Chap. 8.] [ 509 ] 



C H A P. VIII. 

 MINERAL WATERS, 



Capacity of Water as a Solvent. Sufffta^ces commonly fcund In Mi- 

 neral Waters. Fixed Air. Mineral Acids. AlkfJitte jaks. AV- 

 tral Salts. Earthy Subftances. Sulphur. Metals. Mode of exa- 

 mining and analyzing Mineral Waters. Chemical Tefts. Analyjis 

 of the mojl celebrated Mineral or Spa Waters. Aix-la Chapslle. 

 Bath. Brijiol. Buxton. Cheltenham. Epfom. Harro^jugate. 

 Matlock. PjrmoKt. Scarborough. Spa, Reflections en the Uft 

 of Mi,::ral Water in general. 



TH E capacity which water has of holding a va- 

 riety of fubftances in folution has been fre- 

 quently mentioned in the courfe of theie volumes, and 

 indeed is a fact to well known and underftood, that 

 to in-fift much upon it would be ufelefs and even im- 

 pertinent. 



It was alfo intimated, that the water of fprings re- 

 ceives the name of mineral water from the foreign 

 fubftances which are contained in it. Thefe fubftances 

 are various, and more than one is commonly found 

 in mineral waters ; but in general they may be re- 

 ferred to the following heads: 



i. Fixed air, or carbonic acid gas. This ingre- 

 dient occafions an appearance of brifknefs in water, 

 fimilar to that of fermenting liquors, which is chiefly 

 obfervable when the water is poured from one vefTel 

 into another. It is very volatile, and foon efcapes on 

 the water being expofed to the air. This ingredient 

 frequently occafions giddinefs in perfons who are not 

 accuftomed to it. An artificial water of this kind 

 may be prepared at any time by impregnating water 

 with fixed air. 



2. The 



