Natural

NATURAL WATER8.—We shall consider, first, those few natural aerated waters which have become, or are likely t,o become, of commercial importance.

Apullinaris Water.—This favourite beverage is obtained from the Apollinaris Brunner', a German mineral spring, aituate in the valley of the Ahr, not far from Nenenahr. According to an analysis made by Professor G. Bischof, of Bonn. it contains in 10,000 parts by weight :— Fixed Constituents.

Carbonate of soda 12-57 Carbonate of lime.. 0.59 Chloride 4-6.; Oxide of iron and alumina .. 0-20 Sulphate it • • • • .. 3-00 Silicic acid .. 0-08 PI losphate .. trace — Salts of potash .. .. trace 25-52 Carbonato of magnesia 4•42 — Volatile Cvnstituents.

Free and semi-combined earbonio acid 27.76 Combined carbonic acid .. 8-07 35-83 In the Apollinaris spring, there is a high proportion of carbonic acid, especially in the form of carbonates of soda and magnesia ; while the proportion of chloride of sodium is much less than that contained by moat ether natural waters, and hence its power of quenching thirst is correspondingly greater. The first qualities desired in aemted beverages, namely, a pleasant flavour and a brisk effervescence when mixed with wine and sugar or fruit syrups, are possessed by the Apollinaris water in a high degree, and it has therefore met with general approval since its introduction into this country. The artificial mineral wators, especially soda water, have until lately had the advan tage of being strongly effervescent, by reason of the large amount of carbonic acid which they con tained, and were therefore preferred hy many to the natural mineral waters. But eince the year 1863, the gases which escape from the Apollinaris Brunnen, containing rnore than 99 per cent. of carbonic acid, have been recondensed into the water by the sid of machinery specially erected at the spring for the purpose. By these means it has been rendered poseible to export it strongly impregnated with its own gases, and hence it has heon made to possess not only the characters of a natural mineral water, but also the high proportion of carbonic acid gas belonging to the artificial aerated waters, and thus to combine the advantages of both.

The Apollinaris spring furnishes a regular supply of water, amounting to 6000 quart bottles per hour, equal to more than 40,000,000 bottles per aunum. The bottles and jars are filled and sealed on the spot, as the water issues from the rock, under a pressure of six atmospheres. The arrange ments for bottling and export give employment to more than two hundred workmen.

Carlsbad Witten—At Carlsbad, in Bohemia, there are seveml springs of alkaline and saline composition. An analysis made by Ragsky in 1862 gave the following result:— Sixteen ouncea (7680 grains) contain:— I Sulphate of potash .. 1.2564 grains. Carbonate of manganese .. 0-0046 grains.

Sulphate of soda 18.2160 „ Phosphate of alumina .. 0.0030 „ Chloride „ .. 7'9165 „ Phosphate of lime .. 0-0015 „ Carbonate „ 10.4593 „ Fluoride „ 0-0276 „ Carbonate of lime .. 2-2870 „ Silica .. 0.5590 ,, magnesia .. 0 . 9523 „ strontia 0-0061 „ Total of fixed constituents 41'700 Alumina and oxide of iron 0-0215 „ — The amount of carbonic acid set free, entirely or in part .. 5.8670 grains.

Valuable medicinal effects are attributed to the use of these waters, principally in case.s of diabetes, gout, and biliary diseases ; these are said to be due to the large proportion of sulphate, carbonate, and chloride of sodium which the waters contain, together with the temperature at which they are drunk, the temperature of the water from the various springs ranging between 40° and 70°. All the springs have the same specific gravity,, viz. 1.004 at 18° ; the taste is slightly saline. The water is now largely imported into this country; it should be warmed to the natural tempe rature before drinking.

Friedrichshall BitterWater.—The bitter water of Friedriebshall, near Coburg, eoutaios, according to Bauer and Liebig, in 16 ounces, about : Sulphate of soda .. 44.12 grains. s Sulphate of lime .. grains.