The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-10-13
FACTS ABOUT BORAX.
HASA VERY USEFUL ARTICLE pro-
DUcEo FROM WATER.

u
And Is of Great Value in the Arts and in
the Houshold--Its Medicinal Qualities.
A Splendid Disinfectant and an Excel
lont insecticides.
Boracic acid is peculiar combination
of boron with oxygen. The borax of
the shops is the biborate boracic acid
with soda. 1t is found IN an impure
state in many parts of the world in aka
line springs, lakes and the sinks of
mountain streams flowing into arid re-
gions. It is usually in company with
other alkaline salts. where is it gathered,
often mined, and purified by lixiviation.
When pure it is soluble in water but a
certain amount of water will only hold
in solution a small percentage of it and
as fast as the percentage of water is
reduced by evaporation the borax crys-
talizes and sinks, leaving the other salts
that may be present in the water. There
fore pure borax is easily obtained when
there is only a small percentage of it in
alkaline water.
Alkaline water carrying percentage
of borax in solution with many other
salts, as the water is evaporated each
salt is crystalized and sinks to the bot
tom when the water reaches a certain
definite density and is deposited in well
defined strata. Among the last to fall
or crystalize is carbonate of soda, If
present.
The largest deposit of borax in the
known world is IN Death valley, San
Bernardino and Mono counties, Cal, in
one of the great sinks of ancient seas,
and mountain streams. 1t is found there
quite pure in practically unlimited
quantities. 1t is more or less plentiful
In many sinks of Arizona and Nevada.
Before these deposits were worked, borax
was rather expensive for general use.
The supply then came from the East
Indies and China. In China it has been
used since the beginning of their history.
Pure borax can now be bought for fif-
teen cents a pound With railroad
through the borax beds it would be very
much cheaper. 1t is at present hauled
to the railroad at Mojave on wagons
drawn 100 miles by twelve to twenty
mules. The water needed for mules
and men must be hauled like distance.
Cue drU6 DOThA u I56O sk<3 ~ AuA anu
is used in separating nearly all met
ais from their ores and impurities. For
welding iron and steel, soldering and a
great many other things, new..uses for it
are being constantly discovered. For
domestic purposes its uses are many and
important. Il is one of the very best
antiseptics known It prevents in a
marked degree putrefaction in organic
Ill ...nl
and liquids. 1t is very mild non-eor-
rosive salt and is of great value in clean
sing putrescent ulcers, sores andwounds,
and washing fresh wounds to prevent
putrescence. It is, in fact, a specific
poison to many forms of minute life
such as microbes, baccili, bacteria,
molds. ferments, etc, but not to all. It
is good disinfectant and is non-poison-
Gus taken internally, anon-irritant, mild
and soothing to the skin or wound.
In taste it is a mild alkaline, nearly
like wood ashes and can be mixed in
sufficient quantities with foods to pre-
serve them. For instance, small
amount added to fresh milk viii prevent
it's souring for days and correct bad
odors in it. 1t is also solvent deter
gent and a purifier. By it's use water so
dered innocuous- With alum and borax
roily, filthy water may be made clear
and wholesome. It softens hard or
hmey water. cleans clothes, fine 1aces
and silks without injury to color or fa-
brio, cleans. softens and renders the skin
smooth, destroys odors-a perfect boon
to one with bad smelling feet and other
disagreeable odors of the person. 1t
sweetens the breath, preserves and whit
ems the teeth. AS a cleanser it is better
and safer than soap In fact, pure bo-
rax--and it is generally pure-has more
uses of great value than probably any
known drug or salt. Not one-fourth of
its uses are enumerated here.
The principal uses of borax in the
household and farm are for toilet It
makes washing easy. We pay great
prices for it in many forms, such as
washing powders, milk. fruit and meat
preservatives, ETC., for cleaning sores on
animals and as a remedy for sour stom-
achs and the sick and nervous headaches
which arise therefrom. In solution it
is an excellent gargle for sore throat,
hoarseness, sudden colds in the head It
should be used the first thing as gargle
when diphtheria is feared. Many lives
and much suffering could be saved by
it's prompt use in such cases. 1t should
he freely used everywherein case of epi-
denies, in conjunction with other disin-
fectants. Borax can be used anywhere
without danger. Its solution is always
the same in cold water. "A vessel may be
half filed with borax and covered with
water and the liquid viii always contain
the same percentage of borax. After
once using a small amount in the water
for the bath one will always use it. 1t
is unequaled as hair wash in weak solu-