AmFe0b.yi£7.arm*}      The  History  of  Calif omian  Borax.  85 
is  truly  marvellous,  and  the  following  information  cannot,  in  my 
humble  opinion,  have  too  extended  a  circulation.  For  the  laundry 
there  is  a  very  great  deal  of  labor  saved  by  using  borax,  as  this  pro- 
duct softens  "  the  dirt,  and  the  latter  may  almost  be  said  to  float  out 
of  the  linen,  saving  at  once  the  destructive  friction,  and  the  time  and 
materials.  For  the  household  its  uses  are  legion ;  beds,  &e.,  washed 
with  a  strong  solution  of  borax  in  the  spring,  prevents  insect  life  from 
forming  ;  dusting  the  floors  with  dry  borax  destroys  the  larvae  of  the 
moth,  and  keeps  the  carpets  entirely  free  from  insect  life.  For  clean- 
ing marble,  plate,  jewellery,  decanters,  plates  j  for  improving  the 
flavor  of  boiled  vegetables,  tea,  &c,  and  preserving  eggs,  fish,  but- 
ter, and  milk,  borax,  in  one  or  other  preparations,  is  simply  invalu- 
able. It  is  the  best  tooth- wash  known;  will  clean  brushes,  sponges, 
'  <fcc.,  from  dirt.  Medicinally  the  value  of  borax  is  not  as  fully  known 
as  it  should  be.  I  hold  letters  from  eminent  medical  men  who  have 
corresponded  with  me  upon  its  value,  and  who  esteem  it  highly.  The 
Lancet,  of  May  20th,  1876,  contained  a  laudatory  article  on  it  as  a 
valuable  antiseptic  a  which  does  not  irritate  and  inflame."  I  have 
cured  thousands  of  persons  suffering  from  sore  throat,  by  giving  them 
a  small  piece  of  borax  to  suck  (I  always  carry  a  bit  in  my  pocket 
wherever  I  go);  and  for  dissolving  the  phlegm  and  clearing  the 
throats  of  speakers,  my  own  experience  proves  to  me  that  it  is  the  only 
reliable  remedy. 
Since  the  first  publication  of  the  above,  extensive  progress  has  been 
made  in  the  development  of  the  uses  of  borax  by  the  general  public ; 
and  from  letters,  the  thanks  and  encouragement  I  am  receiving  from 
many  friends  and  strangers  satisfy  me  that  I  have  given  information 
which  well  repays  me  for  all  the  trouble,  losses,  and  the  inconven- 
iences I  have  been  put  to  in  trying  to  make  this  wonderful  produc- 
tion better  known. 
Touching  the  labor  uses  of  borax,  it  is  mainly  used  in  glazing  all 
descriptions  of  porcelain,  china-ware,  pottery,  &c.  Blacksmiths  use 
it  for  welding  iron  and  steel.  It  is  used  for  welding  the  seams  of 
copper  and  iron  tubes;  in  the  manufacture  of  hats,  jewellery,  artificial 
diamonds,  and  the  plates  for  affixing  artificial  teeth.  The  finest 
marble  cement  is  made  from  borax.  Farmers,  graziers,  &c,  use  it 
for  washing  cattle ;  and  provision  merchants  for  arresting  or  prevent- 
ing decomposition  in  their  hams,  &c.  The  foregoing  will,  I  trust, 
awaken  people  to  an  interest  in  this  most  valuable  product  of  the  earth. 
