306 Dr. Marcet‘s Analysis of the Waters of 
air for some time, the white opaque mass gradually absorbed 
water from the atmosphere, and returned to a liquid state. 
The eo grains of the water, thus evaporated and dried at i8o°, 
weighed, whilst still warm, 8,2 grains. 
2. The same saline mass being afterwards exposed in a 
sand bath to the temperature of 2 12 0 Fahrenheit, was reduced 
to 7,7 grains. Hitherto not the least smell of muriatic acid was 
perceived, nor did any decomposition appear to take place. 
3. But having raised the heat about 15 0 higher, the residue, 
after a few minutes, was found reduced to 7,4 grains ; and 011 
redissolving it, a few insoluble white particles appeared float- 
ing in the solution, showing an incipient decomposition in the 
muriat of magnesia. 
It appears from these experiments that 100 parts of the 
Dead Sea water yield 41 of salts dried at 180°, and 38,5 dried 
at 212 0 .* What proportion these quantities bear to the same 
salts, when perfectly deprived of water, will be seen from the 
subsequent results. I now pass on to the chemical examination 
of the water. 
4. To 100 grains of the Dead Sea water a few drops of 
muriat of barytes being added, a precipitate was obtained, 
which, after being well washed and exposed to a low red heat 
on a piece of laminated platina, weighed 0,09 grain, which, 
allowing for the unavoidable loss attending the manipulation 
of such very minute quantities, may safely be called 0,1 grain. 
* If the quantity of materials upon which these'results are founded, should appear 
too small, I would observe that if the bulk of salt be considerable, it is impossible to 
dry it accurately, owing to the crust which forms on the surface, and prevents the 
escape of moisture. Bur at any rate no perfect accuracy can be relied on respecting 
this kind of limited desiccation, as its completion depends in a great degree on the 
shape of the vessel, the thickness of the stratum of salt, &c. 
