-$&#&* UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ME® WASHINGTON, D. C GPO 16—67244-1 v i AN •%TS*4^; ESSAY, ON THE MINERAL PROPERTIES OF THE Sweet Springs or Virginia, AND CONJECTURES HESPECTING THE PROCESSES OF THEIR PRODUCTION BY NATURE, TOGETHER WITH HINTS RELATIVE TO AN ARTIFICIAL FORMATION OF SIMILAR MEDICINAL WATERS. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, A FEW CONCISE STRICTURES ON A TREATISE, COMPOSEDLY JOHN ROUCLLE, M. D. ON THE SAME SUBJECT. By Doctor gojm 3Salt^lL FREDERICK-TOWN, MARYLAND Baltimore:—Printed by WARNER & KANNA.—1802. To Dodor PHILIP THOMAS, president of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland. SIR, The numberless instances of your friendship, une- quivocally demonstrated on various occasions, embolden me to present you -with the first fruits of my Chemical Lucubrations. Conscious of the difficulties necessarily interwoven with the subjeSl of my Essay, and of my own inability to do it the ample justice it merits ; / beg you to accept of it, as an humble acknowledgment of the many favours, I have received at your hand. A pupillage of four years, under your direction, has enabled me to ap- preciate your deportment in the various capacities of man and physician, and the distinguished honour which the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland have conferred on you, fully evinces the respecl and high sense, they entertain for your talents and professional ac- quirements. The exalted principles, which have suggested and established the institution, over which you preside, do im- mortal honour to the Legislature of the State of Mary- land, and will insure it to flourish more and more, as huma- nity and science advance. It must be the most cordial wish of every thinking and benevolent mind, that the care of life and health should be wrested from the hands of empi- rics and unprincipled pretenders to the healing art, to be reposed in the lap of science and confided alone to those who mre properly qualified by a due course of study in the medi- cal profession. Through the mental imbecillity naturally attendant on disease, how many mortals are deluded by the interested artifices of unfeeling Quackery ! How many, duped by artful promises of relief under the writhings of morbid agony, fallviSlims to medical imposture, and only obtain that relief by an extinction of life ! It is the end of your institution, to obviate these evils : it is to such an end your labours aredirecled: and, give me leave to add, that on so glorious a basis, supported and fostered by the united aid of science and humanity—the super structure must prove equally useful and beneficial. As president of this institution you will accept of this Essay, as an unequivocal proof of the high esteem and veneration, I entertain for it and the interest 1 feel in its prosperity and advancement. With sentiments of esteem, Tour's affeclionately, JOHN BALTZELL. Frederick-town, Dec. 22d, 1801. m^M an Cssap, $c* /\ CELEBRATED writer on Chemiflry fays, " The analyfis of mineral waters is one of themoft " difficult problems of Chemiflry. In order to make " a perfed analyfis, it is neceffary to be aware of " all the diflindive fubflances, which may be held " in folution in any water. The operator mull be " acquainted with the means of feparating from an " almofl infenfible refidue the different fubflances, " which compofe it: He muflbe able to appreciate " the nature and quantity of the produds, which " are carried off by evaporation, and likewife to " afcertain, whether certain compounds are not '* formed by the operations of his analyfis, while " others may be decompofed." This account of the qualifications, requifite to accomplifh the chemical genius for a complete analyfis of the properties of mineral waters, would impel one, more hardy, than I wifh to be, to acknowledge his incompentency to fuch an undertaking; but as commencing this ufeful work in the State of Maryland, where refearches of this nature have been totally negleded, I feel myfelf animated in the incitement, which this Elfay may prove to other votaries of chemical fcience , who, fully poffeffed of thofe qualifications, are completely adequate to the talk. The advantages, refulting from an accurate analyfis of medecinal mineral waters, mufl be clearly evident and forcibly ftrike every perfon who bellows a moment's refledion on the fubjed. 6 In the firfl place, fuch an analyfis will prevent the deftrudion of lives, by pointing out the danger- ous confequences of an injudicious use of them. In the fecond, by afcertaining their mineral principles, it will ferve to improve the method of ufingthem and to obviate the errors committed in their ufe ; which, ho doubt, have occafioned them to fail of their effeds in many cafes, where they were proper and neceffary. And thirdly, it will enable us to difcover a "chemical procefs for an artificial forma- tion of mineral waters of fimilar properties in due proportions and qualities for the ufe of fuch valetudi- narians, as have it nor. in their power to travel a diflance, to obtain the benefit of the natural mineral waters. Thefe are a few among the many confider- ations, that might be adduced to enlifl philanthro- py under the banners of chemiflry. I do not remember eyer having feen an account publifhed of the mineral properties of what are call- ed the Sweet Springs of Virginia. They have ex- cited the curiofity of the public for many reafons and particularly for their efficacy