate of soda, already noticed as formed by the 

 action of the sulphuric acid on the muriate of soda adhering to 

 the muriate of lime after the operation of the alcohol, it gives 

 the quantity of muriate of soda at 24*7 grains. 



From these results, the solid ingredients in a pint of this wa- 

 ter appear to he 



Muriate of soda 24-7 grains. 



Muriate of lime 17*6 



Sulphate of lime 2*9 



Carbonate of lime .. .. .. 0*5 



45-7 

 With a trace of iron. 



Having completed the analysis in this manner, I wished to 

 confirm it by a different method. A very simple one presented 

 itself, — to reduce by evaporation to dryness, — obtain the sul- 

 phate of lime as before, — then, dissolving the mixed mass of 

 muriate of lime and muriate of soda in water, decompose the 

 muriate of lime by oxalate of ammonia, so as to find the qiran- 

 tity of it present, and after evaporation to volatilize the muriate 

 of ammonia by heat, and thus obtain the muriate of soda. The 

 results in this mode ought to correspond with those in the for- 

 mer; and the one, therefore, afford a confirmation of the other, 

 or lead to the discovery of any fallacy if it exist, 



A pint of tlie water was evaporated to dryness, and afforded, 

 as before, 47 grains of solid matter. This being submitted to 

 the action of a small (|ua;itity of distilled water, was dissolved, 

 with the exception of a residue of sulphate of lime, which weighed 

 2'(3 grains, and a little carbonate of liinc, which may be esti- 

 mated, as before, at 0*5 grain. 



To the dear solution, a solution of oxalate of ammonia was 

 added as long as any turbiti appearance was produced ; and after 

 the precipitate had subsided, the liquor was heated nearly to 

 boiling, to render the mutual action and the precipitation mors 

 perfect. The preci])itate being repeatedly washed with distilled 

 water, was dried by the hc;it of a sand-bath raised gradually, 

 and ke])t lower than a red heat. It weighed 2 1 grains. The 

 quantity of muriate of lime which would be equivalent to tliis, 

 cannot i)c inferred with certainty, from any previous analysis of 

 •oxalate of lime ; for as the oxalate cannot be exposed to a red 

 heat without decomposition, it cannot easily be subjected to a 

 precise degree of heat, i)y which we can be certain of obtaining 

 it in a uniform state of dryness*. It is necessary, therefore, 



* Referrini; to those analyses whicli in;iy be supposed to be most accu- 

 rate, 81 grains of ox-.ilnte of lime will ho found eiiLiiviilcfit to vaiious pro- 

 portions, from ir5 to 199 of nuiriutc uiiiine. 



tliat 



