76 MINERAL WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



VERONICA (No. 690 I. & W.). 



This water is very heavily mineralized, containing over 22 grams of 

 soluble salts per liter. The anal3 7 sis of this Bureau differs markedly 

 from the analysis as claimed by the spring owner. Just what the 

 cause of this difference is it is impossible to state, although it is possi- 

 ble, in fact probable, that the composition of so heavily mineralized a 

 water varies greatly from time to time, depending on the season, rain- 

 fall, level of ground water, etc. The owner's answer to the Bureau's 

 letter is as follows: 



Any difference you may have noted in mineral content of water from that published 

 is only explainable as due to natural fluctuations in the salt content of a water so 

 heavily mineralized. 



BEDFORD MINERAL WATER (No. 691 I. & W.). 



The Bureau of Chemistry analysis of this water agrees very closely 

 with the advertised analysis, with one important exception, i. e., lith- 

 ium. The Bureau analysis shows only an unweighable spectroscopic 

 trace of lithium; the advertisement claims 0.61 part per million. 

 While such a difference as the above is immaterial for most elements, 

 it is important in the case of lithium, because waters are so highly 

 prized on account of the presence of weighable amounts of this ele- 

 ment. Even if the water contained the amount of lithium claimed by 

 the owner, however, it would take about 50 liters to furnish a full 

 medicinal dose. 



TATE EPSOM WATER (No. 692 I. & W.). 



The advertised and Bureau of Chemistry analyses of this water differ 

 from each other materially. In the case of certain constituents the 

 difference is very marked. 



MISSISQUOI WATER (No. 869 I. & W.). 



The advertised and Bureau of Chemistry analyses of this water do 

 not differ more than would probably be expected in the case of sam- 

 ples taken on widely different dates. 



WALLA WHATOOLA WATER (No. 870 I. & W.). 



The advertised and Bureau of Chemistry analyses of this water 

 differ from each other very materially, the owner claiming about seven 

 times more salts than were found. It is of course possible that in the 

 case of iron and aluminum these elements had partially precipitated 

 out before the water was bottled. One point is clear, namely, that 

 the water as bought by the Bureau on the open market and sold to 

 consumers as Wallawhatoola does not have at all the composition 

 claimed on the label. The letter from the spring owner follows: 



