446 ANALYSIS OF THE 



saline class, which I have applied to the composition of some 

 of the most celebrated mineral waters. In performing the 

 principal experiments on the Dunblane water, I had the ad- 

 vantage of Mr Ellis's co-operation. 



I. Analysis of the Dunblane Water. 



This Water was discovered last summer, and was first taken 

 notice of, from the circumstance of the frequent resort of flocks 

 of pigeons to the ground where it breaks out. It appears in 

 two springs, at the distance of nearly half a mile from each 

 other, in a field about two miles to the north of Dunblane, the 

 property of the Earl of Kinnoul. This district is at no great 

 distance from the range of the Grampians, to which it as- 

 cends ; masses of the primitive rocks are spread over the sur- 

 face, and are found in the beds of the streams ; among which 

 the conglomerate rock that seems to skirt the Grampians, is 

 abundant. The prevailing rock of the district itself is the red 

 sandstone, and it is generally covered by a bed of gravel, in 

 many places of considerable depth. It is from this sandstone 

 that the water appears to issue. The spring, however, in both 

 the places where it breaks out, has been laid open only to the 

 depth of two or three feet from the surface, and has not been 

 traced to any extent. Its proper source is therefore unknown, 

 and it also remains uncertain, how far it may be diluted with 

 water from the surface, or from other springs. The water from 

 the lower, or what for distinction may be named the South 

 Spring, is weaker in taste than the water of the North Spring, 

 and from the subsequent experiments, is proved to contain ra- 

 ther 



