Boreal zone

“ Oils, when assisted by heat, will dissolve boracic acid. In naphtha, it is very soluble. With oils, it yields fluid and solid products, which give a green colour to the flame of alcohol. It is not a combustible acid, but only imparts colour to the flame of combustible bodies.
Boron will unite with fluorine, the radical of fluoric acid. When one part of vitrified boracic acid, two of fluate of lime or fluor spar, and twelve of sulphuric acid are distilled, an acid gas will be obtained, called fluo-boric gas. For the properties of boron, consult Thenard's Traité de Chimie. ”

“ Still, in spite of such exceptions and anomalies in distribution, there is much evidence for a real distinction between boreal and southern faunas in the Jurassic and in the Cretaceous which may indicate a zonal distribution of temperature in Mesozoic time. It should be remembered, however, that a boreal climate probably did not then mean a frigid climate, and that the differences in temperature were probably not so great as at the present time. ”

“ While they bear the impress of boreal genera and resort to morphologic equivalencies thereto in fugitive epidermal structures which so richly characterize the boreal trilobites at this time, they are on the whole constructed on a series of modified types which hold their fundamental expression while developing minor details with the chronology normal to their succession at the north. ”

“ By another English patented process the meat is soaked during from twenty-four to thirty-six hours in a solution of 150 grammes of boric acid, 300 grammes of borax, 155 grammes of common salt, and 53 grammes of saltpeter, which had been previously dissolved in two litres of water, after which it is packed in casks. A practicable method of preparing meat for long transportation is to expose it to a current of refrigerated air till it is stiffened, then sprinkle powdered borax upon it, and put it in a refrigerator-car. ”

“ Boric acid is less harmful to the growth of higher plants than are the compounds of copper, zinc, and arsenic. Evidence exists that below a certain limit of concentration boron exercises a favourable influence upon plant growth, encouraging the formation of stronger roots and shoots. This stimulation is more strongly marked with some species than with others, peas responding more readily than barley to the action of boric acid. ”

“ The boron contained in solution in the salt lakes has very probably been supplied by hot springs and solfataras of volcanic origin, such as those which at the present day charge the waters of the lagoons in Tuscany with boric acid. The deposits formed by evaporation from these lakes and marshes or salines, are mixtures of borates, various alkaline salts (sodium carbonate, sulphate, chloride) , gypsum, &c. In the mud of the lakes and in the surrounding marshy soil fine isolated crystals of borax are frequently found. For example, crystals up to 7 in. ”

“ The borax vein is traceable for several thousand feet, striking along the western and northern side of the largest sedimentary hill in the range, and finally passing down a cañon to the eastward, where it becomes a well-defined vein. Toward the western end the borate of lime appears to be much mixed with the sandy sediments, gypsum, and clays, giving the appearance of having been formed near the shore line of the basin in which this great mass of material has been left as a residuary deposit, due to the evaporation of the water containing the calcium borate. ”

“ Death Valley, in the southern part of the United States, on account of its terrific heat, is perhaps the most unhabitable region in the world, but the borax which it produces is used in every civilized country. And so we might name regions by the score that are practically unhabitable, which nevertheless produce things necessary to civilized man. ”

“ Agulhon (1910 c) found that the toxic doses of boric acid in soil cultures approached those in nutritive solutions rather than in sand cultures, a phenomenon that he attributed to the fact that the boric acid was fixed by the soil, probably as insoluble borate of calcium, so that the surface concentration obtained with sand cultures was avoided. He found that the ash of plants grown with excess of boron contained more than the normal amount of boron, while the weight of ash per 100 dry matter was also increased. ”

“ Others, however, assert, that their crysocolla was nothing more than the rust of copper, triturated with urine. The impure borax in the East Indies, is called tincal. When borax is melted, and exposed for some time to heat, it loses its water, and is changed into what is known by the name of calcined borax.
The easiest process for obtaining boracic acid is to make a concentrated solution of borax in hot water, and add by degrees, sulphuric acid, which will unite with the soda; and, as the fluid cools, the boracic acid will separate in shining laminated crystals. ”

“ Borage, bur′āj, n. a plant of the genus Borago, formerly in great repute as a cordial. [Low L. borago.]
Borax, bō′raks, n. a mineral salt used for soldering, as a flux in metallurgy, in enamelling and glazing, as a mordant in dyeing, as a substitute for soap, and also in medicine.—adj. Borac′ic, of or relating to borax.—ns. Bor′acite, a mineral composed of boracic acid and carbonate of magnesia; Bō′rate, a salt of boracic acid.—Boracic acid, an acid obtained by dissolving borax, and also found native in mineral springs in Italy. [Through Fr. and Low L. borax, borac-em, from Ar. bûraq.] ”