m relieving the pul- monary confumption. I have drawn up an account of them together with the method, employed in ana- lyzing them, which I now venture to prefent to the public. Defedive as it may be, I hope, it will af- ford fome general ideas refpeding them, and per- haps, animate others, completely converfant in chemical invefligations of this nature, to undertake a more corred and minute analyfis of thefe truly ex- cellent medicinal Springs. The water was conveyed to this place in a bot- tle well corked, while immerfed in the Springs, and further fecured with fealing wax, to prevent the ei- cape of the aeriform principlesiflt is very limpid and clear, and to my tongue has an aflringent fubacid tefle. Its tranfparency evinces, how perfedly it holds its mineral properties in folution : I could not difcover that it depofited any fort of fediment in*the bottle, and obferved no difcoloration, by which it might be diflinguifhed from common fpring water. Several wine glaffes were ufed on the occafion, in which the experiments were feparately conduded and the effeds of each test were carefully diflin- guilhed and afcertained. The refults were as fol- low :— Exp. ill. A few drops of the Muriate of barytes, let fall into fome of this water, yieldeda white cloud: an infallible evidence, that the fulphuric acid is one of its mineral principles ; fuch is the attradion of the barytes for the fulphuric acid, that the latter feizes the former in whatever combination, itispre- fented to it, and forms an infoluble compound, call- ed Sulphate of barytes or Ponderous Spar. 2d. The pruffiate of lime, being dropped into fome of it, afforded the pruffiate of iron or pruffian blue, with a quantity of rufl coloured matter of lefs fpecific gravity : this indubitably deteds the pre- fence of iron. The pruffic acid, feizing on the iron, produces the pruffian blue ; while the fulphuric acid of the martial vitrol, feizing on the lime, difengages the iron ; which, not finding Sufficient pruffic acid to uniteswith, falls down in the ftf.ce of calx or oxide. I fufped alfo, that fome of the carbonic acid gas abandons its union with the iron and makes its efcape in an elaflic form in this experiment. 3d. A folution of carbonate of potafh, being poured into it, produced a white precipitate. This folution being a tefl, whereby to difcover as well the combination of magnefia with the fulphuric acid, as that of alumine or pure clay with the fame acid ; we were determined, by our tafle, to believe it to be the alum. The potafh feizes on the fulphuric acid, while the carbonate of alumine is precipitated. The magnefia turns the tindure of turnfole of a flight green : an evaporation of the water from the preci- pitate and repeatedly warning it with dillilled water, and after calcining it to diffipate the carbonic acid, fubjeding it to the tefl, would afcertain the prefence of magnefia, if doubts were entertained as to the alumine. 4th. The oxalic acid, dropped into it, yielded a white precipitate, which demonflrates th« prefence ofli.iie, as the acid feizes on lime in all combinations forming an infoluble compound, called the oxalate of lime. 5th. The nitrate of filver or folution of filver in thenitrous acid produced a fmall luna corneae, like a white cloud in the water ; indicating a fmall por- tion of muriatic acid or fpirit of fea fait united to fome bafe. In this experiment, the muriatic acid feizes the filver from the nitrous acid, on account of a flronger affinity, forming the luna corneae ; while the nitrous acid attacks its bafe, forming fome com- pound perhaps nitrate of foda. The foregoing are the fixed mineral properties; which were deteded in the manner, we have def- cribed ; two volatile principles, of a diflind nature and quality, were alfo difcoyerd to be contained in this water. 9 Exp. 6th. A few drops of a folution of cauflic \ lime, being let fall into it, yielded a white precipi- 1 tate. The lime is feized by the carbonic acid gas or fixed air, which appears to be in this water in 1 confiderable quantity : this precipitate is the carbo- j nate of lime. I 7th. By writing on clean white paper, with a ! folution of acetite of lead or faccharum faturni, and ; confining it over this water, poured out and agitated j in a wineglass, the letters turned of a dark ferrugi- nous hue : Ihewing, beyond the poffibility of a doubt, that it holds, fufpended in it, a quantity of the fulphurated hydrogene gas :—The hepatic fmell is an additional proof, if it needed any, of the pre- fence of this gas in the water. If any one be difpofed to perform experiments with this gas ; he may obtain it, by pouring muri- atic acid or any other acid or the hepar fulphuris or liver of fulphur : by this, the folution of fugar of lead becomes aa elegant Sympathetic ink. 8th. The alcohol of galls, poured into this wa- ter produced no change : owing probably to my not employing enough of the infufion or perhaps to the fuperabundant fixed air in it. 9th. The folution of ammoniac or aqua am- monias, which is ufed tp deted copper, mixed with it, without effeding any alteration in the appear- ance. We had not a Sufficient quantity of the fpring water to attempt a further analyfis, by the procefs of evaporation ; in whicjxcafe, the fixed faline and earthy principles might have been fubjeded to tells, applied in different forms. B ' —-T 10 ' The accuracy of difcovering the mineral pro- perties of waters by re-agents ; being called in quef- tion by Several chemical writers and, this being the only method at prefent in our power, I tHought it neceffary to effay this method, by fynthefis, in arti- ficial folutions oSalum and copperas : I accordingly made a folution of copperas and of alum, in feparate , phials, and performed the following experiments with the fame tells, which I employed to deted the fixed minerial properties of the fweet Spring water. Exp. iff. I poured a part of the two folutions to- ! gether and, into this mixture, I dropped the prufi- I ate of lime ; when a beautiful pruffian blue, diffufed I itfelf throughout, without yielding any kind of rufl I coloured precipitate; which circumflance further \ confirmed me in my reafoning on that experiment I and in the perfuafion of the prefence of carbonated j iron ore, in the natural mineral waters. 