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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 January 2013
I Propose to submit to the Society the analysis of a Mineral Water of the Saline Class, which has lately been discovered in the neighbourhood of Dunblane. The subject may have rather more interest than usually belongs to researches of this nature, from the composition of this water being such as promises to afford a spring of considerable medicinal efficacy, and from its resemblance to another mineral water, of some celebrity,—that of Pitcaithly, the analysis of which I have, from this circumstance, been also led to undertake. The investigation, too, may afford some illustrations of the different methods that may be employed in the analysis of waters of this class, and of the facility and precision which are given to these researches, by the results that have been established with regard to the definite proportions in which many bodies combine, and the uniformity of the relations which thus exist between the compounds they form. And it has led to some views with regard to the constitution of mineral waters of the saline class, which I have applied to the composition of some of the most celebrated mineral waters. In performing the principal experiments on the Dunblane water, I had the advantage of Mr Ellis's co-operation.
page 454 note * Referring to those analyses which may be supposed to be most accurate, 21 grains of oxalate of lime will be found equivalent to various proportions, from 17.5 to 19.9 of muriate of lime.
page 462 note * Philosophical Transactions, vol. lxii.
page 463 note * Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. viii.
page 474 note * The inspection of the scale of chemical equivalents, gives at once these numbers; and this highly useful instrument, lately invented by Dr Wollaston, facilitates greatly all such researches, by the number of results it presents without the necessity of calculation.
page 482 note * I may mention in confirmation of this, that I found a mineral water of considerable celebrity in Yorkshire, that of Ilkley, and which in particular was held in high estimation as a remedy in scrofulous affections by several eminent medical practitioners, to be water uncommonly free from all foreign matter, with the exception of very minute quantities of muriate of soda, and, muriate of lime. I had the opportunity of observing, at the same time, proofs of its medicinal efficacy.
page 488 note * The following is the calculation from which these proportions are assigned. Three grains of carbonate of lime are equivalent to 3.3 of real muriate of lime: 5 grains of carbonate of magnesia, in the state in which it was obtained by Bergman, that is, the powder precipitated and dried, are equivalent to 5 grains of real muriate of magnesia. In converting the first of these muriates into carbonate, 3.2 grains of dry common carbonate, or sub-carbonate of soda, would be expended; and in the conversion of the second muriate, 5.7 grains, making 8.9 grains, to which are to be added 1.4 grain, the quantity contained in the 4 grains of the crystallised carbonate obtained as the direct product of the analysis, making in all, as stated above, 10.3 grains. Lastly, in these decompositions of the earthy muriates, 9.7 grains of muriate of soda would be formed, which, deducted from the 17.5 obtained in the analysis, leaves 7.8 as the quantity which. the water really contains.
page 490 note * The water of Malvern may be regarded as of similar composition, only much weaker, and without any free carbonic acid. Dr Wilson's analysis gives the following ingredients, and their proportions in a gallon:
Carbonate of soda, - 5.33 grains.
Carbonate of lime, - 1.6
Carbonate of magnesia, - 0.9199
Carbonate of iron, - 0.625
Sulphate of soda, - 2.896
Muriate of soda, - 1.553
Residuum, - - 1.687
The muriate of soda, there is every probability, is a product of the operation, formed by the action of carbonate of soda on muriate of lime; or if sulphate of lime formed part of the residuum, as is probable, by the action of sulphate of soda on muriate of lime.
page 492 note * The following is the easiest method of conducting the process. About 35 grains of muriatic acid, of the strength usually met with in the shops, are put into a strong bottle with a pint of water; the acid being introduced at the bottom of the water by a long funnel. Three grains of pure white marble, in coarse powder, are dropt in, and the bottle is closed. When these are dissolved, 5 grains of the common carbonate of magnesia in powder are added, and after the solution of this, 32 grains of crystallised carbonate of soda, or, what is equivalent to this, and preferable, as affording more carbonic acid, 27 grains of bicarbonate of soda, are put in. The bottle is closed accurately, shaken, and inverted. In a short time a perfect solution takes place, and a liquor is obtained transparent, which sparkles when poured out, and has a pleasant taste.