in Buncome County, Korth- Carolina. J 21 



opiniort was likewise corroborated by the following experi- 

 ment made in the summer of 1816, by the late and much 

 lamented Ur. Mc Bride, of Charleston. 



" Lime water on being added, threw down a white, flaky 

 precipitate. On decanting the water and adding a few drops 

 of sulphuric acid, there was a violent effervescence and the 

 smell of the carbonic acid gas or fixed air. The precipi- 

 tate also disappeared." Concerning this experiment it may 

 be observed that the inference drawn from it, respecting the 

 presence of carbonic acid cannot be correct, for sulphuric 

 acid, when apphed to the carbonate of lime, would consti- 

 tute another salt of considerable insolubility, and there 

 could not be a disappearance of the precipitate.* Any one 

 who will make the direct experiment, may be satisfied of 

 this fact. Whatever may havelaeen the cause of the pre- 

 cipitate in Dr. Mc Bride's experiment, repeated trials did 

 not afford me any such results ; but in order io be more sat- 

 isfied upon the point, 1 placed in a tin vessel, of the form 

 described in Dr. Meade's analysis of tlie Ballston and Sar- 

 atoga waters, one quart of the mineral water and set it on a 

 fire to boil, having previously inverted over it a decanter 

 full of lime water. This lime water was ascertained to be 

 good, by blowing into it some air from the lungs, which 

 made it of a milky colour. The water in the tin vessel was 

 boiled for some time, but not the least cloudiness was in- 

 duced in the superincumbent decanter. From this deci- 

 sive experiment the conclusion must be drawn that no car- 

 bonic acid was contained in the mineral water. 



Most of the preceding experiments were repeated upon 

 a portion of the water that had been boiled, but without any 

 variation of the results. 



Three quarts were then carefully evaporated and the fixed 

 product secured in white paper, for further examination in 

 a more convenient place. 



Some of the air bubbles, which were continually arising 

 in the springs, were received into inverted glass vessels. 

 On testing these with lime water no discoloration ensued, 

 but when placed over a burning candle, the flame was im- 



* Unless a large portion of acid were added, when the sulphate of lime 

 would be dissolved. — Ed. 



VoL.m....No. 1. 16 