2d. The muriate of barytes, dropped into this mixture, produced a heavy precipitate, the fulphate of barytes or ponderous fpar. 3rd. A folution of carbonate of potafh, poured into a folution of copperas, precipitated a ferrugi- nous fediment. but, 4th. being poured into a mixture of the two folutions, it yielded a white precipitate, as it does 1 in the water of the Sweet Springs : this, I was pofi- Itive, could be nothing elfe, but the carbonate of '! alumine. I have fully flated, in the preceding pages, the ;»' experiments and my manner of conduding them : i as alfo the grounds and reafons of my conclufion*: II I have endeavoured to exhibit a complete view of the proceffes of my analyfis for the critical infpedi- on, of fuch ehemifls, as may be difpofed, to exa- mine its merits or improve the method, I employ- ed in conduding it. The ftriking coincidence of the refults of my fynthetical experiments with thofe performed on the natural mineral waters appears to me a Strong demonflration in favour of my coficlu-, fions; according to which, the water of the fweet fprings contains the following mineral properties: "\Sy-non.----____________- •■ — Carbonated flCalx or oxide of liron, mixed v/ith iron ore./( earthy principles, dilfolved/by. ear bonic'acid gas./ Sulphate of iroi peryitriolate< vitriol. Sulpl/ate of alumine, fuper^itriolajted' cliy. Copperas. Alum. martial vitriol, m- irori, Salmarcis, green Fixed air. Sulphated hydrogen gas. Carbonate of lime, and the Muriatic acid ^Syn6n. C Carbonic acu ( c/eous aci j nelmont, Hepatic gas. j inflammajf)le air holdi / folution iaiftinguifhet / of putrifyed eggs. Limeftone/ chalk, &c. gas, aerial icid, cr gas Sylveltlre of c. &c. / # fulphurcaliwe gas orf jir, lg fulphur* in by the fmell Spirit of fea fait. Marine acid, fee._______________^. united to fome earthy or alkaline bafe, perhaps foda, j in a very fmall proportion : thefe two laft, carbonate of lime and the muriate, are alfo found in various quantities in the well waters of Frederick Town and, 12 / I fuppofe, bear no part in the medicinal virtues of / the fweet fprings. I would not venture to affert, that thefe are all the mineral principles, contained in the water of the Sweet Springs : it would require a nice experimen- tal inveftigation, conduded at the fpot, and fre- quently repeated in every modification ;. before that could be confidently pronounced : I have confeffed my ignorance of the bafe of the muriatic acid and, in the fubfequent part of my obfervations, I have conjedured, that there may alfo exift a portion of fulphate of lime or felenite in the waters, on grounds which are there flated. A quantity of the water, conveyed in a bottle holding about two pounds, mufl have been confiderably agitated in a journey of upwards of two hundred miles : the aeriform principles would naturally rife in an elaftic flate, ready to efcape on drawing the cork ; and we were fure, that pa^t of them did efcape, from the whiz- zing noife produced on giving vent, when it was opened for the purpofe of experimenting; confe- quently, nothing definite could be advanced as to their quantity and proportion in the water, as it is drank at the Spring-head where however thefe as well as the fixed mineral properties mufl always vary, according to the quantity of rain that falls, and the humidity, drynefs and temperature of the atmofphere. We did not attempt to aScertain its Specific gravity, which was omitted as a matter of little importance ; fmce it could not have been ef- teemed accurate, on account of the efcape of part of the volatile principles :. and the temperature of the water mufl be* determined by a thermometer im- merfed in it at the fountain head. \ The temperature and fpecific gravity of the Sweet Spring water was afeertained by J. Madison, Esc^. who communicated an account of the experi- ments in a letter to Dr. Rittenhotjse, which was publifhed in the 2d vol. of the tranfadions of the \ American Philofophical fociety of which the follow- ' ing is extraded. Exp. 1 ft. " Having plunged a very fenfible mer- " curial thermometer in the Spring; it flood at 730: " the temperature of air was about 690.---- 2d. "A good hydrometer funk ,one twentieth an inch deep " in the fpring." " of an inch deeper in common mountain water than 1 After the preceding account of the analyfis of the waters of the Sweet Springs ; may we not ven- ture into the fields of conjedure and rifque an opi- nion, refpeding the origin of their mineral pro- perties. On this difcovery, mufl depend the imita- tion of nature by human art and ingenuity. What mould prevent the confequent effeds if the caufes be prefented in equal energy ? it is only this, that art requires to rival nature in the produdion of mi- neral waters. Such has been the opinion of fome eminent Chemifts and, in this inflance, a knowledge of the formation of the mineral properties of the Sweet Springs, would be incalculably ufeful. Their virtues have been fo often evinced in relieving the pulmonary confumption, a difeafe extremely fre- quent in the United States of America. How often does poverty, the debility of the patient and diftance prohibit the journey !