DAVIS : MINERAL WEALTH OF HAKROGATE. 363 
ever, only requires to be let alone to restore it to its normal 
condition. These remarks to many will be very trite, but they are 
none the less important in their bearing upon our valuable Spas. 
In considering the large amount of solid constituents discharged 
by the various springs, it is to be expected that variations in their 
composition must occur. To refer to the Old Sulphur Well, as 
pointed out by Dr. Thorpe, "the general composition of the water 
has experienced no very material alteration during the past 100 
years, but that certain well-marked changes have occurred during 
that time." I propose to refer to what has especially come under 
my own observation. 
In 1866 Barium was first discovered as a constituent in the 
water of the Old Sulphur Well, while twelve years previous, it was 
stated by Dr. Hofmann to be absent, and he finds a constituent 
present incompatible with the presence of salts of barium, viz : — 
sulphate of hme. Dr. Scudamore in 1820. and Dr. Garnett in 1791, 
also give this as a constituent. 
In the Royal Institution Journal, 1823, Vol. 15, page 82, 1 have 
taken the following remarks by Mr. West, who had a large acquain- 
tance with the Harrogate Spas. It is with reference to an analysis 
of the water of the Old Sulphur Well. The most careful examin- 
ations with tests prepared by different chemists, discovered not the 
least trace of sulphuric acid in any combination. I was so surprised 
to find this, that I hesitated to admit the inference from my first 
trials, but with the salts of barytes prepared by other chemists, as 
well as with my own, not the slightest cloud was produced." 
Dr. Murray, a physician practising at Scarborough, fifty years 
ago, has left on record the following observations, his letter is dated 
16th August. 1836. " In the 29th number of the Royal Institution 
Journal, being that for April, 1823, there is an ample detail of the 
experiments of Mr. West and myself upon Thackwray's Well, and 
that belonging to the public, marked No. 1 (Old Sulphur Well), and 
there you will observe a particular notice by Mr. West of the 
singular loss of th3 combinations of the sulphuric acid." Mr. West 
adds, " Should the observations of any future chemist agree with 
mine on this point, we must suppose, considering- the respectability 
