WATER, a well known fluid, diffused through the atmosphere, and over the surface of the globe, and abounding in a certain proportion in animals, vegetables, and minerals.
The uses of water are so universally known, that it would be superfluous to enumerate them in this article. It is essential to animal and vegetable life; it makes easy the intercourse between the most distant regions of the world; and it is one of the most useful powers in the mechanic arts. It is often found combined with various substances, and is then frequently beneficial in curing or alleviating diseases.
Those properties of water which fit it for answering mechanical purposes are explained in other articles of
this work (see HYDRODYNAMICS, PNEUMATICS, No 3, RESISTANCE, and RIVERS); and for the discovery of the composition of water, see CHEMISTRY Index.
Mineral Waters. For the method of analysing them, see also CHEMISTRY Index.
Under the title of MINERAL Waters, we have given an analysis of the most remarkable waters in Europe.
Holy Water, which is made use of in the church of Rome, as also by the Greeks, and by the other Christians of the East of all denominations, is water with a mixture of salt, blessed by a priest according to a set form of benediction. It is used in the blessing of persons, things, and places; and is likewise considered as a ceremony to excite pious thoughts in the minds of the faithful.
The priests, in blessing it, first, in the name of God, commands the devils not to hurt the persons who shall be sprinkled with it, nor to abuse the things, nor disquiet the places, which shall likewise be so sprinkled. He then prays that health, safety, and the favour of heaven, may be enjoyed by such persons, and by those who shall use such things, or dwell in such places. Vestments, vessels, and other such things that are set apart for divine service, are sprinkled with it. It is sometimes sprinkled on cattle, with an intention to free or preserve them from diabolical enchantments; and in some spiritual books there are prayers to be said on such occasions, by which the safety of such animals, as being a temporal blessing to the possessors, is begged of God, whose providential care is extended to all his creatures. The hope which Catholics entertain of obtaining such good effects from the devout use of holy water, is grounded on the promise made to believers by Christ (St Mark xvi. 17.); and on the general efficacy of the prayers of the church; the petition of which prayers God is often pleased to grant; though sometimes, in his Providence, he sees it not expedient to do so. That such effects have been produced by holy water in a remarkable manner, has been asserted by many authors of no small weight; as, namely, by St Epiphanius, Haer. 30th; St Hierom, in the Life of St Hilarion; Theodoret Hist. Eccl. lib. v. cap. 21; Palladius, Hist. Laus; Bede, lib. v. cap. 4.
As a ceremony (says the Catholic); water brings to our remembrance our baptism; in which, by water, we were cleansed from original sin. It also puts us in mind of that purity of conscience which we ought to endeavour always to have, but especially when we are going to worship our God. The salt, which is put into the water to preserve it from corrupting, is also a figure of divine grace, which preserves our souls from the corruption of sin; and is likewise an emblem of that wisdom and discretion which ought to season every action that a Christian does, and every word that he says. It is wont to be blessed and sprinkled in churches on Sundays, in the beginning of the solemn office. It is kept in vessels at the doors of the same churches, that it may be taken by the faithful as they enter in. It is also often kept in private houses and chambers.
Putrid Water, is that which has acquired an offensive smell and taste by the putrescence of animal or vegetable substances contained in it. It is in the highest degree pernicious to the human frame, and capable of bringing on mortal diseases even by its smell. It is not always from the apparent muddiness of waters that we
Water. can judge of their disposition to putrefy; some which are seemingly very pure, being more apt to become putrid than others which appear much more mixed with heterogeneous matters. Under the article ANIMALCULE, No 33, is mentioned a species of insects which have the property of making water stink to an incredible degree, though their bulk in proportion to the fluid which surrounds them is less than that of one to a million. Other substances no doubt there are which have the same property; and hence almost all water which is confined from the air is apt to become offensive, even though kept in glass or stoneware vessels. Indeed it is a common observation, that water keeps much longer sweet in glass vessels, or in those of earthen or stoneware than in those of wood, where it is exceedingly apt to putrefy. Hence, as ships can only be supplied with water kept in wooden casks, sailors are extremely liable to those diseases which arise from putrid water; and the discovery of a method by which water could easily be prevented from becoming putrid at sea would be exceedingly valuable. This may indeed be done by quicklime; for when water is impregnated with it, all putrescent matters are either totally destroyed, or altered in such a manner as never to be capable of undergoing the putrefactive fermentation again. But a continued use of lime-water could not fail of being pernicious, and it is therefore necessary to throw down the lime; after which the water will have all the purity necessary for preserving it free from putrefaction. This can only be done by means of fixed air; and mere exposure in broad shallow vessels to the atmosphere would do it without anything else, only taking care to break the crust which formed upon it. Two methods, however, have been thought of for doing this with more expedition. The one, invented by Dr Alston, is, by throwing into the water impregnated with lime a quantity of magnesia. The lime attracts fixed air more powerfully than magnesia; in consequence of which the latter parts with it to the lime: and thus becoming insoluble, falls along with the caustic magnesia to the bottom, and thus leaves the water perfectly pure. Another method is that of Mr Henry, who proposes to throw down the lime by means of an effervescing mixture of oil of vitriol and chalk put down to the bottom of the water cask. His apparatus for this purpose is as simple as it can well be made, though it is hardly probable that sailors will give themselves the trouble of using it; and Dr Alston's scheme would seem better calculated for them, were it not for the expence of the magnesia; which indeed is the only objection made to it by Mr Henry. Putrid water may be restored and made potable by a process of the same kind.