----The confiderations of the immenfe advantages, redounding from fuch-a difco- very, may perhaps induce an enlightened Chemift 14 at fome future period to undertake this arduous and divine talk, for the glory and welfare of his country. If I may be indulged in a little fpeculative rea- foning on the fubjedj I would Say; that a Stratum, compoSed of iron ore, fulphur, alumine or clay and limeftone ; or in other words, that martial pyrites, mixed with clay and limeftone, would impart to water, as it flowed through it, all the medecinal principles; which we have deteded in the Sweet Springs, and advance the opinion ; that it is to fuch a ftratum, thofe Springs are indebted for their mi- neral properties, as it contains in itfelf every ma- terial neeeifary for the produdion of them: although not having feen the face of the country nor any fof- fils, adjacent to them, I mull difpenCe with the beft aids, to Sorm a corred judgment on that head. However, I hope my preSumption will be pardoned, if, taking for granted, that my conjedure is corred, I endeavour to trace the operations of nature in the produdion of their mineral properties, agreeably to the principles of modern Chemiflry. The preliminaiy pofitions, which I Shall here lay down, as a key to unlock the receffes of this myfteryi have been eftablifhed by the experiments of Chemifts and are generally received as fads and admitted by all new writers on the fubjed, who have adopted the theory of Lavoisier. Water is a compound fluid, though formerly confidered as an element by feveral Philofophers, confifling of two principles, oxygene or vital air and hydrogene or Dr. Prieftley,s inflammable air :---- with it, is combined caloric or the matter of heat, in a latent ftate, and a good deal of atmofpheric air is- 15 alfo contained in it; but thefe are not component principles of the water ; they only occafion its flu- idity * and tranfparency. The fulphuric acid is produced, by combining fulphur or brimftone with a bafe of vital air or oxygene ; in which a difengagement of heat takes place in a greater or lefs degree :----Confequently, the fulphuric acid confift of oxygene and fulphur combined. Hydrogene, the other conftituent part of the water, has the property of diffolving fulphur, in which it muft be confiderably affilled by the heat, that accompanies the produdion of the acid. The fulphuric acid feparates fixed air from limeftone, wherever it comes in contad with it, by feizing on the lime and forming fulphate of lime, gypfum or felenite. This acid, united to the alumine or pure clay, conftitutes alum and, united to iron, it compofes the copperas or martial vitriol. Now to apply thefe pofitions, as rules of agencyi in the effeds, that would refult from water coming in contad or flowing through a compofition of iron. * Note. Mankind have affixed different appellations to the same substance under different modifications: we say vapour, water, snow, ice, 8tc. which only vary from each other in adventitious circumstances, depending on the different portions of the matter of heat or caloric and atmospheric air, combined with the same substance. Fluidity may be considered neces- sary to constitute water; but it nevertheless is only an effe5t of the causes mentioned. Ice, says Chaptal, is the natuvaJ state of water. i6 ore, fulphur, limeftone and clay; we will reafon thus : The oxygene of the water, which is decompof- ed by the iron and fulphur, feizing on the fulphur, forms the fulphuric acid; which has a threefold operation according to the material it meets with, firft it produces copperas by uniting with the iron, which, being already oxided, is more readily aded upon by the oxygene and fulphur: fecondly, by feizing on the clay or alumine, it produces alum and, thirdly; by feizing on the limeftone, it fets at liberty the fixed air or carbonic acid and forms the fulphate of lime.----Here then we are prefented with the etiology of three principles : the copperas, alum, and fixed air. Hydrogene, the other component principle of the water, in confequence of its difengagement in the formation of the acid with the oxygene, becomes elaftic and volatile and, probably affifted by the heat, that accompanies the produdion of the acid, it would naturally diffolve part of the fulphur or feize it al- ready fufpended in the water :----Here then we have the origin of the fourth principle explained : the fulphurated hydrogene gas. The prefence of the limeftone and carbonated iron ore may be eafily accounted for, by the attriti- on of the water in its paffage through thofe fubflan- ces ; but the latter, * being previoufly in a ftate of oxide, is afterwards diffolved by the aerial acid it meets with in the water, and of courfe, only the mu- riatic acid, united to fome unknown bafe, remains unaccounted for. * Note. Perhaps in part by double elective attraction from the mai'tial vitriol and limestone. i7 According to this hypothefis, if fuch it may be termed, we mull admit the prefence of another