[ so ] 



IV. 



THE COMPOSITION OF A NITROGEN MINERAL WATER 

 AT ST. EDMUNDSBURY, LUCAN. 



By W. E. ADENEY, D.Sc, M.R.I.A., 

 Curator aud Examiner in Chemistry in the Royal University, Dublin. 



Eead June 25. Ordered for PubUcation June 27. PubHshed July 25, 1906. 



The mineral water which forms the subject of this communication 

 rises to within 4 feet from the ground-level in a shallow-built well, 

 which is situate in the demesne of St. Edmundsbury, Lucan, and flows 

 thence in considerable volume into the River Liffey. The water in the 

 well is between 1 and 2 feet deep, and through it large bubbles of gas 

 are to be seen constantly rising from the bottom to the surface, giving 

 it the appearance somewhat of ebullition. The well is marked in the 

 Ordnance maps as the " Boiling Well." It is similarly named in 

 older maps of the eighteenth century. There can be little doubt from 

 its surroundings that the mineral water must formerly have been of 

 some repute. 



Some of the loose stones at the bottom of the well are covered 

 with iron rust, as also is the mouth of the outlet from the spring to 

 the river below. 



A sample of the gases which are evolved was collected and 

 analyzed. The following results were obtained : — 



Nitrogen, . . . . 97*9 per cent. 



Carbon dioxide, . . . . 2-1 



A sample of water was also collected and analyzed for the purpose 

 of ascertaining whether it was fit to be used as a potable water. The 

 results which were obtained are given in the following table, expressed 

 as parts per 100,000 volumes of the water : — 



Organic nitrogen, . . . . . 0*015 

 Nitrogen as ammonia, ..... 0*009 



Nitrogen as nitrates, 0-0 



Nitrogen as nitrites, . . . .0-0 



Chlorine, 44-8 



Total solids, 118'0 



