AQUA, a term frequently met with in the writings of physicians, chemists, &c. for certain medicines, or menstrua, 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, is 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 nitric acid of a certain strength, from its dissolving power. 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 nitric and muriatic acid, in different proportions according to the purpose for which it is intended. It is usually made by dissolving it in nitric acid, sal ammoniac, or common salt, both which are combinations of muriatic acid with alkali. When made with sal ammoniac, the common proportion is one part of this salt to four parts of nitric acid; but to dissolve platina, equal parts are requisite. A purer 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 oxygenated muriatic acid only, which gives out its oxygen to the gold, and then dissolves the oxide: for metals are not soluble in acids until they are oxidized. See CHEMISTRY Index.
Aqua Secunda, aquafortis diluted with much pure water. It is employed in several arts, to clear 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
Aqua An- distinguishing between them; appropriating the term brandy to what is drawn from wine, or the grape; and aqua vite to that drawn after the same manner, from malt, &c.
Aqua Augustæ (Ptolemy); Aqua Tarbellica (Antonine); Aquensis Civitas, in the Notitia. Now Aqqs, or Dax, a town in Gascony, on the river Adour, famous for its baths. W. Long. 1. 40. N. Lat. 43. 56.
Aqua Bilbilitane, (Antonine): baths 24 miles to the west of Bilbilis. Now Banos de Albama, in Aragon.
Aqua Calidæ, (Ptolemy; Aqua Solis, (Antonine); a place of the Belgæ in Britain, famous for its hot waters. Now Bath in Somersetshire. W. Long. 1. 5. Lat. 51. 20.
Aqua Calidæ, (Ptolemy); Aquæaldensis, (Pliny); formerly in great repute, and a public bath; whole 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. N. Lat. 42. 30. Also a place in the bay of Carthage, (Strabo). Other Aquæaldenses, to the north of Gerunda in Catalonia, (Ptolemy).
Aqua Calidæ, a colony between the rivers Serbetes and Savus, in Mauritania Cæsaricensis (Ptolemy).
Aqua Celeine, (Ptolemy); or Cilina, (Antonine). Now Caldas, a hamlet on the Minho, in Galicia.
Aqua Convenarum, a hamlet of Gaul, in Aquitaine, (Antonine), and on the borders of the Convene, or le Cominge, at the foot of the Pyrenees, near the source of the Garonne. Now Bagnères. W. Long. 3. 39. N. Lat. 42. 20.
Aqua Custie, a lake of the Sabines, in the territory of Reat (Pliny); Laus Custiensis, (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 Contigliano.
Aqua Flavie, a town on the confines of Galicia and Portugal, so called from Vespasian and Titus. The inhabitants are called Aquiflavienses on coins. Now called Chaves, a mean hamlet; but the ruins of its bridge testify its former grandeur. W. Long. 6. 6. N. Lat. 41. 40.
Aqua Helvetia, described by Tacitus as a municipal town, and much frequented for its excellent water; and though he does not mention its name, Cluverius 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 Allace. E. Long. 8. 49. N. Lat. 47. 55.
Aqua Merom (Joshua), famous for the defeat of Jabin: supposed to be the lake called Samachonites, or Semechonites, by Josephus; into which the river Jordan falls, before it comes to the sea of Genesareth, or Galilee.
Aqua Pannonie, famous baths of Austria, now called Baden, 28 miles to the south of Vienna.
Aqua Patavina, are baths in the territory of Venice near Padua, (Pliny); called Fontes Aponi (Livy, Martial). Now Bagni d'Alano. E. Long. 13. 48. N. Lat. 45. 15.
Aqua Quintiana, put by Ptolemy in room of the Aqua Cilina of Antonine. Now supposed to be Sarria, a town of Galicia, on a rivulet of the same name, three leagues to the south of Lugo.
Aqua Sextis, a colony to the north of Marcellis, so called both from the founder Sextius Clavius, and from its quantity of water, and number of cold and hot springs; built after the defeat of the Salyes, or Salvii, whose territory in the south of Provence reached from the Rhone to the borders of Italy, (Livy, Velleius, Strabo, Ptolemy). By an inscription the colony appears to have been either increased or renewed by Augustus. In the Notitia it is called Civitas Aquensis. Now Aix. Here the Teutones and Cimbri were defeated with great slaughter by Marius. E. Long. 6. 4. N. Lat. 48. 4.
Aqua Staniella, or Statiellorum, (Pliny), a town in Liguria, or the river Bormia. Now Aqui, a town of Montferrat. E. Long. 8. 40. N. Lat. 44. 45.
Aqua Tauri, hot waters or baths in Tuscany at the distance of three miles from the sea, said to be discovered by a bull, hence the appellation. There are still to be seen the ruins of these baths. Now Aquapendente, in Orvieto. E. Long. 12. 40. N. Lat. 42. 40.