23 WATER OF THE DEAD SEA. 



bathed in it, relates that h(? could lie on its surface, motion- 

 less, and in any attitude, without danger of sinking. These 

 peculiarities, which I at first suspected of being exaggerated, 

 are fully confirmed by Mr, Gordon, who also bathed in the 

 lake, and experienced all the effects just related. 



2. The water of the Dead Sea is perfectly transparent, and 

 docs not deposit any crystals on standing in close vessels. 



3. Its taste is peculiarly bitter, saline, and pungent. 



4. Solutions of silver produce from it a very copious preci- 

 pitate, showing the presence of marine acid. 



5. Oxalicacid instantly discovers lime in the water. 



6. The lime being separated, both caustic and carbonated 

 alkalies readily throw down a magnesian precipitate, 



7. Solutions of barytcs? produce a cloud, showing the exr 

 istence of sulphuric acid. 



8. Noaluminp can be discovered in the water by the deli- 

 cate test of succinic acid combined with ammonia. 



9- A small quantity of pulverized sea salt being added to a 

 fe\y (^fops of the water, cold and undiluted, the salt was rea- 

 dily dissolved with the assistance of gentle trituration, show- 

 ing that the Dead Sea is not saturated with common salt. 



10. None of the coloured infusions con)monly used to as- 

 certain the prevalence of an acid or an alkali, such as lit- 

 mus, violet, and turmeric, were in the least altered by the 

 water. 



Sect. II. 



Trdiminary Experiment/^ to ascertain the Compoution of the 

 Salts concerned in this Anali/sis. 



Having satisfied myself by these preliminary experiments, 

 that the Dead Sea contained muriate of lime, muriate of mag- 

 nesin, and selenite, and having nO doubt both from the taste 

 of the water, and from Lavoisier's statement*, that it con- 

 tained also common salt; I proceeded to the comparative ex- 

 periments above mentioned. 



The first indispensable step was to ascertain with accuracy 

 the proportions of acid and base in the three muriates just 



* Macquer, Lavoisier, and Sage, discovered the three muriates, but 

 overlooked ihe small "luamity of seleiiiie. 



named. 



•)iT)parative 

 :)eriments. 



