J. B. Johnson, ../../ (1873)
“ Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that cannot be burned. Chemically, it is a silicate of lime and magnesium. When torn to pieces in a machine made for that purpose, it looks like a mass of cotton, and these fibers can be spun into threads or strings, and then woven into fabrics useful for various purposes. The Welsbach mantles of our gaslights are tied to a supporting wire by a piece of asbestos string. ”
