52 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Jury, 1899. 
Preservaline, a mixture of boric acid, with a large_amount of salt and 
some saltpetre, contained— 
Water, H,O ... oe nix; a ... 37°70 per cent. 
Boric acid, B,O, oe: aD Lg gy, COHEN). oy 
Salt, NaCl ... 200 oo ox at: AUG gs, 
Saltpetre, KNO,  ... nae ae en BhIE}s,. 
101°49 
Preservative, « simple mixturej of boric acid and borax, contained— 
Water, H,0 ... oan are om! ... 39°30 per cent. 
Boric acid, B,O, an oct _ . 57°26 
Soda, Na,O, eee ooo eee eee see 4635 
” 
” 
100°91 
The saline substance borax, a salt of boracic acid and soda (Na,B, O,-10 
H,0O), has been known for a long time, and is mentioned in some of the 
writings of the old alchemists. It was used as a flux in the working of metals, 
in the manufacture of artificial precious stones, in ceramic arts, and in 
medicine, 
Borax was originally prepared in India and Thibet from the water o 
certain salt lakes. The impure whitish crystalline mass, obtained by evapo- 
ration of such water, was exported under the name of “tincal.” Native borax 
is also found in Peru, Ceylon, California, and in large quantities in a dried-up 
lake in the Sierra Nevada. 
In 1702, Homberg prepared, by distillation of a mixture of borax’/and 
green vitriol, a new substance, which he called sal sedativum, and which really 
was boric acid. Not until 1747 was it proved that borax was a compound of 
soda and this sedative salt. 
In 1774, a Florentine apothecary (Hofer) found the same compound (sal 
sedativum) in the water of certain lagoons in Tuscany; and in 1815 a factory 
was erected to produce boric acid from the water of these lagoons on a large 
scale. At present most of the boric acid in the European market is derived 
from these small lakes (laguni) in the voleanic districts of Tuscany. 
The pure boric acid forms white, translucent, scaly crystals, which have a 
pearly lustre, and feel unctuous to the touch. The acid has only a very slight 
bitterish taste, and possesses very feeble acid reactions. Cold water dissolves 
boric acid sparingly (7 parts in 100 parts of water), but boric acid is more 
soluble in boiling water (34 parts in 100 of boiling water), and very easily 
soluble in alcohol, and the alcoholic solution burns, when lighted, with a 
beautiful green flame. : 
Boric acid (HBO, or B,O, -3 H,O) loses part of its water when heated to. 
212 degrees, having at this temperature the formula B,O, H,O,, and when 
heated further all the water is driven off, and the acid melts to a transparent 
glass (B, O,). 
_ Both boric acid and borax are drugs included in the British Phatmacopaia,. 
suai doses are given as from 5 to 30 grains, and from 5 to 40 grains respec- 
tively. 
Boric acid in the form of solutions (1 part in 20 parts of water), and also 
in the form of an ointment (3 parts of powdered boric acid, with 5 parts of 
paraffin, and 10 parts of vaseline), is used as avery useful antiseptic application 
to wounds. 
Solutions of various strengths are used as eye-wash, mouth-wash, &c., and 
a solution in glycerine as a paint for throats. The finely powdered acid, mixed 
with starch, forms a very useful dusting powder for infants. 
The use of boric acid and borax as antiseptics has been known for the last 
30 years, and the very slight taste of the acid prevents an easy detection in the: 
case of being used. 
