MINERAL WATERS. 



Mineral 

 Waters. 



380 



18. Carbonate of alumina, according to Westrumb, 

 exists in the waters of Weinberg and Pyrmont ; it is 

 doubtful, however, if this be the state of combination 

 of the alumina. 



19. Carbonate of iron is often contained in mineral 

 waters. When iron is present in water, it is almost 

 always in union with carbonic acid ; the carbonate 

 being held in solution by an excess of acid. 



The sulphates are not so frequently found as the car- 

 bonates. 



20. Sulphate of soda, however, often occurs. 



21. Sulphate of ammonia has been detected in some 

 springs near volcanoes. 



22. Sulphate of lime is a common ingredient in mine- 

 ral waters. 



23. Sulphate of magnesia frequently exists. It is con- 

 tained in the waters of Epsom ; hence the name of the 

 salt Epsom Salt. 



2-t. Sulphate of iron is often found in waters in the 

 neighbourhood of volcanoes. It has also been detected 

 in other waters, as in those of Horley Green by Dr. 

 Garnet, and in the waters of Denmark by Bergman. 



25. Sulphate of copper is a very rare production in 

 mineral waters. It is found only in those which issue 

 from copper mines. 



The muriates are very frequently observed in waters. 



26. Muriate of potassa, however, rarely exists. 



27- Muriate of soda, on the contrary, is found in al- 

 most all mineral waters. 



28. Muriate of ammonia has been detected in some 

 lakes in Italy. 



2J). Muriate of lime and muriate of magnesia are often 

 found. 



30. Muriate of baryta and muriate of alumina, it 

 is said, exist in some waters, they are, however, very 

 rare ; the former has been detected by Withering, the 

 latter by Bergman. 



31. Muriate of manganese is found in some waters. 

 According to Lambe it is contained in those of Leming- 

 ton Priors, and Dr. Scudamore has found it in the wa- 

 ter of Tunbridge wells. 



32. Hydro-sulphur -et of soda has been observed in 

 some waters. , 



33. Hydro- sulphur et of lime also, though rarely, exists 

 in them. 



It must be here remarked, that the salts mentioned 

 above, as existing in mineral waters, are those which 

 have been procured by the evaporation of the fluid, 

 hence inferring, that those deposited by evaporation, 

 are the salts which the water contained. Other views 

 are, however, entertained with respect to the state of 

 combination of the acids and bases, which, if correct, 

 will make the salts different from those stated. 



Besides the substances enumerated, mineral waters 

 contain animal and vegetable bodies; these, however, 

 are probably accidental. 



From the above statement, it would appear that a 

 mineral water contains an immense variety of ingre- 

 dients ; this, however, is not the case. A mineral wa- 

 ter seldom contains above 8 or 10 of these substances, 



indred it rarely happens that the number is so great. Miner*! 

 In general it does not exceed 6. The substances most Waten. 

 commonly found are free carbonic acid and sulphuret- ^"""V^ ' 

 ted hydrogen, carbonates of soda, lime, magnesia and 

 iron, sulphates and muriates of soda, lime and magne- 

 sia. Owing to the waters containing some of these in- 

 gredients, while the others are wanting, or in small 

 quantity, they have been divided into different classes, 

 and named according Jo the substance which imparts to 

 them their particular properties. 



Mineral waters are divided into four classes, the aci- 

 dulous, the sulphureous, the chalybeate, and the sa- 

 line. 



Acidulous waters are those which contain carbonic 

 acid in its free state, or in combination in excess with 

 a base. These waters are easily distinguished by their 

 slightly acid taste, and by their sparkling when poured 

 from one vessel to another ; both of which propertie 

 they lose, when exposed to the air for a length of time, 

 or by boiling. Besides carbonic acid, they almost al- 

 ways contain muriate of soda, and some of the earthy 

 carbonates ; it is the free carbonic acid, however, that 

 imparts to them their particular properties. 



Sul/ihureous maters are those which contain sulphu- 

 retted hydrogen. These are very easily distinguished by 

 their odour, and by their rendering a solution of a salt 

 of lead black, or by causing a piece of silver, when im- 

 mersed in them, to acquire a dark colour. Besides sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen, they in general contain alkaline 

 and earthy sulphates and muriates. The sulphureous 

 waters may be subdivided into two kinds ; 1st, Those 

 which have sulphuretted hydrogen in its free state: 

 2cl, Those in which it exists in union with an alkali or 

 an earth. 



Chalybeate waters are those which have iron as an 

 ingredient. These are known by their peculiar taste, 

 and by their becoming black when mixed with an in- 

 fusion of nutgalls. The chalybeate waters are of dif- 

 ferent kinds ; sometimes the iron is combined with 

 sulphuric acid, more frequently it is in union with 

 carbonic acid ; this may be just in sufficient quantity to 

 hold the iron in solution, or it may be in excess, in 

 which case, besides chalybeate, the water possesses acid 

 properties, forming what is called an acidulous chaly- 

 beate water. 



Saline waters are those which contain the saline in- 

 gredients generally found in mineral waters, but which 

 have not carbonic acid in excess, and are free from sul- 

 phuretted hydrogen and iron, or contain them in very 

 trifling quantity. Saline waters may be subdivided in- 

 to four kinds. 



(<z) Alkaline waters, or those which contain alkali in 

 its free state, or combined with carbonic acid, and which 

 render the vegetable blues green. 



(6) Hard waters, or those which contain carbonate or 

 sulphate of lime. 



(c) Salt waters, or those in which muriate of soda 

 abounds. 



Purgative waters, or those which contain princi- 

 y sulphate of magnesia. 



pally 



