Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-11-20
AsbeStus.

| s-.s $685. ASDeSGuS.
This is one of the most singular produe.
tons of nature. Formed Of the hardest
rock elements--of silica and magnesia,
with q, little alumina of ]ime--its texture is
such that one would suppose II to consis,
Of vegetable fibre. It's sPiinters, he facility
with which we can separate the h.sments
which are extremely delicate, flexible and
elastic, can only be compared TO lint or
white thread OF the most beautiful kind. IL
rs some times. on the contrary, hard, brittle
and colored in way to be confounded with
fragments of wood broken In splin.ers.
In these two cases it is marked By very op-
posite characteristics; in one the tenaei:t
and strength of so firm q thread,in the other
a woody texture, and sometimes sufficient
hardness even TO scratch glass. Now Com
pact and elastic as cork, here in masses OF
dirty white, like that of dried paste, and
there with ilaments like locks of hair. It re-
ceived FROM mineralogists of old the different
names Of mountain cork, leather, and fossil
paper. Chemists call it living linen. or sal
umandrine wool.
Abestus-the Greek word from hich this
name is derived signifies incombustibie-
Is found very generally in different countries.
/ The Science pour tous-a French journal, ~
its name denotes, of popular scisuce-frosn
which VIC are deriving the substances of
this article, states that part of Sa7ory pro-
duces it of the most flexible kind. and having y
the longest and most silkey flores. Thss
procured from the UIaI mountains in Siberia
is singular in being compact " hen it is taken
from their sides. but becoming flexible
and silkey when impregnaeed will me o'sturr.
| 1t is found in veins n me mountains, and
never at III ming led swith the substance Of
the granite or gneiss, in which rocks il NEST Z,
frequently occurs. The fragments of AZ
bestus often seen in the interior Of rock
crystal, show that the cavities in which
they are deposited were filled with liquid
which contained silica in solution, and
which was thrown off in order that crys,sI. .
izaton might 60 on smoothly and regularly.
Asbestus was esteemed precious bv the
ancients; they employed it to maize TISSUES, 9
With served to envelop the body when 5;
was burned after death, and TO preserve its
ashes iunmingl led with those of the fuel By
which it was consumed. large marble
urn was discovered in l7C3, in a vineyard
near Rome, containing piece Of this abss-
Us cloth more than two yards in length by
one and three-quarters in width; it resem-
bled Cloth made of hemp, but it ~as sof
and glossy as silk. IL confined the halt-
burut bones and skull of some ancient
worthy; it was placed in the library of the
Vatican. Obtained from Persia at great
expense, the custom OF burning the corpse
IN tissue Of this substance could only be
current in the richest families. The price
OF the cloth OF abestus was indeed 60 high
that PlIny considered it in effect reserved
for royal sepultures. Superior qualities of
II served for cloths for the sacred lamps, and
Tor the table linen Of the wealthy: after use
it was said to be Thrown into FIRE By ,Ae
servants to be cleanssd.
Pllny was ignorant of the nature of as
bestus; he classed it with vegetable subs.-
ances, and called it "unchangeable linen"
He compared its value to that of 6ae 7esrls
and added that it was prepared to sustain
the heat OF fire by the brIiljng sun of the
India deserts where it grew. We are sur
prised 10 find the aHCjen,s giving credi, u
tales so absurd. Plny. the Roman natur-
aiist, believed, on the testimony Of the sage.
that tree envel ped in tissue
OF asbestus, could stand, without injury. ,h.
blows Of an axe.
In modern times, some Industrious indi-
vijuals have occupied themselves in spina-
ing asbestus, and have succeeded in making
ii into cloth by resor,ing to the expsden,
of mixing it with, cotton or linen, wi:hou,
which, the thread hxs rot sufficient strength
to be woven. They then put it in.o the frs
and draw IT forth tissue of pure ssbestus.
This roundabout way would probably have
been unnecessary ii they had known and
applied the kind of asbestus best fitted for
their object. Madame Perpenti kas si,s-
ceedeu in Italy for some years past in fabric
ating from it cloths, paper, and even lace.
book was deposited in the French Ins,.-
tute printed entirely upon paper thus manu-
factured by this lady. The processes o.
are described as quite simp.s
and not very expensive. This paper Is very
good either for W iting or priniing--by en-
plOy!ng an ink composed of manganese and
sulphuret Of iron, the writing will be prs
served ven after having passed through ths
FIRE, and the paper has the great value Of
precious documents from destruc.
tion BY the flames. Asbestus has also been
e eulpiuyed in various other useful purposes
Of which we have not room to speak -CosH-
try Gentleman.