¥815.] of Dunblane and Pitcaithly.- 267 
«The composition of this water, according to this analysis, is very 
similar to that of the Dunblane water. No account is given, how- 
ever, so far as I have been able to discover, of the manner in which 
it had been executed, and it is therefore uncertain to what state of 
dryness the ingredients had been brought to which their proportions 
are referred. Hence no comparative estimate can be made of it 
with any other mineral water; and this led me to undertake its 
_ analysis, in the same manner as that of the Dunblane water. 
Pitcaithly is situated in the valley of Strathern, and though at 
rather a greater distance from the front range of the Grampians 
than Dunblane, it is not improbable that the spring may have a 
similar origin with the Dunblane one, and may rise from the ted 
sand-stone which appears to form the first rock on descending from 
the primitive rocks, and to extend over all this district. Be 
The taste of this water is saline, and somewhat bitter. Comparing 
it with the Dunblane water, both being tasted at the same time, the 
taste of the Dunblane water is stronger, and in particular more 
saline than that of the other. The medicinal operation of the Pit- 
caithly water, in the sensible effects it produces, is diuretic and pur- 
gative. 
- The gaseous impregnation of the water could be examined pro- 
perly only at the spring, which I had not the opportunity of doing. 
But having procured a quantity of the water, } submitted it to the 
same examination as in the preceding analysis, to ascertain its solid 
contents. ‘The usual re-agents produced the following appear- 
ances :— 
1. The colours of litmus, violet, and turmeric, were ‘scarcely 
affected. If there were any change, it was that of the litmus be- 
coming more blue, and that of the violet-green; but this was so 
slight as to be rather doubtful. The tarmeric underwent no change. 
2. Muriate of barytes produced a turbid appearance and precipi- 
tation ; but this was much less considerable than in the Dunblane 
water. ‘The transparency was not restored by nitri¢ acid. 
3. Nitrate of silver produced a very dense and copious preci- 
pitate. 
_ 4. Water of potash gave a milkiness not very considerable. 
5. Carbonate of potash threw down a copious precipitate, which 
disappeared with effervescence on adding nitric acid. 
6. Lime-water had no sensible effect. 
7. Ammonia, when perfectly free from carbonic acid, caused no 
turbid appearance. 
8. Oxalate of ammonia produced an abundant precipitation. 
9. Tineture of galls, added in a very minute quantity, did not 
‘immediately produce any effect ; but after a few hours, a dark colour 
appeared, which gradually deepened, inclining to an olive-green. 
With all these tests, the general results are the same as those 
from the operation of the same tests on the Dunblane water. In 
“experiment 7th, the ammonia, if not perfectly free from carbonic 
