484 ANALYSIS OF THE 



used. The Dunblane water, from the similarity of its opera- 

 tion, would no doubt be employed in diseases of a similar 

 kind. But whatever advantage might be derived from this 

 purgative effect, it cannot fail to be perceived, that a different 

 operation, not less useful, may be obtained from them. If suf- 

 ficiently diluted, so as to avoid altogether the operation on the 

 bowels, the stimulant operation on the stomach and general 

 system might be exerted by these waters, similar to that of the 

 Bath waters, and under this form they might prove useful in 

 diseases very different from those in which they might other- 

 wise be employed. As they would require, too, large dilution 

 to reduce them to this state, the temperature of the Bath wa- 

 ter might easily be given, by adding the requisite proportion 

 of hot water, by which a greater similarity of operation would 

 be obtained. And the Dunblane water in particular, contain- 

 ing so much larger a proportion of iron than the Bath water 

 does, the dilution requisite to give it the same strength, with 

 regard to the muriate of lime, would still leave an equal degree 

 of chalybeate impregnation. If the preceding observations, 

 therefore, are just, the Dunblane and Pitcaithly waters may be 

 converted, in all the essential parts of the chemical composi- 

 tion, into a water similar to that of Bath. 



From the preceding statement of their composition, it is ea- 

 sy to discover how this may be done. To give the same pro- 

 portion of the principal ingredient, the muriate of lime, the 

 Dunblane water would require to be diluted with from six to 

 seven parts of pure water; the same degree of dilution would 

 bring it to nearly the same strength with regard to the iron ; if 

 a pint of it were diluted with this portion of water, about 35 

 grains of sulphate of soda would require to be added, to ren- 

 der the composition, with regard to this ingredient, perfectly 

 alike, if this were thought essential. The only remaining dif- 

 ferences 



