c r 3 9 i 
it again precipitated abundance of an ochrous fedi- 
ment ; and being filtrated, and mixed with galls, it 
received a faint purple colour of a blueilh hue. 
38. A bottle of the water of each of thefe Springs, 
being carefully fealed, carried to Moffat, and kept 
for two months, buffered not the lead; alteration 
during that time, but was as frefh as when imme- 
diately taken from the fountain. And I am informed, 
that after it is carried to Edinburgh, and to places at 
a greater diftance, it will keep a much longer time 
without being any way fpoiled. 
I believe it will appear from thefe observations* 
that this mineral water continues longer intire, and 
particularly that it retains the quality of tinging with 
galls longer, than mold others of the chalybeat kind : 
at leaft, of a great number, which I have feen de- 
lcribed, I do not remember one, that retains it near 
fo long, when expofed to the open air. Many of 
them lofe this quality intirely in a few hours ; and it 
is greatly impaired in the fame time, even in thofe 
which retain it longed:. But this water, we fee, re- 
mains expofed to the open air for days, without 
almod any alteration. This may perhaps be owing 
either to the larger proportion of ferrugineous parts, 
with which it is impregnated j to their being attenu- 
ated to a greater degree ; or to their more perfedd 
commixture with the water, by means of the alumi- 
nous fait. The longer time, that any mineral water 
does remain intire, without any feparation of its mine- 
ral parts ; or the longer it retains the fame form, which 
it has when newly taken from the Spring ; the more 
perfedt is the commixture of thefe parts with their 
T 2 fluid 
