VOL. XLII.J PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 555 



A Representation of the Parhelia seen in Kent, Dec. 1 9, 1741, communicated 

 by the Rev. Mr. H. Miles. N° 4(52, p. 46. 



This paper contains no additional observations on parhelia ; nor does the re- 

 presentation or figure exhibit any new appearance. 



Experiments, by fVay of Analysis, on the Water of the Dead Sea ; also on the 

 Hot Spring near Tiberiades ; and on the Hamm^am Pharoan JVater. By 

 Charles Perry, M. D. made on his Journey through the Holy Land, i^c 

 N" 462, p. 48. 



I. On the JVater of Asphallites, commonly called the Dead Sea. 



Exper, 1. — On steeping or infusing some scrapings of galls in it, after stand- 

 ing a long time, it turned of a bright purple colour. 



Exper. 2. — On the instillation of ol. tartari per deliq. it immediately became 

 troubled or muddy, and seemed as if goblets of fat were fluctuating in it. This 

 unctuous matter, on long standing in repose, came gradually into closer con- 

 tact, and at last subsided. 



Exper. 3. — On the instillation of sp. of vitriol, it deposited a milk-white 

 greasy sediment; which, after 12 hours repose, occupied a 5th part of the 

 vehicle or liquor. 



Exper. 4. — Being mixed with a solution of sacch, saturni, it let fall a small 

 quantity of a greyish powder. 



Exper. 5. — Being severally and separately mixed with solution of sublimate, 

 with sp. sal. ammoniac, and with sugar of violets; it neither fermented, de- 

 posited any sediment, became turbid, nor changed colour ; except only from 

 the sugar of violets, which turned it of a dark green. 



Observations. — This water is highly saturated with salt, insomuch that any 

 measure of it preponderates fresh water under equal surfaces, in the ratio of 5 

 to 4. It has also a wonderful acrity, insomuch that being held in the mouth 

 for a short time, it constringes it as alum does. 



Dr. P. could not, from the above experiments, and the appearances which 

 resulted from them, conclude, that this water is impregnated with any thing 

 more than mere salt,* which is of a very acrid, alkaline nature; and something 

 else, which may be of a compound nature, partly sulphureous, and parly bitu- 

 minous. But, it may be presumed, that it neither partakes of steel, alum, 

 nor vitriol, nor yet of a pure, genuine sulphur : and consequently it can afford 



* The water of the Dead Sea is remarkably salt and bitter. Besides common salt (muriate of 

 soda) it contains a very large proportion of muriate of lime and muriate of magnesia, to which last 

 srfts its bitterness is owing. See Memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences for 1778. 



4b 2 



