362 Mineral Springs of Ceylon. 
not more than the common waters of Trincomalee, on which 
the solution of silver had the same effect, with this difference, that 
the precipitate from the water of the hot wells was blackest, 
probably from the impregnation of iron. 
These experiments were made at the wells, with water from 
those of the highest and of the lowest temperature, on the 4th 
of July 1798 , when the heat of the atmosphere was at 91 de- 
grees. They were also repeated upon the water after it was 
brought to Trincomalee, with the same result. 
From hence it would appear, that the hot: wells of Cannia 
possess few mineral qualities, or any virtue besides their heat, 
which is of a temperature not unfavourable for hot bathing. 
For many complaints, drinliing of hot water is recommended, 
and for this purpose as well as for bathing, a hot spring is 
always preferable to water heated artificially, because it is always 
of a fixed degree of temperature. 
