C 120 1 
induced to think, that there is no fuch thing exifls in 
thefe waters at all. What has been generally called 
the fpirit of deel waters, teems to me to be very un- 
intelligible ; altho’ the exidence of it in thefe waters 
has been atferted by all the writers on this fubjedt, 
.which I have yet had occafion to fee. The fpirit 
of a mixed body is commonly taken to be a tub- 
tile, penetrating, light, and volatile fubdance, more 
fufceptible of motion than any other of its parts, 
and molf eafily feparable from them by avolation. 
But that any chalybeat water contains iuch a lub- 
dance, I think has never been made evident, unlels 
where the water has been found to be impregnated 
with fome other mineral principles. Some deel 
waters, I believe, contain a large proportion of air, 
whofe eladicity may occaiion it to break forth with 
an exploiive force j fome others there are, which 
contain a volatile and fulphureous halitus ; and to 
one or other of thefe two caufes, or to fome other 
mineral principle, I think mod of the phenomena 
may he referred, which have been attributed to a 
ferrugineous or vitriolic volatile fpirit. 
As the firft thing obl'ervable in a mineral water is 
its outward form, we mud therefore take notice, 
that the water of this Spaw equals the cleared fpring- 
water in tranfparency ; and is likewife as free of any 
colour or odour : yet its tade is very drong, and 
may be difcerned to be compounded of a fweet, 
fubacid, and adringent tade. Its fweetnefs and acidity 
appear fenfibly to arife from alum ; and its high 
dyptic and adringent tade does as evidently proceed 
from that mineral fait, joined with fome earthy or 
ferrugineous parts. I mud likewife obferve, that when 
I fird 
