Litchfield enquirer., 1854-01-19
By DR. HUaAa.

tons of WGter GS c carrier depend.
 Fluidity. E.
 2 Capacity of being vaporised
 3 Capacity of being condensed.
 1 Capacity of being frozen. sf s
 Capacity of free and universal movement.
 6 Solvent power at differen, temperatures.
 Capacity of rising in capillary tubes
 Capacity oi being easily decomposed sand
 g Constitution. [recomposed. 10 Affinity for certain bodies.
 1. Few of the phenomena of Nature arc more beautifully adapted to the acs 'complishment of designed results, than the manifold and wonderful operations of water, in the capacity of a carrier.- This all pervading element, while it subs serves innumerable purposes in the arts of life, and while in it's various forms it constitutes so large portion of the globe itself. is ever ministering to the perfection and to the decay of the organic world, and ny it's increasing power. and it's mys' terious agency. ever dissolyes. and moves. and changes, the visible and the invisible forms of matter. .sa.
 Here. the roaring cataract wears out the rocks. and the river bears them to the ocean there, the silent and unseen vapor carries from the sea, the germs of microscopic race of animals. Here, the laindrop hurries 10 the earth. filled with the intangible elements of matter there. tEe globule climbs to the tree top, with it's little load of rock and air and earth. Every where, water. the mighty engine of change. by visible convulsions and by it's universal control of particles, decomposes and recomposes. and ever carries. here and there, the atoms which compose the solid earth.
 II. Let us consider the properties requisite to water, in it's office of carrier
 Fuidity obviously gives to water in a greater or less degree the other properties qualifying it for this office, and is perhaps the result of its inca pacity of conducting heat or electrici,y* with facility.
 2 The capacity of being vaporised by calo,ic enhances the utility of water, as carrier. Thus. whatever the form or sit nation of water, it is made capable of forming part of the atmosphere. of con dcnsalion, of movement with the wind. of more ample field for the exercise of its solvent power, and hence of more extensively obtaining and distributing the various substances which it dissolves.
 The capacity of being condensed or changed to water by tie absence of caloric is an invaluable quality of vapor. Thus the invisible water of the air may be partially condensed. So as to carry the gases with which it chances to be mingled
 -or it may be wholly changed to the form of rain or dew. and thus may absorb the gases of the atmosphere and wash down its impurities. carrying away what ever soluble substances ]; meets.
 4 The capacity of being frozen ena- bles water to carry more oxygen to the soil upon which il melts when in solid form than it would carry did it always retain its fluid state. Hence it is that snow rus,s iron. faster than wafer. This capacity enables water to carry many substances in the inorganic world.
 5 The capacity of free and universal movement facilitates the operations of water as carrier. and depends primarily on liquidity. and in Q great degree on vaporlza'ion and condensation. Thus. water aided by gravity and calolic. can circulate with freedom among all the particles of matter, and may be depos- ited in all the localities where it is re- quired. as on the leaves of plants. in the form of rain or dew. 6 Water is such an universal solvent that it is never found pure in Dature.-- Rain water contains in solution the vari> ous gases which constitute the atmosphere which it washes from the air, dust of all varieties. animalcul@ and fungi.
 There are in Beunos Ayres, during the month of March, when the rains begin. showers of mud, which the water brings from the dust of the air, and which are often sufficient 10 plaster over houses. and to smother and destroy focks of sheep.
 Spring, river and sea water contain soluble sails in greater or less quantities. of which lhe principal are chloride of sodium. chloride Of magnesium. and the snlpl.aies and casbonales of lime. Iron. iodine. bromine, fluorine, &c., are found in the waters Of certain localities. Fog. and even invisible vapors. according to some authorities, absorb gases and miasmata. Others suppose that invisible vapor is absolutely pure. and that only the visible forms of water are capable oI absoi ping, and heEcs are always saturated with foreign substances. oiS
 At all events, vapor and evsry form of water contain either in solution or in some mechanical mixture. gases. and the more volatile portions of the, organic matter contained in sea water, and thus becomes tbeiF carrier. ss ss..,s...s..,s. .,,,y.
 Gases are ofisn chemically combined with water. bat generally, where the