The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-16

tree. SO enthusiastically did it EN-
brace the connection that was expect
ed to replace mans GROWING glory
that antimacasSarS were invented K
protect the backs of easy chairs.
Java, today, puts its trust not il
spices, but in cinchona, which Is qui
nine, and in kapok and copra (dried
coconut), in vegetable oils and rubber
and coffee. Castor oil from the castor
bean also comes largely from the ORR
ent.
Boric Acid From Springs.
Even the bowels of the earth min
lister to humanity Down from the
| fields Of Tuscany where lavender
grows, is a broad stretch of coastal
plain which corresponds closely with
the famous Pontine marshes. Repeat
edly malaria has resisted mans eff
forts to recover this region called the
Maremma. 1t contains, however, GER
tain steaming springs, evidently allied
to the volcanic nervousness of south
ern Italy. 1t was discovered that the
waters of these springs contained boric
acid. Engineers built retaining walls
around natures chemical fountains and
drew off the liquid into basins where
natural evaporation made the acid
crystalline. This product is sent into
commerce as borax for washing pow
ders and in the medicine cabinet
solution of it is a familiar eye wash
and emergency agent for burns
The internationalism of medicine
was borne out clearly during the war.
German scientists, who had discovered
illimitable magic in coal tar, developed
certain important medical compounds
on which the world had come to de-
pend. Particularly prominent were
carbolic acid and aspirin. With the
war and England's blockade, the sup
plies of these agents diminished and
the prices rose. Aspirin bounded from
80 cents a pound to SIPS a pound.
Carbolic acid gyrated from 25 cents
a pound to 50.
Iodine is another common aid in
the family medicine cabinet It's anti
septic properties are well appreciated
but its history is little known. For a
time the Sargasso sea, feared by Col
umbus' sailors, contributed much of
this medicine by way of Ireland, for
the kelp from which it was burned
was thrown up on the Irish coast by
the gulf stream. Then, in the course
Of engineers investigation of nitrate
in the Chilean desert, 1t
was discovered that iodine could be
produced as a by-product. The amount !
IF iodine released by the nitrate COM
)anies of Chile now determines the |
market price of this chemical
Medicines From Mines.
Stassfurt, Germany, is another i'm
,ortant source of minerals for medi-
line. Near this little German town,
wenty miles from Magdeburg, are the
loted potash mines. Glycerin, an i'm
,ortant ingredient of a familiar gar
lie, and of lotions for milady's skin. is
a product of Stassfurt, since
t is made from spent I've used to pro-
luce soap. The lye, potassium car
onate, comes from the potash mines.
Magnesium sulphate, which is EPSON
ats. is also a product of Stassfurt
hines. The salts take their name from
health spring at EPSON visited by
'harles II and other members of Eng
sh royalty. Stassfurt has no mcnop
ly on this substance. however, since
linerals from which it may be pro
uced are mined in Euboea. an island
IF the east coast of Greece, near
alem in Madras. India. Urea, Italy
nd in California.
Much of the peppermint for tooth
astes and for toothsome sweets is
reduced in Michigan and New York.
Is also extensively cultivated in
iangsi province, China. and distilled
Canton Sens. France, and Leipzig,
are other centers for the
reduction of this pungent plant, which
not as particular about its habitat
; many medicinal herbs
Lavender, though native to Italy,
,uthcrn France and Spain, also &C.
lstoms itself to many climates and
ills. Among the earth's romantic
lots. certain islands off the coast Of
uthern France shonld receive special
ention, for on them lavender Is re-
tied to grow more thickly and with
ronger perfume than anywhere else.
deed, once they were called the law
der islands. the Stoechades, after
e scientific name for the lavender
ant. These islands lying near the
.ench naval fortress Toulon, under
cir present name Hyeres, figure prom.
emily in Joseph Conrad's novel, "Ths