362 - Analysis of the Mineral. Waters _ [Now, 
these steps of the. process may be conjoined. The muriate of lime 
may be formed by adding the requisite quantity of carbonate of lime 
to the due proportion of muriatic acid diffused in water, and the 
vessel being closed, the escape of the carbonic acid gas may be pre- 
vented. The muriate of magnesia and the muriate of soda may be 
formed. in a similar manner from the carbonates of magnesia and 
soda. And the quantity of carbonic acid thus afforded will be very 
nearly that which is required. ‘To form the muriate of lime, three 
grains of carbonate are to be used ; to form the muriate of mag- 
nesia, five grains of the carbonate of that earth; and to form 
the 7°8 grains of muriate of soda, 12°3 grains of crystallized car- 
bonate of soda. These quantities contain 6:2 grains of carbonic acid, 
or 13 cubic inches, a quantity not much beneath that which the 
Seltzer water contains. The neutral carbonate of soda, or bi-car- 
bonate, as it is named, may even be substituted in the preparation ; 
and if the due proportion of this be used (11 grains), it will yield 
six cubic inches additional, making the whole quantity 19 cubic 
inches, two move than the quantity in the water.* 
I might apply the same view to a number of other analyses of 
mineral waters, even the most recent. But though this would not 
be altogether uninteresting, it is scarcely necessary to extend the 
illustration further. The general conclusion may, I believe, be 
drawn, that in the analysis of saline mineral waters, the actual pro- 
ducts of the analytic operation are not always to be regarded as the 
real ingredients. Aditlerent view of the composition is often to be 
taken, and may in many cases be applied, so as to afford a more 
satisfactory solution of their active powers. 
I may only further remark, that a view somewhat different may 
also be applied, founded on the doctrine that the primary ingre- 
dients of the compound salts, obtained by the analysis of mineral 
waters, are in simultaneous combination, and not in the state of 
binary compounds. Even this view, were it adopted, would afford 
a better explanation of their active powers than the view of their 
composition which is usually received, since it could not at least be 
affirmed that such a combination must be inactive. The opinion 
itself, however, is much less probable ; for if fairly followed out, it 
leads to the conclusion that all combinations. of compound. bodies 
are simultaneous combinations of the primary elements—a conclu- 
sion from which no inference with regard to specific qualities could 
* The following is the easiest method of conducting the process, About 35 
grains of muriatic acid, of the strength usually met with in the shops, are put 
into a strong bottle with a pint of water; the acid being introduced:-at the bottom 
of the water by a long funnel. Three grains of pure white marble, in coarse 
powder, are dropped in, and the bottle is closed, When these are dissolved, five 
grains of the common carbonate of magnesia. in powder are added, and after the 
solution of this, 32 grains of erystallized carbonate of soda, or what is equivalent 
to this, and preferable, as,affording more carbonic acid, 27 grains of bicarbonate 
ef soda, are put in, The bottle is closed accurately, shaken, and inyerted. Ina 
short time a perfect solution takes place, and a liquor is obtained transparent, 
which sparkles when poured out, and has a pleasant taste, 
