194 D/\ Marcet on the specific gravity and temperature 
by calculation. But if the processes are conducted with 
sufficient care, this mode of estimating the proportion of alka- 
line muriates is susceptible of great accuracy, as I had an op- 
portunity of ascertaining by some comparative experiments 
which I related at full length in the analysis of the waters of 
the Dead Sea.* 
The whole of the results obtained by this mode of inves- 
tigation, has, for the sake of brevity, been condensed into a 
table which is annexed to this paper, and upon which it is un- 
necessary to detain the Society by any farther comment. It will 
be seen by this table that, with the exception of the Dead Sea, 
and of the Lake Ourmiapf which are mere salt ponds, perfectly 
unconnected with the ocean, all the specimens of sea water 
which I have examined, however different in their strength, 
contain the same ingredients all over the world, these bearing 
very nearly the same proportions to each other ; so that they 
differ only as to the total amount of their saline contents. J 
* In devising the above method, I followed, step by step, the plan which I had 
myself pointed out, and actually used, in various analyses, and particularly in that of 
the Dead Sea, and of an aluminous chalybeate, in the Isle of Wight, as may be seen 
by a reference to these papers. It is satisfactory to observe that Dr. Murray 
adopted, several years afterwards, from considerations of the same kind, a mode of 
proceeding precisely similar, and indeed that he proposed in a subsequent paper, a 
general formula for the analysis of mineral waters, in which this method is pointed out 
as likely to lead to the most accurate results. And this coincidence is the more re- 
markable, as it would appear, from Dr. Murray not mentioning my labours, that 
they had not at that time come to his knowledge. 
f I had only between z and 300 grs. of water from this curious lake, which is so 
nearly saturated, that it begins to deposit crystals the moment that heat is applied to 
it. Though it contains no lime, it yields about 20 times as much sulphuric acid, and 
six times as much muriatic acid as sea water does, as may be seen by the annexed 
table. Dr. Wollaston has also detected traces of potash in this water. 
I The Yellow Sea, in the Chinese ocean, has some peculiarities which deserve to 
