MINERAL WATERS OF DUNBLANE. 493 



the state of binary compounds. Even this view, were it adopt- 

 ed, would afford a better explanation of their active powers^ 

 than the view of their composition which is usually received, 

 since it could not at least be affirmed, that such a combination 

 must be inactive. The opinion itself, however, is much less 

 probable ; for if fairly followed out, it leads to the conclusion, 

 that all combinations of compound bodies are simultaneous 

 combinations of the primary elements, — a conclusion from 

 which no inference with regard to specific qualities could be 

 drawn, and which is inconsistent, therefore, with the conclu- 

 sions which in many cases we are able actually to form. We 

 are led, therefore, to the admission, that the state of binary 

 combinations exists ; and it is only necessary to guard against 

 the error of supposing that the products of the analysis are al- 

 ways the original ingredients. 



The importance of the subject, and its relation to the ques- 

 tion, how far chemical analysis is capable of accounting for the 

 medicinal efficacy of mineral waters, will, I hope, afford an 

 apology for the introduction of some of the preceding observa- 

 tions, though they may not fall strictly under the objects usur. 

 ally submitted to the Society. 



In a succeeding paper, I shall have to offer some remarks on 

 the analysis of Sea- water, and salt brines, suggested by the view 

 which I have explained in this. And the same view may per- 

 haps lead to the illustration of a geological problem, hitherto 

 involved in considerable difficulty, the origin of Rock Salt, 

 and the relation of this mineral to the saline impregnation of 

 the ocean. 



Vol. VII. P. IL 3R XVII 



