The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-11-14
USES OF BoRAx
Most of Them Are Modern. Though the
Ancients Knew the Drug.

1t is interesting to note the
changes that have. been brought
about in the production of many
of our commonest commodities
through tho ceaseless efforts of
scientists. Articles that were but
few years ago only known as nat
ural product of mother earth and
were so scarce and consequently ex-
pensive that they had found their
way into but few of the arts and
sciences are today nearly a drug on
the market on account of the cheap
ness of their production.
Borax is, one of the Oldest drugs
known to man, having been used by
the ancients for medicinal purposes.
1t was found in natural crystals in
Tibet and known as tincal. Quite
tincal industry sprang up in Ven
ice, where the process Of refining it
was long kept a secret. But the
quantity found was so small and its
uses SO limited that for centuries it
was known only as a medicine,
which the apothecary prescribed in
curing the ills to which flesh is heir.
During the gold excitement of 1S49'
many man who arrived in the
western arid land, high in hopes,
building castles in the air of future
wealth, found that he was dreaming
on an empty stomach. DIR. John A.
Veatch, one of the number, noticing
the great stretches of arid land sat
urated with salty, life extinguishing
alkali, concluded from his knowl-
edge of geology that borax could be
found. After several weeks of fruit
less search he one day uncovered a
small deposit near a little lake. Not
being enough gold mines to go
round, it was but short time until
hundreds CT disappointed goldbugs
left the mountain gulches and began
to prospect for borax in the low
lands. 1t was soon discovered that
the bottom of number of lakes in
California, Nevada and Arizona were
covered with borax crystals, and
they began dredging them. The
largest deposit was found in Lake
Clear, in Death valley, California,
where as high as 1000 pounds a day
have been taken out
Although these discoveries cheap
ened the price of the article very
materially and brought it into much
more general use, it was not until
1880 that it was discovered that the
oxide of boron combined with soda
would make pure borax. AS both of
these substances are found in great
quantities i'll many parts of the
world borax has become very COM
mon commodity, and instead of 30
cents a pound, for which it sold in
1880, it is selling in Chicago today
tHse6 noNf11f ms f1han arsasiG,ft1 fe~or d
great many articles it is finding its
way rapidly into the arts, which is
shown by the increase in production.
The output for the first four months
of 1895 was 4,5S0,OO pounds. as
compared with 3, $3.50, 900 pounds for
the same period of last year, an in |
crease of about 80 per cent.
Among the many uses to which it |
Is put one of the most important is |
In detecting the nature of metallic
substances, which it does by exhib-
ltlng characteristic colors when il |
comes in contact with the metals |
under the blowpipe 1t was this
that first led t. its use in the manu-. /
facture of stained glass. In combi-
nation with the oxides of yarious
metals it gives us the many beauti.
ful shades we find in our stained
glass windows. It is almost indis- |
pensable in iron and brass manufao-
turing, as it is the only thing that
VIII cause these metals to success
fully weld together. It has found |
an extensive use in the preservation
Of meats and is found much more
desirable than the exclusive use of J
salt. 1t also plays an important part |
in the soap industry, as it is the in
sredient which cuts the grease from |
our hands when we attend to our /
morning additions. Borax is an an
lseptic, detergent and is alkaline in
is reaction and has sweet taste.
Chicago Journal. |
Jacks