260 



ScientifiG Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



In the next Table (II.) I give the composition of the water in 

 the usual form, having distributed the bases and acids according 

 to the well-known plan, and stated the quantity of each body in 

 grains per imperial gallon {i.e. 70,000 grains.) 



Table II. 



LUCAN SULPHUE SpA. 



Constituents stated in grains, per imperial gallon of 70,000 grains. 

 Calcium carbonate, . . . . . 1*690 

 Magnesium carbonate, . . . . 3*605 

 Calcium sulphate, ..... 5*487 

 Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCOa) . . . 28*275 

 Sodium chloride, ..... 3*829 

 Sodium sulphydrate, . . . .0*451 



Potassium chloride, ..... 2*239 

 Lithium carbonate, . . . . . traces. 

 Alumina (with traces of iron), . . . 0*756 



Silica, 0-773 



Gases in solution — cubic centimeters jper liter. 



Sulphuretted hydrogen, . . . . 8*17 



Carbon dioxide, . . . . .41*06 



As my results are materially different from those recently 



obtained by Dr. Cameron,* I was led to examine some of the 



older references to this water, in order to ascertain whether its 



present markedly alkaline condition has always been one of its 



chief characters. 



Dr. Rutty, in the work already referred to, states (at page 203) 

 that a gaUon of the water afforded not only sulphuretted 

 hydrogen gas, but 30 grains of solid residue, having a saline and 

 highly alkaline taste, which " excited an ebullition with spirit of 

 vitriol, soon turned of a bright green with syrup of violets, and of 

 an orange colour and red with solution of mercury corrosive in 

 water, and smelt pungent when rubbed with sal-ammoniac; 

 all concurring evidences of an alkaline salt," i.e., an alkaline car- 

 bonate. Thus the alkaline character of the water was distinctly 

 recognised at least 110 years ago. 



Very similar statements occur in an interesting paper pub- 

 lished in 1795,t by an " English physician," whose name is not 

 given; hence 25 years later it possessed the same characters. 



* Medical Press and Circular : March 1, 1882, p. 196. 



t See vol. xxii., 2, of Medical Tracts in the Library of the King and Queen's College 

 of Physicians, Dublin. 



