Analysis of the water of the Great Geyser, Iceland / by Alfred S. Taylor.

  • Alfred Swaine Taylor
Date:
[1856]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Analysis of the water of the Great Geyser, Iceland / by Alfred S. Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    ANALYSIS OF THE WATER OF THE % Of * GREAT GEYSER, ICELAND. HYSICIANi Of kite!*9* By ALFRED S. TAYLOR, M.D., F.R.S. A sample of water taken from the Great Geyser Spring, in Iceland, was sent me by Dr. Little, of H.M.S. Coquette. It was collected on the 16th June, 1856, the temperature of the water being 190 degrees, and the temperature of the air forty- seven degrees. The quantity sent to me amounted to eight fluid ounces. The water was bright and colourless ; and on standing, it deposited no mechanical impurity. It had no odour; but a somewhat saline and alkaline taste. Its specific gravity, the thermometer being 73° (August, 1856), was a little above that of distilled water. Its gaseous contents were oxygen and nitrogen ; in the small quantity examined, there was no trace of free carbonic acid. It did not become turbid on boiling. It was alkaline, and retained an equal degree of alkalinity both before and after boiling. Its hardness, as determined by the soap-test, was half a degree. It was quite as soft as distilled water; but the soft- ness was owing to the absence of the salts of lime and mag- nesia, and to the presence of carbonate of soda. On evaporation, it left a dry, almost white crystalline-look- ing residue, having a slightly brownish tint from the presence of a trace of oxide of iron. This residue was entirely mineral. There was no indication of the presence of organic matter either animal or vegetable. The residue was not deliquescent. Calculated for the imperial gallon it weighed 106 6 grains. A chemical examination of the saline residue obtained from this water, showed that the only alkaline base contained in it