BOTHAMLEY : MINERAL WATERS OF ASKERN IN YORKSHIRE. 353 
Magnesium, Carbonic Acid and Sulphuric Acid, and on the Composi- 
tion of Mineral Waters, published in the Transactions of the 
Chemical Society, 1893, p. 696. Apart from chemical evidence, I am 
informed by Dr. J. G. Cassels, of Askern, that the presence of 
magnesium sulphate is indicated by the therapeutic action of the 
waters. 
Examination for constituents usually present in minute quanti- 
ties, was made on the residue from 44 litres (9f gallons) of the 
water from the Mather Close Well and the Terrace Baths Well 
respectively, with the following results : — 
Lithium was present in spectroscopic traces in both waters. 
Strontium was present in spectroscopic traces in the Terrace 
water, but not in the Mather Close water. 
Iodine was present in both waters, but bromine was present in 
neither. 
Barium, which is so remarkable a constituent of some of the 
Harrogate waters, is not present in the Askern waters. 
Potassium, calcium, rubidium, aluminium, and phosphoric acid 
were not detected in either of the waters. 
The absence of bromine is of interest, but it is noteworthy that 
chlorine is present in small proportion only. The absence of 
potassium is probably explained by the observation of Berthelot and 
Andre, that this element is precipitated from dilute solutions of its 
salts when brought in contact with large quantities of humic acid. 
It will be seen that the Askern waters are shallow spring waters, 
if not actually surface waters, the chief dissolved constituents being 
magnesium sulphate and calcium carbonate and sulphate, with an 
unusually large proportion of organic matter and a considerable 
volume of sulphuretted hydrogen. No other substances are present 
in any noteworthy proportion. The organic matter and the sul- 
phuretted hydrogen may be regarded as the characteristic constituents 
of this group of waters. 
The Organic Matter. 
The water from all four wells is highly charged with dissolved 
organic matter derived from the peat through which the waters per- 
colate. This organic matter is very unstable and is nitrogenous ; 