pro- perty in the water, for which we had not a tefl, I mean the felenite, gypfum or plafter of paris ; for it is prefumable, that if the preceeding are the pro- celfes of nature in the produdion of the properties of the Sweet Springs ; a part of the fubftance, form- ed in the difengagement of the fixed air by the uni- on of the fulphuric acid with lime, would alfo be diffolved in it; being foluble in five hundred times its weight of water, according to Chaptal at 6o° of Fahrenheit's* If fome future experiment fhould deted the prefence of felenite, gypfum or fulphate of lime in this .water ; my conjedures will receive additional probability. This hypothefis might eafily be fubjeded to the tefl of experiment, for which, however, confider- able refourfes as well as leifure; which are wanting to me, would be neceffary : perhaps fome one, pof- feffed of both thefe advantages, may be induced to attempt it hereaSter. From the Chemical phaeno- mena, which we may produce, whenever we pleaSe in our laboratories, we have every reaSon to pro- miSe ourfelves the wifhed for fuecefs. Let me in- stance two or three of them : a mixture of iron fil- ings and fulphur, moiftened with water, yields the oxid of iron and the fulphuric acid, by the decom- position of the water; while at the fame time, heat, Sufficient to ignite any combuftible material and hydrogene are difengaged. The fame mixture, ex- pofed to a certain quantity of atmofpheric air in a large glaSs bell, abSorbs all the oxygene, leaving the azote, Septic or nitrogene gas undiminifhed and, C i8 forming the oxide and acid. If the liver of fulphur or fulphurated kali be moiflened with water, the hydrogene efcapes with part of the fulphur in folu- tion, forming the fulphurated hydrogene gas, while the oxygene of the water, uniting with fome of the fulphur, compofes the fulphuric acid ; which unit- ing with the alkali, produces a neutral fait. Thefe experiments demonstrate the powerful attradion, a mixture of iron and fulphur have for the oxygene, and further add to the probability of the foregoing hypothefis. The experiment could be readily performed, by conftruding a ftratum, compofed of iron ore, fulphur, limeftone and clay and conduding a rivu- let of frefh and limpid water through it.----To imi- tate nature in the produdion of thofe mineral pro- perties, which we have mentioned, it would be ne- ceffary to make the ftratum of ample extent, to con- fine it, So as to prevent the immediate eScape of the gafeous principles, that would be evolved and to give the water a fimilar filtration through it, as it is fuppofed to have in its Subterraneous paffages, be- fore it reaches the fpring head- After ftating my conjedures, as to the produc- tion of artificial bathwaters, equal to the natural in their mineral properties ; I muft confefs, that I am aware of feveral difficulties in imitating the procef- fes of nature ; which, indeed, appear to me formi- dable : the manner of conftruding the Strata of mi- neral and foffil materials, fo as to impart to the per- fluent water, the precife principles, in the fame quality and proportion, as they exift in the Sweet Spring water, is one of the molt infuperable of thofe difficulties : for after the decomposition of the water *9 and the formation of the fulphuric acid by its oxy- gene ; the different fubflances, having different affini- ties to the acid, the prevailing attradion would fuf- pend all the reft and compoSe but one oS the Sul- phates, during the preSence of the objed of that prevailing attradion. In the table of affinities ; the lime has a ftronger attradion for the fulphuric acid, than the alumine and this latter would difplace the iron for the fame reafon : it follows of courfe, that if thofe materials exifted intimately combined in the ftratum, through which the water flowed; as long as calcareous earth formed apart of the compofition, the alum and copperas could not be produced and, after all the lime were Seized on by the acid, the clay would flill prove an impediment to the forma- tion of copperas or the fulphate of iron. Nature does not compound her materials into bodies by any laws definitely known : it is evident to us from a view of mineralogy and lithology, that She employs various matrices and mineralizers for the fame metallic and foffil fubflances : fhe hardly ever intimately combines them in the fame modes and proportions ; but frequently retains fome of them, while fhe difmiffes others in the compofition of the mafs : thus feemingly capricious is fhe^in the arrangement of inanimate matter and in this opera- tion fhe particularly eludes the efforts of art. It would, therefore, perhaps be more advife- ahje to conftrud diftind flrata for the produdion of each different principle, that might be influenced by the adion of affinity ; than to rifque the produc- tion of the mineral properties on a promifcuous de- pofition of the foffil materials : in this inftance, it would confequently be neceffary to form three dif- 20 ferent compofitions : one of iron and fulphur or mar- tial pyrites : the fecond of this and alumine or clay, and the third of iron, fulphur and calcareous Hones to develope the fixed air: each of which fhould be intimately compounded : over thefe there fhould three diftind ftreams of water be conduded properly delayed and percolated, fo as to afford every advan- tage and opportunity for a due impregnation of that fluid with the principles, that would be evolved in each ftratum by its