1815.] of Dunblane and Pitcaithly. 265 
relative proportions, therefore, of sulphate and carbonate of lime 
may be regarded as the same: and the insoluble residue will thus 
consist of 0:3 of carbonate and 2°3 of sulphate of lime. By pre- 
cipitation by muriate of barytes from another pint of the water, 
similar results were obtained. 
To the clear liquor oxalate of ammonia was added as. long as it 
produced any turbid appearance. The precipitate collected and 
dried, being converted by calcination into carbonate of lime, 
afforded, when acted on by muriatic acid, 16 grains of dry muriate 
of lime. ' 
The solution poured off from the precipitate was evaporated to 
dryness, and the dry mass was exposed to a heat gradually raised to 
redness, until it ceased to exhale any vapour. The muriate of 
ammonia formed by the action of the oxalate of ammonia on the 
muriate of lime was thus expelled, and the muriate of soda of the 
water remained. It weighed 22°5 grains. 
The results, then, by this method, are from a pint of the water, 
Grains. 
MIUIHALE GF GOA, . » < ind din'e-cie dita nis miee eo 
Mate. OF NTTIE. fon mcm Spine: srpghcndniaial A 
Sulphate of lime ......sseeereeeeee 2°3 
Garhonate Of ALINE, | |», «:0,60. 00.0 sie agai 
Te NE Ck Sirs Rina ai oliuke dCi 
41°25 
The proportion of iron I have stated as similar to that of the 
north spring, from the colour produced by the tineture of galls 
being nearly the same. 
From the almost perfect similarity in the composition of the two 
waters, with regard to the proportions of their ingredients, there is 
every reason to conclude that they are from the same spring 5 the 
weaker being either mixed-with surface water at the pool, or being 
diluted in its course. 
The determination of the composition of this water suggests the 
question whether this is such as to account for the medicinal effects 
it produces. It acts, as has been stated, as a diuretic, and in a 
larger dose as a cathartic. ‘This water, and the mineral water of 
Piteaithly, present in some respects a peculiarity. The greater 
number of saline waters which have a purgative quality contain 
magnesian salts, to which, as they are known to act as cathartics, 
the effect is obviously to be ascribed. Of the ingredients of the 
Dunblane and Pitcaithly springs, muriate of lime is scarcely known 
to have any purgative power in its pure form; and if muriate of 
soda possess it, it is only in an inconsiderable degree. Still there 
can be no douht that it is to this impregnation that their operation is 
owing ; and they afford a proof, therefore, of what is indeed sufh- 
ciently established, that the powers of mineral waters are often 
much greater than could be expected from the nature and quantity 
