346 Analysis of the Clinton Mineral Water. 



prevent as far as possible the origin of that pestilential agent which 

 produces so many forms of mortal disease. It is unnecessary to re- 

 peat the methods for reclaiming wet lands, and rendering unhealthy 

 districts salubrious, and motives need not be urged upon men, them- 

 selves exposed to the effects. 



If there are in the medical faculty, any who have overlooked the 

 causes and consequences of these forms of disease, or who have not 

 suspected them, and who have had under other rules of practice, the 

 unhappiness to find their best efforts unsuccessful ; if they perceive 

 the views and reasonings contained in the present work, shedding 

 light upon a difficult department of their professsional duties ; it is 

 not too much to anticipate, that this terrific and wide spread class of 

 evils may be alleviated, and cured by the aid of science and sound 

 reasoning, and a sagacious practice of the healing art. 



New York, June, 1830. 



Art. XVII. — Analysis of the Clinton Mineral Water, Cliff Street, 

 City of JYetu York ; by George Chilton. 



A. One gallon of the water left by slow evaporation 166 grains, 

 dried in a steam heat of 212° Fah. Of these, cold distilled water 

 dissolved 86.5 grains, and left on the filter 79.5 grains, consisting 

 of carbonates, &z:c. 



B. The dry residue, left by evaporating the above watery solu- 

 tion, was treated with alcohol, which left 91.5 grains on the filter, 

 consisting of salt, &c. soluble in water. 



C. a. The matter taken up by the alcohol, after distillation to dry- 

 ness, redissolved in cold water, with the exception of a little colored 

 matter ; this being separated, the solution was treated with carbo- 

 nate of soda, and after boiling, filtering, &;c. carbonate of magne- 

 sia was obtained, which was reduced by heat in a platinum capsule 

 to .8 grains magnesia. 



b. The remaining fluid, neutralized by nitric acid, and treated 

 with nitrate of silver, gave 18 grains chloride, containing 4.43 grains 

 of chlorine, of Vv?hich only 1.44 grains belong to the magnesium in 

 the above 8 grains of magnesia j the remaining 2.99 grains must 

 have belonged to common salt taken up by the alcohol, as no other 

 salt was present, and by adding to it its equivalent of sodium, 1.99 