decompofifion. This latter pro- cefs would alfo put it into the power of the Chemift, to diverfify the mineral properties of the water in their qualities and proportions ; which might per- haps be efteemed a confiderable advantage in the eye of medicine. The waters flowing through the feparate ftrata fhould be made to defcend down the fame fubterraneous declivity in order to be agitated and mixed together before they reached the general refervoir, whence they fhould iffue into an ample ciftern for the ufe of valetudinarians. I thought proper to retain the iron ore in each of the compofi- tions of the ftrata, as it is found by experience to promote the decompofition of water. After all, that has been faid; it muft be con- feffed, that experiment would alone be the proper guide : for nothing definite can be laid down a pri- ore on fuch fubjeds, as fo many incidental circum- stances influence the manipulations of the Chemift. The quality oS the Soffit matters, the temperature oS the weather as well as water, the properties, which the water imbibed Srom the Soil, through which it flows, and the Space of time it continued in contad with the iron pre, fulphur, alumine and limeftone, together with the degree of the confinement of the volatite principles, would conftitute effential points 21 of confideration, in the artificial formation of medi- cinal waters. The preceding conjedures, refpeding the aeti- ology of the mineral properties of the Sweet Springs and, the fuggeftions, for a complete imitation of nature in the produdion of artificial bath waters of fimilar virtues on an extenfive fcale, I hope, will not be rejeded; before they be thoroughly fifted and inveftigated. Some perhaps may precipitantly denounce them as the excentricities of a juvenile brain or the Utopia of a fpeculative theorift; but certain I am, that the reafoning made ufe of on the occafion is founded on an adual observation of Che- mical phenomena and, altho' the devotees to phlo- gifton would condemn my language, they mufl ne- ceffarily admit the fads, I have adduced in fupport oS my observations. Nature has Scattered the greater part of the foffils, required to put fuch a plan into operation in vaft profufion throughout the United States, and if it fucceeded, how ineftimably happy and beneficial would be the confequences ! Every Town or State could be enabled to fupply their cachedic and con- fumptive patients with these falubrious waters, at a fmall expence, through the united aid and contri- butions of charity and humanity. Artificial bath waters of the mineral properties, deteded in the Sweet Springs, perhaps might be produced, in the fmall way, by a more expeditious procefs of the laboratory. Would not a folution of alum and copperas, properly proportioned, in a certain quantity of clear and limpid water impreg- nated with serial acid, by paffing through Parker's 22 apparatus ; to which the fulphurated hydrogene gas fhould be added by the ingenuity of a pradical Che- mift, conftitute an artificial mineral water of the fame medicinal virtues as the natural ? To have the advantage of oxide of iron ore, held in folution by the water would it not be advifable to employ for the purpofe natural chalybeate water or fuch made arti- ficially ? Thefe queries can beft be anfwered by ex- periment. However before this plan could be fuccefsfully executed, it would be neceffary to afcertain the pro- portions of the fubflances to be diffolved by a nice calculation of them in a given volume of Sweet Spring water ; it would alfo perhaps be neceffary to find out; whether it would be more expedient to introduce the carbonic acid and hepatic gafes at the fame time, or feperately in Succeffion; and with which it would be moft proper to impregnate the folution. * If all thefe points were well determined by repeated experiment, we then might pretend to rival nature even in our laboratories, for which this procefs is well adapted; while the other predicated from a plan, eftablifhed on the original formation of the mineral properties by nature and on a more ex- tenfive Scale of utility, would require for its execu- tion, the munificence of a ftate or city. Since nothing certain can be pronounced, re- fpeding the refults of any chemical operations ; be- * Note. These gases may be introduced into the water at the same time by mixing chalk and liver of sulphur in Parker's apparatus and pouring diluted sulphuric acid or vitriol over the mixture : but in this manner, their proportions cannot be ma- naged : they may be produced seperately from these substances by means of the acid in which case they can be introduced in any proportions. 23 fore they are repeatedly fubjeded to the tefl of ex- periment, which muft finally determine the merits of all our Speculations on this Subjed I feel great dif- fidence in prefenting this effay to the public.---- I do not pretend to perfedion in my perSormance and, from the intricacy of chemical affinities, which conltitutes the fublimeft part of hermetic fcience, it is poffible that fallacies may have crept into the de- dudions, I have made on the fubjed of my analyti- cal refearch : however I am not aware of any and, if fuch be difcovered by an ingenious critic, I Shall gratefully acknowledge the favour.