the state of carbonate ; if after, as well as before, in that of sulphate. Tea may be sub- stituted for galls, to which its effects and indications are similar. Fcrro cyanide of potassium yields, with solutions of the sesqui-salts of iron, a blue precipitate, 141 and with the proto-salts a white precipitate, which becomes blue by exposure to the air. 10. Hydrosulphuric Acid. (Sulphuretted Hydrogen.) This yields a dark (brown or black) precipitate, (a metallic sulphuret) with water containing iron or lead in solution. 11. Evaporation and Ignition. If the water be evaporated to dryness, and ignited in a glass tube, the presence of organic matter may be inferred by the odor and smoke evolved, as well as by the charring. Another mode of detecting organic matter is by adding nitrate (or acetate) of lead to the inspected water, and collecting and igniting the precipitate ; when globules of metallic lead are obtained if organic matter be present. The putrefaction of water is another proof of the presence of this matter. Nitrate of silver is the best test for the presence of chloride of soda or common salt. By adding a small quantity of this to the common well water of New-York, a copious, white, flocculent precipitate is immediately formed, which is the chloride of soda. The same test, however, applied to the Croton water, pro- duces no discoloration whatever. Purification of Common water. By filtration, water may be deprived of living beings and of all suspended impurities ; but substances held in solution, cannot thus be separated. Ebullition destroys the vitality of both animals and vegetables ; expels air, or carbonic acid, and causes the precipitation of carbonate of lime, but the water should be afterwards subjected to the process of filtration. Distillation, when properly conducted is the most effectual method of purifying water. But dis- tilled water is in general contaminated by traces of organic matter. The addition of chemical agents is another mode which has been proposed and practised, for freeing water from some of its impurities. Alum is often used by the common peo- ple to cleanse muddy water, and ashes and pearl-ash to destroy its hardness. When alum is used, two or three grains are sufficient for a quart of water. The alum de- composes the carbonate of lime ; sulphate of lime is formed in solution, and the alumina precipitates in flocks, carrying with it mechanical impurities. This agent, however, adds nothing to the chemical purity of the water, but by converting the carbonate into sulphate of lime augments its hardness, Caustic alkalies added to lime saturate the excess of carbonic acid, and throw down the carbonate of lime, having an alkaline carbonate in solution. Professor Clark of Aberdeen,* (Scot- land) has recently patented a plan for the purification of water, by the addition of lime. The lime unites with the excess of carbonic acid in the water, and forms carbonate of lime (chalk) which precipitates, along with the carbonate of lime held * Repository of Patent Inventions, for October, 1841. 36 142 previously in solution in the water. The effect of this process is similar to that of ebullition, — as the hardness of water is, however, owing to the sulphate and not the carbonate of lime,* this plan can have little or no influence in rendering hard water soft. Alkaline carbonates soften water, decompose all the earthy salts (calcareous and magnesian carbonates, sulphates, and chlorides) and precipitate the earthy mat- ters. They leave, however, in solution, an alkaline salt, but which does not com- municate to water the property of hardness. Sea-water includes the waters of the ocean and of those lakes, called island seas, which possess a similar composition. The Dead Sea, however, varies so much from ordinary sea-water, as to rank amongst mineral waters. The quantity of solid matter varies considerably in the waters of different seas, as the following statement proves — 10,000 parts of water of Solid constituents. the Mediterranean Sea, contain - - - - 410 grs. English Channel, - - - - - 380 " C At the Island of Fohe, ... 345 " „ ". " Norderney, - - 342 " Uerman Ocean ■< | In the Frith of Forth, - - - 312 " I At Ritzebuttle, - - - 312 " At Apemalle, in Sleswick, - 216 " At Kiel, in Holstein, - - - 200 " Baltic Sea At Doberan, in Mecklenbergh, - - 168 " At Travemunse, .... 167 " At Zoppot, in Mecklenbergh, - - 76 " At Carshamm, - - - - - 66 " The average quantity of saline matter in sea-water is 3| per cent., and its specific gravity about 1.0274. The composition of sea-water differs also in different locali- ties. Iodine has been found in