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Sulphate of Magnesia

This is that the whole becomes a solid mass on rethe well-known Epsom salts of commerce, moval from the fire. For both this and the called after the saline springs of Epsom, in last-mentioned use it is reduced to powder. England, from the waters of which it was It is also much used as a test for sulphuric originally obtained. It is prepared on the acid, with which it produces a white precipilarge scale from Dolomite, or magnesian lime- tate insoluble in nitric acid; in the rectificastone. Heat the mineral with sufficient dilute sulphuric acid to convert all its carbonate into sulphate of lime, wash out all the sulphate of magnesia with hot water, and, after defecation, evaporate and crystallize. tion of alcohol, and for forming a water-bath with a high boiling point. As a medicine, it has been given in some scrofulous and glandular diseases, and has also been used as a bath in the same cases. 4247. To Prepare Chloride of Calcium. To hydrochloric acid, diluted with an equal weight of water, add powdered chalk

Or, from bittern. Boil the residual liquor, or mother-water of sea-salt, for some hours, skim, and decant the clear, then concentrate or white marble, in small fragments, until efby evaporation, and run the solution into fervescence entirely ceases, and the liquid no wooden coolers; in 1 or 2 days 1/80 part of longer reddens litmus paper. Filter, evapo- Epsom salts will have crystallized out. This rate to one-half, and set it aside to crystallize. is called singles. By re-solution in water, Then collect the crystals, dry them by presand re-crystallization, doubles, or Epsom salts, fit for the market, are obtained.