the Mineral Waters of Dunblane and Pitcaithly. '277 



The same general conclusions, then, with regard to the nature 

 of the ingredients, are to be drawn from the preceding results as 

 from the application of the same tests to the Dunblane water. 

 Thev suggest of course a .similar mode of analysis. I preferred 

 the second of the methods above described, as being the most 

 simple, and easy of execution. 



An English pint of the water was sid^mitted to evaj^oration. 

 Before the matter liecame dry, numerous cubical crystals were 

 formed, indicating the presence of muriate of soda ; when dry, 

 the solid matter entered readily into fusion with effervescence, 

 denoting the predominance of muriate of lime. The dry matter 

 was highly deliquescent. After exposure to a heat inferior 

 rather to redness, it weighed while warm ."35 grains. 



Tiiis dry matter v/as redissolved in about ten times its weight 

 ■of distilled water. A sma"! portion remained undissolved, which 

 being washed and dried, weighed 1-2 grain. A little diluted 

 muriatic acid dropt upon this, excited slight eflfervesconct ; hut 

 the greater part remained undissolved, and weighed, after wash- 

 ing and exsiccation, 0*9 grain. It v/as sulphate of Urns. A 

 very thin crust adhered to the sides of the glass globe in which 

 the last stage of the evaporation had been performed. This wa.,s 

 dissolved with effervescence by diluted muriatic acid, and the 

 solution became quite turbid on adding oxalate of ammonia. 

 The quantity of carbonate of lime thus indicated, adding the 

 portion abstracted, as above, from the sulphate, ca.nnot be esti- 

 mated at more than 0'5 grain. These results were confirmed 

 by preci))itation from another portion of the water by muriate of 

 barvies, the proportions indicated being nearly the same. 



The lit|uor poured off from the insoluble residue, being diluted 

 with distilled water, oxalate of ammonia was added to it, as long 

 as any turbid appearance was produced ; and after the subsidence 

 of the precij)itate, the liquor was boiled a little, to render the 

 decomposition and precipitation complete. The clear liquor 

 was then evaporated to dryness, and the dry mass was exposed 

 to heat, to volatilize the muriate of ammonia, the product of the 

 action of the oxalate of ammonia on the muriate of lime; the 

 heat being co'.itinucd as long as any vapours exhaled, and at 

 the end l)eing raised to redness. The muriate of soda thus 

 obtained, v/eighed l.'J*4 grains. By solution and crystallization 

 it was obtained in cubes. 



The precipitate of oxalate of lime having been thoroughly 

 washed, was exposed in a sand-bath to a heat short of redness, 

 until it had ceased to exhale any vapours, and appeared perfectly 

 dry; it weighed 23vS grains. The portion of muriate of lime 

 equivalent to any quantity of oxalate of lime, cannot, as has been 

 already remarked, be exactly assigned, from the dilliculty of bring- 

 S 3 ing 



