404 Smith on the Harrodsburg Salts. 



inferred that sulphate of lime was present, with perhaps a 

 slight trace of muriate of lime. 



7. The remainder of this solution was filtered, and on 

 weighing the dried residuum, the loss appeared to be 2 grains, 

 so that sulphate of lime probably constitutes nearly ^ of the 

 insoluble residence (48 grains. 4.) 



8. The watery solution, (4) which was supposed to contain 

 67 grains, was evaporated, and left a residue that weighed but 

 34 grains, so that 33 grains must have disappeared in the 

 process. 



9. Some of this residue dissolved in distilled water, was 

 tested with carbonate of soda, forming an immediate white 

 cloud ; with nitrate of barytes, the same ; with ammonia, the 

 same ; but with oxalate of ammonia, it did not form any cloud 

 until it had stood some time, and then it was slight. From these 

 tests it was inferred that sulphate of magnesia was present. 



10. A portion of the dried residuum (7) was treated with 

 diluted muriatic acid, which dissolved nearly the whole of it, 

 with considerable effervescence. The new compound, on 

 examination, proved to be muriate of lime ; so that it may be 

 concluded the residuum (7) was principally carbonate of lime. 



On considering the results of the preceding experiments, it 

 will appear that more than one half of the substances submit- 

 ted to analysis, was easily soluble in water, and from the 

 chemical tests used, that it was composed principally of sulphate 

 of magnesia, (Epsom salt) with perhaps a small portion of mu- 

 riate of lime or magnesia, that of the remainder, about i was 

 sulphate of lime, and difficultly soluble in water ; and that the 

 rest was perfectly insoluble in water, and consisted principally 

 of carbonate of lime. 



There can be no doubt then, that the Harrodsburg salt, in 

 its present state, is very improperly prepared, containing in its 

 composition a large proportion of matter, that is not only inert, 

 but which may produce considerable inconvenience and injury 

 in the stomach and bowels, from its ponderous nature and ten- 

 dency to form mechanical obstructions. Perhaps the occur- 

 rence of such injury may not be frequent, from the circum- 

 stance of a large portion of the salt being so insoluble ; but, 



