LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
4G1 
by evaporating the water to which a weighed quantity of carbonate of soda had been 
added, and carefully drying at a temperature from 248° to 2G6° F.” 
In addition to the table of analyses,'* Dr. Hofmann gives the direct results of two 
analyses of this water, so that taking just what is mentioned in his report, and ignoring 
all the experiments which he does not mention, his analysis as published is not the re¬ 
sult of one, but several investigations. 
In 1841-42, Dr. Bennett, a physician resident in Harrogate, experimented with this 
water; he evaporated down portions every month, and his experiments extended over a 
whole year. The quantity of water operated upon was eight ounces, and the tempera¬ 
ture employed in evaporating was 140° F. 
The variations in quantity of residue were very considerable, in some instances as 
much as 25 per cent.; taking the lowest amounts obtained in July and August, 1841, 
and calculating them as per gallon, gives 318 and 31G grains respectively. The residue 
of this water is found to lose 9| per cent. Avhen exposed to 240° to 250° after being 
dried in awater-bath at a temperature of about 180° ; deducting therefore this percentage 
from the amounts obtained by Dr. Bennett, leaves 287*9 and 285* * 9 grains per gallon, the 
quantity almost identical with that found by Dr. Hofmann. 
The next analyser who investigated this water is Dr. Muspratt, who discovered one 
of the new constituents, viz. protochloride of iron. The rarity of this salt of iron in 
mineral waters, makes its discovery in a water at Harrogate very interesting. Dr. 
Pereiraf mentions only two springs in Europe as containing it, the Selken-brunnen at 
Alexisbad, in Germany, and Bukowina, in Silesia; these two springs also contain proto¬ 
sulphate of iron, they are about the same strength, as regards iron, as this Harrogate 
saline ferruginous water. 
Dr. W, A. Miller’s analysis, which was made last November, revealed another new 
constituent, chloride of barium; this is an equally rare constituent in mineral waters. A 
mineral spring in Germany, Kreuznach Elisen-brunuen.J is stated by Struve to contain it in 
the proportion of 2*875 grains in the gallon.§ Three brine springs at Tarentum, on the 
Alleghany river, and a mineral spring at St. Leon, in Canada, complete the list. 
Although the soluble salts of baryta are classed among poisons, yet the small quantity 
taken in imbibing the usual dose of the water (4 oz.) is not such as to occasion any 
alarm, especially, as with a revived and increasing reputation, this water has been exten¬ 
sively used and prescribed for several seasons, with the best effects, in very numerous 
cases. 
In looking over these various analyses, we are struck by their remarkable discrepan¬ 
cies, and, unless reasonable grounds can be urged to show that the character of this 
water has radically changed, it will be in vain to attempt to reconcile them. 
Mr. Davis gave the opinions, bearing on this point, of some of these analysers. 
Dr. Hunter says |j :—“ From the experience of others, as well as my own, I cannot 
doubt that some of these springs occasionally vary in strength, and it is probable also, 
in the variety of their ingredients.” It is satisfactory, however, to know that the most 
important of them have been found the least liable to these changes.” 
Dr. Hofmann states,** “that equal amounts of water of most of the springs left on 
evaporation different quantities of saline residue.” 
Dr. Hunter mentions the following experiments he made with the water in 181944 :— 
“ Expt. /. A few drops of the tincture of galls being added to a glass of the water, it 
immediately assumed a purple colour, and, on standing ten minutes, it gradually deepened 
in appearance.” 
“ Expt. m. The triple prussiate of potash produced no sensible change ; but a few 
drops of muriatic acid, being first dropped into another glass of the water, the triple prus- 
* £ Chemical Analysis of the Harrogate Medicinal Waters,’ by A. W. Hofmann, F.B.S., p. 34. 
f Pereira’s ‘ Materia Medica,’ vol. i., pp. 306, 307, 835, 840. 
+ Fownes’s ‘Manual of Chemistry,’ Appendix,’ p. 797. 
§ ‘ Chemical and Physical Geology,’ by Gustav Biscliof, vol. i., pp. 337, 448, 449. 
j] ‘ The Waters of Harrogate,’ by Adam Hunter, M.D., Preface 1st edit., p. 5. 
** ‘ Pharmaceutical Journal,’ vol. xiv., p. 76. 
ft ‘ An Essay on Two Mineral Springs recently discovered at Harrogate,’ by Adam Hunter 
M.D. 1819. 
