"88 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aWNO 1757. 



the west side of a large mountain called Hartfell, from which it has acquired 

 the name of Hartfell-spa.* This scar is a part of the mountain, through which 

 a small stream of water has worn its way to a considerable depth ; by which it 

 has laid open, and exposed to view, the strata of the earth on each side : and in 

 the bottom of this scar, and near the brink of this small brook, the mineral 

 water springs up, in 2 springs, the one a little lower than the other. 



According to what may be inferred from the following experiments, it may be 

 premised, that this water appears to contain in it a large proportion of iron, but 

 in 2 different forms ; and an aluminous salt united with a terrestrial principle. 

 The water equals the clearest spring- water in transparency ; and is as free from 

 colour or odour : yet its taste is very strong, and may be discerned to be com- 

 pounded of a sweet, subacid, and astringent taste. Its sweetness and acidity 

 appear sensibly to arise from alum ; and its high styptic and astringent taste as 

 evidently proceeds from that mineral salt, joined with some earthy or ferrugi- 

 neous parts. 



Experiment 1 . Some pieces of galls being added to equal quantities of the 

 water of the '2 springs, a very deep and bright blue colour was immediately pro 

 duced in the water of the upper spring, which in a little time turned to a perfect 

 black. The water of the lower spring, though it was turned of the same colour, 

 yet was not of so deep a shade, but was somewhat lighter than the former. The 

 tincture of galls caused the same appearances. 2. A tincture of balaustine- 

 flowers produced the above blue colours in both waters. 3. A quantity of the 

 water being thoroughly tinged with galls, was allowed to stand 24 hours : being 

 then filtrated through brown paper, the water, though almost quite colourless, 

 would not again receive any tincture with galls. 4. After elixation, the water 

 became of a turbid yellow colour with ochre, and afforded very little tincture 

 with galls. 5. A solution of sal martis, chemically prepared, being mixed with 

 galls, immediately turned of a bright dark blue colour, exactly similar to that 

 produced in the water. 6. A solution of common and rock alum was noways 

 changed in its colour with galls. 7- A solution of sal martis and alum being 

 mixed in equal quantities, the mixture was turned of a bright blue colour with 

 galls ; yet not of so deep a hue, but of a more diluted colour than the solution 

 of sal martis, without alum. ' ^ ' 



• Of this mineral water (tlie Hartfell Spa) an accurate analysis was published by Dr. Garnett, in 

 the year 1800, from which it appears to belong to the class of vitriolated chalybeate waters. From a 

 wine gallon he obtained 84 grs. of vitriol of iron, (sulphate of iron,) 12 £;rs. of alum, (sulphate of 

 alumine,) and 15 grs. of calx ot iron, (oxydof iron.) During the evaporation, a small quantity of 

 gas was given out. This mineral spring (the Hartfell) which lies near Moffat, must not be con- 

 founded with the Moffat mineral water, which is a sal i tie sulphureous water, without any impreg- 

 nation of iron. 



