430 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO I76O. 



The Analysis. — It deposits an ochre, which serves for painting. — It also de- 

 posits in the bottles a sediment partly of a red and yellowish colour, and partly 

 white and raggy : which sparkled, and smelt strong, on the red hot iron. — Two 

 pounds 11 oz. yielded l6 grs. (i. e. a gallon 49 grs.) of a light green sediment, 

 of an acid smell, and of an highly acid, vitriolic, and nauseous taste. It fer- 

 ments strongly, both with solution of potashes, and with spirit of sal ammoniac; 

 and separates a green and ochreous matter with the last. Galls added to its di- 

 lutum in distilled water turned it of a deep blue : the characteristic of martial 

 vitriol, to which it also agrees in the experiment of the last paragraph. It pro- 

 duced some degree of coagulation with albumen ovi; and some slight opacity, 

 and small grumes, with saliva. It turned of a brown greenish colour with syrup 

 of violets. It was not attracted by the magnet, until roasted in the crucible ; 

 and then it was strongly attracted, and turned as red as minium. It appears 

 therefore that Amlwch water is strongly impregnated with an acid martial vitriol. 

 It kills all the fish in its passage. It has sometimes been drunk , but cannot be 

 borne in a greater dose than 4 a pint, unless diluted with common water, being 

 otherwise vomited up. It cures the mange in horses, and the itch in men, by 

 bathing. 



From the above account of the Amlwch water, it appears evidently to agree 

 with that of the Hartfell, above mentioned, and described in the Edinburgh 

 Essays, and in the Phil. Trans, even in certain distinguishing characters common 

 to both, and in which they differ from our ordinary chalybeate waters; viz. 1. 

 In the acid and vitriolic taste, which moreover they retain, when long kept, and 

 at a distance from their fountains ; and even on boiling, yielding an acid vitriolic 

 salt, on exhaling to dryness, which the common chalybeates never do, but lose 

 their strength by a small degree of heat. 2. In the blue tincture, w hich thev 

 give with galls ; another distinguishing character of English vitriol, of w hich a 

 weaker solution, like the common chalybeates, gives only the purple colour with 

 galls. 3. In exhibiting green clouds, or grumes, with oil of tartar, like the 

 martial vitriol. 



The same, or like appearances, are exhibited by the Shadwell water i by an- 

 other at Swansea in Wales ; and on a late diligent search into the waters of this 

 kingdom, by those of Kilbrew, in the county of Meath ; of Ballymurtogh, in 

 the county of Wicklow ; and Cross and Coshmnore, in the county of Water- 

 ford, and some others : and to conclude, as crj'Stals of martial vitriol have been 

 demonstrated in several of them. Dr. R. does not hesitate to pronounce them 

 acid vitriolic waters; which waters, as they are new in practice, and different in 

 operation and effects from the common chalybeates, he apprehends it will be 

 worth while to endeavour to place them in a more conspicuous point of view. 



There are indeed in these waters different degrees of acrimony; for though 



