OF THE ASBESTINE EARTH. 



form its fibrous texture. On the other hand, 

 again, it not only difcovcrs an obvious refcm- 

 blancc to the tibrous fchorl, but a fpeciiic agree- 

 ment even is dcmonilrated by analyfis. But 

 this cannot be affirmed of all the varieties of the 

 fibrous fchorl, as hitherto l\vo only of them have 

 been examined ; though, with regard to the reft, 

 the probable conjecture is very great. 



From the corroborating tcftimqny, therefore, 

 of thcfe experiments, we may correct, the fpeci- 

 fic differences laid down in the Sciagraphia of 

 the Mineral Kingdom. For, at the time that 

 this paper was written, no perfect analyfis of 

 the afbcftos had as yet been made, and two 

 only of its principles were known. We would, 

 however, hope to (latter ourfclvcs, that we have 

 determined the fpccific difference of the afbcf- 

 tos among eleven varieties, both as to their a- 

 grccmcnt in external characters as well as inward 

 competition* 



The afLcfti have been hitherto applied to lit- 

 tle or no ufc. Formerly, indeed, cloths made 

 of the foftcil kinds were employed to wrap up the 

 bodies of the dead, that, by its qualities of refilling 

 lire, their allies might be prcferved. But on 

 the abolition of funeral piles, the utility of the 

 afhcllos ccafed. And as to its being calculated 

 for garments for the living, the continual and 

 intolerable irritation of its liarfli and fhort fibres 

 wuuld render it certainly not very dcfirublc. 



Paper 



