January 17, 1859. 



President in the Chair. 



Dr. John A. Veatch read the following paper on the occurrence of 

 Boracic Acid in the sea-water of the Pacific. 



The existence of Boracic Acid in the sea-water of our coast was 

 brought to my notice in July, 1857. I had, in the month of January 

 of the previous year, discovered borate of soda and other borates in 

 solution in the water of a mineral spring in Tehama county, near the 

 upper end of the Sacramento Valley. Prosecuting the research, I 

 found traces of Boracic Acid — in the form of borates — in nearly all 

 the mineral springs with which the State of California abounds. This 

 was especially the case in the Coast mountains. Borate of soda was 

 so abundant in one particular locahty that enormous crystals of that 

 salt were formed at the bottom of a shallow lake or rather marsh, one 

 to two hundred acres in extent. The crystals were hexehedral with 

 beveled or replaced edges, and truncated angles ; attaining the size, 

 in some cases, of four inches in length by two in diameter, forming 

 splendid and attractive specimens. In the same neighborhood, a 

 cluster of small thermal springs were observed holding free boracic 

 acid in solution. A few hundred yards from these, a great number of 

 hot springs, of a temperature of 212° Fr., rose up through the 

 fissures of a silicious rock. These springs held a considerable quan- 

 tity of borax, as well as free boracic acid. Many other localities fur- 

 nished similar indications, but in less extensive form. 



In progress of the examination, I found that the common salt (chlo- 

 ride of sodium) exposed for sale in the San Francisco market, and 

 which, it was understood, came from certain deposits of that article 

 on the sea-margin in the southern part of the State, also furnished 

 boracic acid. I was led to attribute it to the fact of mineral springs 

 emptying into the lagoons furnishing the salt. It was, therefore a 

 matter of no small surprise, when on a visit to the localities, I found 

 no trace of acid in any of the springs in the adjacent district. This 

 led to an examination of the sea-water, and a detection of an appre- 

 ciable quantity of boracic acid therein. It was at Santa Barbara, 

 where I first detected it, and subsequently at various points, from San 

 Diego to the Straits of Fuca. It seems to be in the form of borate 

 of soda, and perhaps of lime. The quantity diminishes toward the 

 North. It is barely perceptible in specimens of water brought from 

 beyond Oregon, and seems to reach its maximum near San Diego. 



This peculiarity seems to extend no great distance seaward. Water 

 taken thirty or forty miles west of San Francisco gave no trace of 

 acid. In twelve specimens, taken at various points betwixt this port 

 and the Sandwich Islands, furnished me by Mr. Gulick, of Honolulu, 



