Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/238

216] and communicating to them all the properties of the natural waters. The most complete of such chemical processes appears to be that of M., who has established a manufactory of factitious waters, at Paris, in imitation of the natural springs of , , and , which have in all respects been found equal, or superior to those celebrated wells. His preparations have undergone a rigid examination by the ablest chemists, both with respect to their physical properties, and the nature of the salts employed. According to the reports of, and , M. 's artificial waters are very clear and transparent, possessing a strong acid flavour, and communicating a deep red shade to the tincture of turnsol. On being placed in contact with various re-agents, these compounds, when mixed with lime-water, produced abundance of carbonate of lime; with caustic alkalies, neutral salts; and, when poured on the filings of the purest iron, they acquired, in a short time, a ferruginous taste.

With respect to the carbonic acid, or fixed air, it appears that the factitious waters contain of it twice and a half of their volume, which is considerably more than the natural springs.

The advantages of these ingenious preparations are stated to be, 1. That they are not liable to be affected by rainy weather, as is the case with the natural water, which is remarkably influenced by the season. 2. That they do not part with any gas and other volatile constituents, by conveyance, and by keeping them for some length of time; and 3. That the natural fluid can hold in solution only such a proportion of metallic ingredients as the acids and gases contained therein, are capable of dissolving; while the factitious mineral waters are not only cheaper and more efficacious, but retain their virtues without diminution, are impregnated with a larger volume of gas, and may be composed of any quantity and quality of salt or earth, according to particular circumstances. Lastly, they are far more convenient to the purchaser, being much stronger than the natural waters, so that there will be no occasion to drink such large and nauseating doses, as are usually taken of the latter.

With respect to the waters of, , , &c. and the principal foreign wells, the reader will find a short account of them, in the progress of the alphabet.  MINT, or Mentha, L. a genus of plants comprising 24 species, 12 being natives of Britain; of which the following are the principal:

1. The Pulegium: See.

2. The Arvensis, or ; growing on moist heaths, pastures, and in sandy inundated fields; flowering from June to September.—It is eaten by horses, and goats, but disliked by sheep, and refused by hogs and cows; though the animals last mentioned devour it eagerly towards the end of the summer, when pressed by hunger, and the pastures are bare; in which case it prevents the coagulation of their milk, so that it is with the greatest difficulty converted into cheese.

3. The viridis, or, which grows on the banks of rivers, and in watery situations; flowers in the months of July and August.—It is propagated by  ing