ON THE BORACIC ACID OF CENTRAL ITALY. 



301 



taining a small quantity of numerous sulphates, mechanically mixed. 

 In 1842, Wittstein (Rapp. ann. de Berzelius), published the following 

 analysis : — 



Crystallized boracic acid (3 HO 



BO) 



76-494 



f Iron 





0-365 



| Alumina . 





0-320 



I Lime 





1-018 



Sulphate of-{ Magnesia 





2-632 



| Ammonia 





8-508 



| Soda 





0-917 



1 Potash 





0-369 



Chloride of ammonium 





0-298 



"Water of crystallisation of the above salts 



6-557 



Silicic acid .... 





. 1-200 



Sulphuric acid combined with boracic acid 



1-322 



Organic matter and sulphate of 



iron 



traces. 



100-000 



The amount of foreign salts has very considerably diminished 

 since the lagoni were first made use of ; I believe it is not more than 13 

 per cent, at this time. In order to purify the crude produce, which is 

 not done in Italy, nothing further is necessary but to re-crystallize it 

 once or twice. 



It will suffice to mention that the uses of boracic acid are only limited 

 by the supply. The greater part of what Count Lardarel produces is 

 exported to England, that of M. Durval supplying the necessities of the 

 French market. 



The British Custom-house returns show that the importation of the 

 boracic acid produced by Count Lardarel and M. Durval, from Central 

 Italy into England, has been as follows ; the quantity of olive oil is given 

 for the sake of comparison, as being better known to the public. 



u 



Boracic Acid. 



Value of Olive Oil 



imported from 



Tuscany during the 



same period. 



Total imports 



from 



Tuscany. 





Quantities. Value. 



1852 



1853 

 1854 

 1855 

 1856 

 1857 

 1858 

 1859 

 1860 



tons. cwt. 

 935 1 

 1,038 8 

 1,185 9 

 1,338 16 

 1,253 

 1,245 12 

 1,156 15 

 1,785 17 

 1,406 



£ 



106,691 

 121,163 

 110,264 

 87,192 

 73,157 

 94,846 

 77,336 



£ 



68,853 



142,893 

 130,711 

 103,914 

 123,892 

 117,398 

 148,751 



£ 



751,595 

 747,967 

 554,437 

 534,494 

 538,500 

 648,460 

 575,064 



Totals . 



£670,649 



£836,412 



£4,350,517 



