In the Isle of Wight, 239 



porating again very slowly In order to obtain crystals. But th^iOaline 

 mass yielded by this process did not crystallize regularly, and on 

 being examined by reagents, was found to contain only sulphat of 

 soda, with minute quantities of sulphats of alumine and magnesia, 

 which had escaped the action of the carbonat of ammonia. 



2. In hopes of obtaining more satisfactory results I had recourse 

 to the following process : five ounces of the water were boiled with 

 a solution of succinat of ammonia till the whole of the iron and 

 alumine were precipitated.* The lime was precipitated by oxalat of 

 ammonia, and the magnesia by ammonia. The solution was then 

 concentrated over a lamp, and gradually evaporated to dryness in a 

 platina crucible. A white pungent smell arose, and on raising the 

 heat to redness, these fumes took fire and burnt with a blue flame, 

 till the whole was fused and reduced to a fixed saline mass mixed 

 with a black coaly matter. Distilled water was poured upon this 

 mass and the solution filtered. This clear solution being now eva- 

 porated and dried at a gentle heat, so as to obtain the salts in a 

 crystallized state, the mass weighed 6,3 grains,f which would give 

 20 grains of alkaline salts in a pint of the water. The centre of 

 this mass exhibited no distinct crystallization, though from its appear- 

 ance and disposition to effloresce, it evidently contained sulphat of 



* This is a long operation, because the iron does not combine with the succinic acid at 

 a low degree of oxygenation, so that the mixture must be long digested with access of air, 

 or repeatedly boiled and allowed to stand in the air for some hours during the intervals, 

 before the process can be completely effected. This operation necessarily requires one 

 or two days, but is remarkably accurate as to the precipitation of both the iron and 

 alumine. 



t This was the combined result of two separate experiments tried on three and two 

 ounces of the water, the first of which yield 3,5 grains, and the other 2,8 grains of alka- 

 line salts. 