----With reve- rence and awe, I approach the fane of fcience, fear- ful, whether I be a welcome votary : my offering, I prefent on the altar and await my fentence, in* patient filence. postscript SI^CE writing the preceeding account of the Chemical analyfis of the mineral properties of the Sweet Springs, I have met with a treatife, compof- ed on the fame fubjed by John Rouelle, M. D, from Europe, which was publifhed in the year 1792,. at Philadelphia. I have given it a repeated diligent perufal and find that, not totally liberated from the embarraffments of phlogiftic Chemiflry, he had to combat an unconquerable obfcurity in the explica- tion of his Chemical experiments. He tefted alt the noted medicinal Springs of Virginia: his ana- lyfis of the Sweet Springs appears to me the moft .m.fatisfadory in his whole treatife, as it affords noC 24 the moft diftant inference for an artificia. produdion of the mineral properties ot thofe waters. His ac- count differs in a great meafure from that drawn up in the foregoing pages : I have therefore taken the liberty of examining it, on the principles qf pneu- matic Chemiflry. Dodor Rouelle's attempts in the liquid way for deteding the mineral properties of the Sweet Springs are very imperfed and fuperficial: he employed feven tefts and for their Chemical refults, he does not even venture an explanation ; however as he laid little or no SlreSs on the method of* analyfis by re-agents, depending chiefly on evaporation of the water for the difcovery of its fixed mineral proper- ties : it is the latter I confider the principal fubjed of attention. Dodor Rouelle began his proceffes, by evapo- rating twenty two quarts of the Sweet Spring water in the balneum maris or hot water bath, when there firft appeared on the furface a " thick pellicle" after the efcape oS a gas, which he aScertained to be the aerial acid, of which very little more was difengag- ed; after the formation of the pellicle : this broke and fubfided to the bottom. A fimilar phaenomenon takes place, if a folution of cauflic lime be expofed to the atmofpheric air, by attrading the carbonic acid, afloat in it, and forming carbonate of lime : the oppofite of this hap- pens in the formation of the pellicle by the evapo- ration of the water; for the acid, inftead oS being attraded, flies off.----it is thus accounted for : al- though the cauftic lime has a powerful affinity to the fixed air ; yet it can retain, but a certain portion 25 in union with it and whatever is beyond this point of faturation, will efcape. The fixed air aids the water in the folution of the lime and, as foon as this abandons it, the water is left alone to ad on the fo- lubility of the carbonate of lime (and probably other earthy fubflances, &c. with it) of which, confe-» quently, the undefolved portion is precipitated. When the quantity was evaporated to a quart; a yellowifh colour appeared:—---This, he thinks, is probably owing to the iron, contained in the wa- ter. I am of opinion, agreeably to my experiments', that it is partly owing to the cerbonated iron ore and, in part to the copperas: the water ftill retains an acidulous tafte, which, he fuppoSes, is owing to a " portion of aerial acid in a true combination with " iron and a little earth. This is the reafon, why " it appears a little turbid and whitifh." I cannot admit, that this acid tafte was occafioned by the car- bonate of iron, as he thinks : is it not evident, how readily the fixed air abandons the iron, from the ochreous depofitions of acidulous chalybeate waters, and is it prefumable, that the iron would retain it in fuch a fuperfaturated ftate, as to. yield an acid tafte aSter an evaporation of twentytwo quarts to one quart, in boiling water ? * The part falling to the bottom and flicking hard to the glafs veffel, fome experiments proved to him " to be rather the calca- reous mephite and a very little felenite." When the evaporation was carried to a Suffici- ent point, he took the whole refiduum and put it into a bottle, to take along with him, to try more * Note. When the evapoi'ation was continued he says " it \yent off entirely," but what was its taste then? was it as*" trintrent ? D 26 experiments at home : when he opened it, he fays, u it fmelled a good deal of rotten eggs, ftronger j " than it was at the fprings: and a bottle of tfre " Spring water had hardly any fmell, but was aci- " dulous." This hepatic odour, undubetably proves the prefence of the fulphurated hydrogene gas ; but , he feels great uncertainty on the fubjed and ob- ^ ferves : " However / would not perfuade myself "• that there is no hepatic air becauSe Sulphur is to be u found there in plenty enough, to give fufpicions " of it. But thefe particulars belong more to other " refearches." Modern Chymiflry readily unfolds the enigma, by tracing the origin of this gas, to the decompofition of water and the folution of fulphur in the hydrogene. He now evaporated this to drynefs and redif- folved the refiduous fubflances in diftilled water.