Volltext Seite (XML)
EPSOM SALT. 309 It is brittle, and easily frangible. Its taste is bitter and saline. Chemical Characters. Before the blowpipe, it dissolves very easily by the as sistance of its water of crystallization, but it is difficultly fusible. Its solution gives a precipitate with lime-water. Consiituent Parts. The constituent parts of purified Epsom Salt, the Sul phate of Magnesia of chemists, are, according to Bergmann, A irwan. Sulphuric Acid, - 33.0 29 46 Magnesia, - - 13-0 17 00 Water of Crystallization, 48.0 S3 54 100.0 lL'0.00 Geognostic and Geographic Situations. It occurs as an efflorescence at Hurlet, near Paisley, along with natural alum; and sometimes effloresces on old walls : at Jena it encrusts rocks of gypsum; and half hurnt clay at YVitschiz in Bohemia; on porphyry-slate, also in Bohemia; at Solfatera, on decomposing lava ; at Gran, in Hungary, it effloresces on sandstone, clay, and compact limestone. Uses. When purified, it is used as a purgative medicine; and it is valued by chemists on account of the magnesia which can be obtained from it. TJ 3 ORDER II.