WATERS, MINERAL. 



887 



adding a drop or two of pure nitric acid. A solu- 

 tion of nitrate of silver gives a blush precipitate 

 from the presence of any muriate ; and if this test 

 is applied after the previous application of nitrate 

 of barytes (care being taken that this last is free 

 from all muriatic acid), it is more certain, as any 

 precipitation from the presence of a sulphate or 

 carbonate is removed. A solution of acetate of 

 lead causes a turbid appearance, if sulphates or 

 carbonates are present ; while it produces a less 

 marked effect from the presence of muriates. A 

 solution of oxalate of ammonia detects lime by pre- 

 cipitation : and a solution of soap in alcohol indi- 

 cates, by the degree of turbid appearance it pro- 

 duces, the predominance of sulphate of lime, or the 

 degree of hardness, as it is called. If a solution of 

 phosphate of soda produce a milkiness after a pre- 

 vious addition of a similar quantity of carbonate of 

 ammonia, magnesia is present. The presence of 

 free carbonic acid is detected by a slight milkiness 

 being produced by the addition of an equal portion 

 of lime water to the water, and with still more 

 delicacy by super-acetate of lead. It is also dis- 

 covered in the air expelled by boiling, which, on 

 being agitated with lime water, affords a milky pre- 

 cipitate. Water is freed from all foreign substances 

 by distillation. 



WATERS, MINERAL. Under the article Min- 

 eral Waters, in this work, their definition was given, 

 and a division of them into classes pointed out: a 

 notice also of some of their principal localities was 

 appended. In this place, we shall present some 

 additional information respecting the localities of 

 mineral waters, their temperature, chemical consti- 

 tution, and medicinal qualities. The division of min- 

 eral waters above alluded to, was into sulphureous, 

 carbonated, chalybeate and saline. 



Among the most celebrated waters of the sul- 

 phureous class are those of Aix-la-Chapelle, twelve 

 leagues west from Cologne, nine north-east from 

 Liege, and eighty from Paris. Its thermal waters 

 appear to have been known to the Romans ; but 

 they owe their modern fame to Charlemagne, who 

 made Aix-la-Chapelle his residence, and occasion- 

 ally held his levee in the bath, with all his attend- 

 ants. The temperature of these waters varies, at 

 the different baths, from 110 to 143 Fahr. They 

 contain carbonates of soda, lime and magnesia, mu- 

 riate and sulphate of soda and silex. The gases are 

 in the following proportions : 



Nitrogen, . . . . 81 '25 



Carbonic acid, ..... 28'26 

 Sulphurated hydrogen, . . . 20-49 



Their medicinal qualities have been long well 

 known. They are adapted to all chronic cutaneous 

 disorders, asthmatic affections, chronic rheumatism, 

 dyspepsia, diseases of the uterus, stiffness, weakness 

 and contraction of the limbs from gun-shot wounds. 

 Their use is external and internal. Those waters 

 of the present class existing in the United States of 

 America which are the best known, are the White 

 Sulphur springs of Virginia. 



The carbonated waters, whose characteristic is 

 the predominance of carbonic acid, are both cold 

 and thermal. Their medical use is most advantage- 

 ously displayed in allaying the thirst and heat of 

 feverish action which accompany a disturbed state 

 of the stomach, and inflammation of the liver and 

 other viscera, and in subduing irritation of the kid- 

 ne\ s, and checking copious discharges. The two 



most celebrated thermal acidulous springs in France 

 are those of Mont d'Or and of Vichi. The former 

 were known to the Romans. There are four prin- 

 cipal springs at Mont d'Or, the temperature of three 

 of which are decidedly thermal, and stand respec- 

 tively at 107, 109 and 113 Fahr.; while the 

 fourth is of the low temperature of 52 Fahr. An 

 analysis of one of these springs gives, 



Free carbonic acid, 130 grs. 



Carbonate of soda, . . . .189 



Sulphate of soda, 57 



Muriate of soda, 145 



Alumine, 62 



Carbonate of lime, . . . 1 16 



Oxide of iron, . . . - . t .. . . 11 

 Carbonate of magnesia, ... 38 



Total, 



748 



There are seven springs at Vichi, ranging in tem- 

 perature from 72 to 112 Fahr. The proportions 

 of the saline ingredients vary in each. All contain, 

 however, carbonic acid, carbonates of lime, mag- 

 nesia, soda, sulphate of soda and muriate of soda. 



Of the cold carbonated waters, those of Seltz, 

 situated on the Rhine, nine leagues north-east of 

 Strasburg, are the most celebrated. The artificial 

 Seltz water is made as follows : 



Water, 



Carbonic acid, 

 Carbonate of soda, 

 Muriate of soda, 

 Carbonate ol magnesia, 



20 oz. 



5 times the volume. 

 4 grs. 

 22 .. 

 2 . 



The best example of this ckss afforded by America, 

 is found in the Sweet springs, Monroe county, Vir- 

 ginia. 



Chalybeate waters owe their characteristic pro- 

 perties, both chemical and medicinal, to an impreg- 

 nation of iron, in the state of an oxide, which is 

 held in solution by carbonic acid. They are limpid, 

 inodorous, and have a peculiar styptic taste. Ex- 

 posed to the air, they become covered with an 

 iridescent pellicle, and a quantity of ochrey matter 

 subsides, the water at the same time losing its 

 taste. The effects of waters of this class are modi- 

 fied by the quantity of carbonic acid in excess, and 

 of saline ingredients. One of the purest of the 

 class is that of Tunbridge, in England. The wa- 

 ters of Tunbridge Wells are not strong, however, 

 with saline or ferruginous ingredients, one gallon 

 containing only seven and a half grains. They are 

 found particularly useful in dyspepsia, uterine debi- 

 lity, cutaneous complaints, and gravel. The most 

 noted chalybeates in Europe are the Spa, in the 

 kingdom of Belgium, and Pyrmont, in Westphalia. 

 Spa is a small town, situated in a mountainous dis- 

 trict, which forms part of the forest of Ardennes. 

 It is ten leagues from Aix-la-Chapelle, six from 

 Liege, and seventy-five from Paris. The edifices 

 and places of public amusement are on a magnifi- 

 cent scale. There are seven springs, of which 

 number that of Pouhon is the principal. It con- 

 tains, according to Bergmann, in one hundred pounds 

 of the water, 



Crystallized carbonate of soda, 

 Muriate of soda. 

 Carbonate of iron, - 

 Carbonate of lime, 

 Carbonate of magnesia, . 



154 grs. 



18 .. 



59 

 154 .. 

 363 .. 



"748 



A hundred cubic inches of the water contain forty- 

 five cubic inches of carbonic acid gas. The action 

 of these waters is tonic, aperient, and cooling ; they 

 (strengthen muscular action, and are efficacious in 

 diseases proceeding from weakness and relaxation 



