1831.] 
from the Athan Hills . 
25 
3. The water reddened litmus paper, but did not affect tincture of turmeric or of 
galls ; this last, however, gave a very sensible precipitate when lime water was added, 
as in the valuable analysis of the Bath waters, by Mr. Phillips. 
4. Its specific gravity at the temp, of 80°, was 1003, 
Tests. — For g aseous contents. 
The presence of free cai’bonic acid was ascertained by boiling — litmus paper ; 
lime water ; acetate of lead ; soluble precipitate. 
2. The absence of oxygen, by comparing the precipitate formed in a solution of 
proto-sulphate of iron, with rain-water, distilled water, and the mineral water ; of 
these, the mineral water afforded, by far, the smallest quantity of oxygen to the pre- 
cipitate. 
3. From the want of a mercurial pneumatic apparatus, the examination for ni- 
trogen was necessarily omitted. 
4. The absence of sulphuretted hydrogen was ascertained by solution of acetate 
of lead ; silver foil ; mercury ; arsenious acid ; nitrate of silver. 
For Saline Contents. 
Bases. The presence of lime by ox. ammonia ; solution of potass. 
Ditto of magnesia by carbonate of ammonia ; and phosphoric acid, after 
precipitate of the lime. 
Ditto of iron by tincture of galls and lime water ; no other test would 
show any trace of it, but this was most distinct. 
The absence of potassa by muriate of platina added to concentrated solution. 
Acids. The presence of sulphuric acid by muriate of baryta. 
The absence of muriatic acid by nitrate of silver. 
Ditto of nitric acid by platina foil, with muriatic acid added to the con- 
centrated solution. 
Ditto trace of presence of combined carbonic acid by nitrate of silver after 
expulsion of the free acid j giving a soluble precipitate, but in exceeding 
minute quantity. 
The addition of acids occasioned no turbidity, hence no bituminous matter was 
held in solution by an alkali. 
Analysis. 
The quantity of carbonic acid gas was estimated, by adding a solution of acetate 
of lead, till no farther precipitate was afforded, and digesting the dry precipitate in 
dilute nitric acid, which dissolved the carbonate, and left the sulphate of lead un- 
touched ; the quantity of gas being inferred, by the equivalent scale from the carbo- 
nate of lead formed : in the absence of any, or at most very minute portions of 
carbonated alkalies, (incompatible in any quantity with the muriate of magnesia,) 
and when operating without a mercurial pneumatic apparatus, this is, perhaps, the 
most accurate method. 
2,40 grs. of carbonate of lead were thus obtained from 8 ounces of the water, 
which containing 0,398, by weight of carbonic acid, are equal to 0,856 cubic inches 
of gas in 8 oz. or 1,712 to a pint — wine measure. 
Grains. 
A. 8 oz. (by measure) of the water, when evaporated at a temp, of 212® 
afforded, of saline matter, .. 10,52 
B. Of these were soluble in alcohol (of 820,) being pure muriate of mag- 
nesia, slightly coloured (with the iron ?) r .. 1,50 
and of the remaining, . . 9>02 