Of late it has been discovered that charcoal possesses many unexpected properties, and, among others, that of preserving water from corruption, and of purifying it after it has been corrupted. Mr Lowitz, whose experiments on charcoal have been published in Crel's Chemical Journal, has turned his attention to this subject in a memoir read to the Economical Society at Petersburg. He found that the effect of charcoal was rendered much more speedy by using along with it some sulphuric acid. One ounce and a half of charcoal in powder, and 24 drops of concentrated sulphuric acid (oil of vitriol), are sufficient to purify three pints and a half of corrupted water, and do not communicate to it any sensible acidity. This small quantity of acid renders
it unnecessary to use more than a third part of the charcoal powder which would otherwise be wanted; and the less of that powder is employed, the less is the quantity of water lost by the operation, which, in sea-voyages, is an object worthy of consideration. In proportion to the quantity of acid made use of, the quantity of charcoal may be diminished or augmented. All acids produce nearly the same effects: neutral salts also, particularly nitre and sea-salt, may be used, but sulphuric acid is preferable to any of these; water which is purified by means of this acid and charcoal will keep a longer time than that which is purified by charcoal alone. When we mean to purify any given quantity of corrupted water, we should begin by adding to it as much powder of charcoal as is necessary to deprive it entirely of its bad smell. To ascertain whether that quantity of powdered charcoal was sufficient to effect the clarification of the said water, a small quantity of it may be passed through a linen bag, two or three inches long; if the water, thus filtrated, still has a turbid appearance, a fresh quantity of powdered charcoal must be added, till it is become perfectly clear: the whole of the water may then be passed through a filtering bag, the size of which should be proportioned to the quantity of water. If sulphuric acid, or any other, can be procured, a small quantity of it should be added to the water, before the charcoal powder.
The cleaning of the casks in which water is to be kept in sea-voyages should never be neglected: they should be well washed with hot water and sand, or with any other substance capable of removing the mucilaginous particles, and afterwards a quantity of charcoal dust should be employed, which will entirely deprive them of the musty or putrid smell they may have contracted.—The charcoal used for purifying water should be well burnt, and afterwards beat into a fine powder.
Sea-Water. See SEA-Water.
Water-Carts, carriages constructed for the purpose of watering the roads for several miles round London; a precaution absolutely necessary near the metropolis, where, from such a vast daily influx of carriages and horses, the dust would otherwise become quite insufferable in hot dry weather. Pumps are placed at proper distances to supply these carts.
Water-Ordeal. See ORDEAL.
Water, among jewellers, is properly the colour or lustre of diamonds and pearls. The term, though less properly, is sometimes used for the hue or colour of other stones.
Water-Bellows. See Machines for blowing Air into FURNACES.
Water-Colours, in Painting, are such colours as are only diluted and mixed up with gum-water, in distinction to oil-colours. See COLOUR-Making.
Water-Gang, a channel cut to drain a place by carrying off a stream of water.
Water-Hen. See PARRA, ORNITHOLOGY INDEX.
Water-Lines of a Ship, certain horizontal lines supposed to be drawn about the outside of a ship's bottom, close to the surface of the water in which she floats. They are accordingly higher or lower upon the bottom, in proportion to the depth of the column of water required to float her.
Water-Logged, the state of a ship when, by receiving a great quantity of water into the hold, by leaking, &c. she
she has become heavy and inactive upon the sea, so as to yield without resistance to the efforts of every wave rushing over her decks. As, in this dangerous situation, the centre of gravity is no longer fixed, but fluctuating from place to place, the stability of the ship is utterly lost: she is therefore almost totally deprived of the use of her sails, which would operate to overset her, or press the head under water. Hence there is no resource for the crew, except to free her by the pumps, or to abandon her by the boats as soon as possible.