361 
Mineral Springs of Ceylon. 
the water, and tying an empty wet bladder to the mouth of 
it, it was found, after shaking a long time, that no air was 
disengaged. 
It would therefore appear that the water is not impregnated 
with any air ; but that the bubbles are merely common air 
disengaged from the water by the heat. As the air, however, 
might be collected with a proper apparatus, its quality may be 
easily ascertained. 
The water has nothing peculiar in its colour, smell, or 
taste. It is not crude or hard, for it dissolves soap readily 
and perfectly. 
It contains no sulphureous principle ; for a piece of polished 
silver, when immersed in it, contracted no rust nor dark 
colour. 
It contains no acid nor alkali in a disengaged state ; for upon 
mixing a delicate vegetable colour with it, no change to a green 
or red colour was perceptible. 
The water does not contain any selenite, or earthy or al- 
kaline matter combined with vitriolic acid ; for upon adding a 
solution of mercury in nitrous acid to it, no sediment was de- 
posited. Nor does it contain any earthy matter in combination 
with marine acid, nor any copper, nor zinc, for upon mixing 
mineral and volatile alkalis with the water, no precipitate was 
formed. 
On mixture with a decoction of galls, the Avater acquired 
a blackish tinge, which shews it to be slightly impregnated with 
iron. 
On mixture with a solution of silver in nitrous acid, some 
precipitate of lima cornea, muriat of silver, was produced. 
This shews it to contain a very small portion of sea salt; but 
3 A 
