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IV. An Analysis of several Varieties of British and Foreign Salt , 
( Muriate of Soda ) with a View to explain their Fitness for 
different economical Purposes. By William Henry, M. D. 
F. R. S. Vice-Pres. of the Literary and Philosophical Society, 
and Physician to the Infirmary, at Manchester. 
Read January 25, 1810. 
Sect. I. General Observations. 
In undertaking the series of experiments, described in the 
following pages, I had not so much in view the discovery of 
novelties in science, as the determination, by the careful em- 
ployment of known processes, and by the improvement of 
methods of analysis, of a number of facts, the establishment 
of which (it appeared to me probable) might have an 
influence on an important branch of national revenue and 
industry. 
An opinion has for some time past existed, and I believe 
has been pretty general both in this and other countries, to 
the disadvantage of British salt as a preserver of animal food ; 
and a decided preference has been given to the salt procured 
from France, Spain, Portugal, and other warm climates, where 
it is prepared by the spontaneous evaporation of sea water. 
In conformity with this opinion, large sums of money are 
annually paid to foreign nations, for the supply of an article, 
which Great Britain possesses, beyond almost any other 
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