214 Mineralogical and Chemical 



matter, as no test can be more depended on than this, 

 and, if it had contained either of these substances, the pre- 

 cipitate would not only have been more copious, but of a 

 very different colour. 



EXPERIMENT VIII. 



Muriate of barytes has scarcely a sensible effect on 

 the water : which shows that it scarcely contains the 

 most minute quantity of sulphuric acid. 



EXPERIMENT IX. 



Oxalate of potash produces no change whatever in the 

 transparency of the water : this being a very delicate 

 test of the presence of lime in any state of combination, 

 it shows that the water is perfectly free from it. 



From the above experiments it will appear, that this 

 water is of that class which are called simple carbonated 

 chalybeates; that is, a water in which a small quantity of 

 iron is held in solution by the carbonic acid gas. In 

 other respects it will also appear, that it is nearly perfect- 

 ly pure, containing scarcely any other foreign ingredi- 

 ents. I will allow that the analysis of this water cannot 

 be said to be complete, unless I had proceeded to eva- 

 poration ; but the advantages of re-agents are such, that 

 by them it can be perfectly ascertained, not only what 

 are the component parts of any mineral water, but also 

 a very accurate judgment may be formed of the quantitj 

 of any substance held in solution. 