— < On a new evaporation to a degree of chryftallization, the Solution " was of a brown colour, making no " kind of effervefcence with acid or alkali and form- " ing no precipitate, which were proofs, that the «* falts were perfedly neutralized." It is to be la- mented, that he had not an opportunity of obferv- ing the refults of muriated barytes, pruffiate of lime or carbonate of potafh, employed as tefts in this i folution; which would have thrown great light on its contents. ( This folution was now evaporated to dryneis " the chryftallizable falts apart—if we add an acid, " there is an effervefcence and Something remains ; " untouched; with the vitriolic acid, there is a fo- " lution of calcareous earth and what remains, is a " little of vitriolated tartar and filiceous earth.". j The effervefcence is, undoubtedly, occafioned by j 27 the efcape of a gas. What are his proofs Sor the vitriolated tartar ? is it produced by the acid em- ployed in telling ? " Something remains untouched" is this the filiceous earth or the fulphates of iron and alumine ? for these alike elude the adion of the acid. " The chryftals obtained" he further fays " are " evidently epfom fait or vitriol of magnefia and " fome chryftals of a marine fait," this laft I admit as proved by the luna cornea, formed by the nitrate of filver: the other, I cannot admit as the figure of the chryftals are here of no avail to determine its prefence : he alfo fays " I followed the way of dif- " tilled vinegar to diffolve the calcareous earth and "make a foliated earth, &c. the liquor, being eva- " porated afterwards, gave no chryftals and is "thick:----Then on precipitating it, it is found " to be magnesia, which was in the water in perfed " combination with aerial acid." Here we obferve, he afferts the prefence of magnefia without offering any evidence for it. Elleot on bath waters, when fpeaking of the analyfis of mineral waters by evapo- ration, remarks; "the bafisof falts, com pounded of the " vitriolic acid, may be diftinguifhed by the figure " of the, chryftals;' except natron and magnesia ; " but the fatter" he adds '* renders lime water tur- " bid: the former does not.'' The Dodor has ad- vanced conjedure alone for the prefence of magne- fia and, if we are allowed to judge, by the procef- fes, he has recited, employed no experiment to as- certain, that the water contains it, as he fays " in perfed combination with the aerial acid:" it is therefore, in my humble opinion, an inference grounded on mere fuppofition, 28 After this luccind view of Dodor Rouelle's analyfis of the Sweet Springs, I am inclined to think it defedive and unfatisfadory, deftitute of the phi- lofophical precifion, which ought to charaderize refearches of that nature----of this, he himfelf ap- pears to have been fully confcious; when he con- cludes by faying : " hence it follows that the aci- " dulous fpring in Bath County (meaning the Sweet "Spring) contains in the quart: Of Saline fubitances in general 12 to 15 gr. Earthy fubflances 18 to 24 Iron 1 to 4- .. thus noting dowrf the fixed mineral properties in the undefined generical terms of faline and earthy fubflances and iron, which cannot afford the moil diftant hint for the-artificial formation of fimilar me- dicinal waters. Although from the account of the Dodor's analyfis, it does not appear, that he even furmifed the prefence of alum and copperas in the Sweet Spring water; yet none of his experiments tend to refute or invalidate my inferences from the . refults of my chemical tefts : the obfervation, cited ] before refpeding the turbid and whitifh afped of,the water after confiderable evaporation,, fuggefts to my j mind a SuSpicion, that it was occafioned by .thofe, two ' fubflances and, he alfo Says : on opening the bottle, . that contained the refiduum, left from the firft eva- poration, it was quite black ; " the end.ofthe cork ' " of the fame colour, and covered with Small chryS- " tals :" he does not inform us, what thefe ohryf- " tals were.----To afcertain what effect: a Solution of copperas would have on a.cork; I laid one in a So- i lution oS it for fome hours, when it turned black in like manner: the acid itfelf has a fimilar effed, as ■< l 29 may be feen in phials containing it, being injudici- oufly flopped with corks. His remarks on the foffils of the mountain, whence the fpring iffues; prove a Strong fupport to the opinions, I have ventured to maintain in the preceding effay, relative to the etiology of the mi- neral properties of the Sweet Springs. He obferves " each fide of the mountain is covered by free Stone, " Some other parts are a kind of jafper variegated " with white lines, and the bafis of the whole moun- " tain is a hard earth, compofed in general of clay " and limeftone, in different proportions, mixt with " iron and coloured by it," and probably an adual examination would difcover the fulphur in fubterra-: neous ftrata intermixed with thefe fubftances : which in my opinion, would evolve and impart to perflu- ent water the mineral properties, difcovered in the Sweet Spring water, by our chemical tefts. Agree- ably to his analyfis, the Dodor admits the prefence of felenite or gypfum in it, which I hachconjedured a priore in purfuance of my hypothetical reafoning on the fubjed of the original principles of its pro- '• dudion, before I faw this treatife : he alfo admits that the "fulphur, fpread in pyrites as well as in " rotten wood, is conftantly operating new compo- " fitions and decompofitions, with all the fubftances it has attradion to." To have my theoretical conjedures fo well fup- ported and corroborated with fads by Dodor Rouelle, • a Chemift of no common fame, who was on the 'Spot and viewed the face of the country and examined its foffils with judicious attention, free from fpeculative prepoffeffions; affords a powerful additional proof, that my Hypothefis, refpeding the natural origin 30 of the mineral properties of the Sweet Springs and fuggeftions for the formation of fimilar medicinal wat^r by artificial means, merit at leaft a candid inveftigation; before they can be authoritatively denounced as chimerical. FINIS. ★ * ARMY * * MEDICAL LIBRARY Cleveland Branch