AQUA, a term frequently met with in the writings of physicians, chemists, &c. for certain medicines, or menstruum, in a liquid form, distinguished from each other by peculiar epithets, as Aqua Alexiteria, Aqua Aluminosa, Aqua Mirabilis, &c. for which see PHARMACY.
Aqua Extincta, or Extinguished Water, as aquafortis into which some river-water has been poured, in order to qualify it, and render it less corrosive. Its use is to get the silver from the aquafortis that served to part gold from it.
Aqua Fortis, a name given by artists to nitrous acid of a certain strength, from its dissolving power: that which is concentrated and smoking, is called spirit of nitre. The aquafortis used by dyers, brass-founders, &c. is not only weaker than spirit of nitre, but contains a portion of vitriolic acid. It may be made by distilling crude nitre with calcined vitriol, equal parts. The nitrous acid, expelled by the vitriolic, will rise in red fumes, and pass into the receiver. The vitriolic acid, uniting with the alkaline basis of the nitre, forms vitriolated tartar; but, there being more vitriolic acid than is requisite to saturate the alkali, the surplus rises with the nitrous acid: aquafortis, therefore, is a mixture of these two acids. It may also be made by distilling crude nitre with somewhat more than half its weight of oil of vitriol; or by mixing one part of oil of vitriol with nine parts pure spirit of nitre. See CHEMISTRY-Index.
Aqua Marina, a name by which the jewellers call the beryl, on account of its sea-green colour. See BERYL.
Aqua Regia, a compound of nitrous and marine acid, in different proportions according to the purpose for which it is intended. It is usually made by dissolving, in nitrous acid, sal ammoniac, or common salt, both which are combinations of marine acid with alkali. When made with sal ammoniac, the common proportion is one part of this salt to four parts of nitrous acid; but to dissolve platina, equal parts are requisite. A pure aqua regia may be made by simply mixing the two acids.
Aqua regia is particularly used as a menstruum for gold; it likewise dissolves all other metals, except silver. The gold dissolved in aqua regia is, in fact, dissolved in the dephlogisticated marine acid only, which, being deprived of its phlogiston by the nitrous acid, recovers it from the gold, and thus renders gold soluble; for metals are not soluble in acids until they lose a part of their phlogiston. See CHEMISTRY-Index.
Aqua Secunda, aquafortis diluted with much pure water. It is employed in several arts, to clean the surface of metals and certain stones, and for various other purposes.
Aqua Vita, is commonly understood of what is otherwise called brandy, or spirit of wine, either simple, or prepared with aromatics. Some, however, distinguish between them; appropriating the term brandy to what is drawn from wine, or the grape; and aqua vita to that drawn after the same manner, from malt, &c.
Aquæ Augustæ, (Ptolemy); Aquæ Tarbellicæ, (Antonine); Aquænsis Civitas, in the Notitia. Now Acqs, or Dax, a town in Gascony, on the river Adour, famous for its baths. W. Long. 1. 40. N. Lat. 43. 56.
Aquæ Bilibilitanæ, (Antonine); baths 24 miles to the west of Bilibilis. Now Banos de Albama, in Aragon.
Aquæ Calidæ, (Ptolemy); Aquæ Solis, (Antonine); a place of the Belgæ in Britain, famous for its hot waters. Now Bath, in Somerset-shire. W. Long. 1. 5. Lat. 51. 20.
Aquæ Calidæ, (Ptolemy); Aquæ caldensis, (Pliny); formerly in great repute, and a public bath; whose ruins still remain testimonies of the Roman grandeur. Now Orense, in Galicia, still famous for its baths; on the river Minho, 54 miles south-east of Compostella. W. Long. 8. 30. Lat. 42. 30. Also a place in the bay of Carthage, (Strabo). Other Aquæ caldenses, to the north of Gerunda in Catalonia, (Ptolemy).
Aquæ Calidæ, a colony between the rivers Serbetes and Savus, in Mauretania Cæsariensis, (Ptolemy).
Aquæ Celeniæ, (Ptolemy); or Cilina, (Antonine). Now Caldar, a hamlet on the Minho, in Galicia.
Aquæ Convenarum, a hamlet of Gaul, in Aquitaine, (Antonine), and on the borders of the Convenae, or Le Cominge, at the foot of the Pyrenees, near the source of the Garonne. Now Bagnères. W. Long. 3. 39. Lat. 42. 20.
Aquæ Cutiliæ, a lake of the Sabines, in the territory of Reate (Pliny); Lacus Cutilienensis, (Varro); with a moveable island in it, (Seneca, Pliny); supposed to be the centre of Italy, (Varro). The waters were medicinal, and extremely cold, good for a weak stomach and in weak nerves; they seemed to act by a kind of suction, which approached to a bite, (Pliny). Vespasian used them every summer; and there he died, (Sueton, Xiphilin from Dio). Now Lago di Contignano.
Aquæ Flaviæ, a town on the confines of Galicia and Portugal, so called from Vespasian and Titus. The inhabitants are called quisquienenses, coins. Now called Chiaves, a mean hamlet: but the ruins of its bridge testify its former grandeur. W. Long. 6. 6. Lat. 41. 40.
Aquæ Helvetiæ, described by Tacitus as a municipal town, and much frequented for its excellent water, and though he does not mention its name, Cluverius sup-
Aquæduct supposes it to be Baden, in Switzerland, on the rivulet Limat, which soon after falls into the Aar. It is called the Upper, to distinguish it from another called the Lower Baden, in Alsace. E. Long. 8. 49. Lat. 47. 55.
AQUÆ Merom (Joshua), famous for the defeat of Jabin: supposed to be the lake called Samachonitis, or Semechonitis, by Josephus; into which the river Jordan falls, before it comes to the sea of Genesareth, or Galilee.
AQUÆ Pannoniæ famous baths of Austria, now called Baden, 28 miles to the south of Vienna.