Morey on Mineral Waters, &fc. 95 



It is well known, that the vapour of water, in passing 

 ihrough ignited charcoal, is decomposed. If the product is 

 made to pass through water, the carbonic acid gas is ab- 

 sorbed, and the hydrogen is so far separated, as to be at 

 command for furnishing light, fiihng balloons, or other pur- 

 poses. If water be composed of 85 parts of oxygen and 

 15 of hydrogen,* and carbonic acid gas of about 28 of 

 carbon, in the 100; one pound of charcoal and not far 

 from four of water, ought to give something like two hun- 

 dred and fifty gallons of carbonic acid gas, or enough to 

 supply that quantity of as nearly strongly impregnated 

 mineral water as is to be found in nature ;f and near five 

 hundred gallons, or about seventy-five cubic feet of hidro- 

 gen gas, something like equal to twenty-five pounds, or six 

 wax candles burning twenty-five hours, for affording light. 

 Some very trifling addition of spirit of turpentine or other 

 substance will be required to make the flame white. These 

 gases, as formed, may be forced into the aqueduct of a lim- 

 ited quantity of water, to be conveyed along with it to some 

 desirable situation to be let out for use. The quantity of 

 water let in will depend on the quantity of mineral water 

 wanted. If a flame be applied to the surface of these 

 fountains, the hydrogen gas takes fire and burns on the sur- 

 face of the water : thereby, perhaps, exposing some of na- 

 ture's hidden operations. 



In this way, Towns, Cities, and Manufactories, may be, 

 for aught that yet appears, supplied with a pleasant, healthy 

 drink, and at the same time, and from the same materials, 

 abundantly lighted. There must be an addition of some 

 kinds of fuel, to preserve the red heat of the charcoal, and 

 !o evaporate the water. But' that will be trifling, especia.lly 

 if it be a lact, as I fully believe, that carbonic acid gas, in 

 forming, always gives out, instead of absorbing, heat. If 

 so, it is at least one source of animal heat. As yet, my 

 attention, so far as my health would permit, has been di- 

 rected chiefly with a view to come at an easy mode of fur- 



' The most recent authoi-ities give the composition of water at 88.24 o! 

 axigen, and ll.TSot" hidrogen. — Editor. 



t Carbonic acid gas derived direclly from almost any species of bitrnmg 

 tuel, would be very prone to impart an empyreumatic taste and smell to 

 he water in which it is condensed. — Editor. 