“ Some borates too are volatile at high temperatures, and minerals containing boron (especially tourmaline) are very common in tin veins. Also since ore deposits of this character are found nearly invariably in granite or in the rocks which have been invaded by granite there is good reason to hold that fluoric and boric gases were important agents in the production of tin veins. It is not necessary, however, to believe that all the materials which are found in these veins were introduced as vapours, for as the temperature sank currents of hot water would follow which would fill up any cavities. ”

“ Commercial biborate of soda. Borax is obtained either by purifying native borate of soda (TINC′AL, TINC′AR) , or by saturating crude boracic acid with the alkali. It is never prepared on the small scale unless for chemical analysis.
Prop. Crystals, six-sided prisms, which contain 10 equiv. of water, and effloresce in dry air; soluble in 20 parts of cold, and in 6 parts of boiling water; solution has an alkaline reaction on test-paper; by heat it loses its water of crystallisation, and at a higher temperature fuses to a glass-like substance (see below) . ”

“ Boron is prepared by a process similar to that employed to obtain silicium:—Potassium and perfectly dry boracic acid, or, preferably, boro-fluoride of potassium, intimately mixed together, are placed in a glass adopter-tube, and submitted to a low red heat. When cold, the loose cork that fastened its mouth is removed, and hot water poured in, in successive portions, until the whole matter is detached and all its soluble portion dissolved; the liquid is next allowed to settle, and the precipitate washed first with a solution of sal-ammoniac, and afterwards with alcohol ”

“ Boracic ACID, (acid of borax, or sedative salt.) Many people still think this to be an artificial production, but not long since Mr. Hoefer [17] found it in a lake near Sienna in the great dutchy of Hetruria, and it has long been known to be united to the fossil alkaly in native borax. It acts like an acid, though very feebly. It melts in the fire and volatilizes with water. Its specific gravity is 1,480.
§ 36. Amber ACID, is a concrete salt obtained from amber; it acts like a feeble acid. It is yet doubtful whether amber be of vegetable origin; many reckon it fossil. ”

“ If a fairly fluid slag is formed which does not clear from the metal and show the eye, more lead and a higher temperature is wanted.
As a general rule, it may be stated that when a scorification is unsatisfactory, what is wanted is more heat, more lead, or more borax.
It is a safe plan when work has to be done on a strange ore, to make three or four assays with varying quantities of lead. The proportion of lead is right when a further addition does not yield a higher result. ”

“ A salt in which the hydrogen of boracic acid is replaced by a basic radical. The borates may be formed by either digesting the hydrate of the base in a333 solution of the acid, with the assistance of heat, or from a solution of borax and a soluble salt of the base, by double decomposition. They are all decomposed by the stronger acids.
Tests. The borates may be tested by digesting them in a slight excess of oil of vitriol, evaporating the resulting solution to dryness, powdering the residuum, and dissolving it in alcohol ”

“ The immense region which is usually represented on geo-botanic maps under the name of Eur-Asian boreal region, and which is bounded on the south by a line traced from the Black Sea to Lake Baikal and thence to the Upper Amur and to the Sea of Okhotsk—this region has not the uniformity which one would be inclined to attribute to it by considering the map only. ”

“ It is always well to destroy floating germs by cleansing and whitewashing the stable, and to invigorate the young animals by sunshine, free air and exercise. Locally the most effective agent is the old favorite remedy borax which arrests the growth of the parasite whether in artificial cultures, or in the mouth. The powder may be rubbed into the sores or it may be mixed with honey or molasses and used as an electuary. As substitutes boric acid, salol, thymol, chlorate of potash, or permanganate of potash may be used. ”

“ In strong, vigorous patients benefit will usually be obtained from a laxative, such as 2 tablespoonfuls of Glauber's salt daily, and if the fever runs high from a daily dose of half an ounce of saltpeter. As local applications, astringent solutions are usually the best, as 30 grains of borax or of sulphate of zinc in a quart of water, to be applied constantly on a cloth, as advised under "Inflammation of the [Pg 288] eyelids." In the absence of anything better, cold water may serve every purpose. ”

“ In most instances of salts crystallizing from a solution, the crystals attach themselves by a base to whatever material is adjacent, and when numerous they form a crystalline mass, from which the summits only of the crystals project—a crystal perfect at both extremities, and the sides not being common. And in Borax Lake itself, whenever the water has evaporated to such a degree in a dry season as to form a deposit from excess of strength, it has been an amorphous crust of carbonate, chloride, and borate, with no perfect crystals of either. ”

“ The boracic acid and borax are put into a vat containing sixty gallons of water. The vat should be connected with steam supply so that it can be brought to the boiling point, cooking same slowly and stirring it well for half an hour. The salt and saltpetre is then added and should be stirred until thoroughly dissolved. After the solution has been allowed to cool, add sufficient cold water to give it a strength of 21 degrees by salometer test. ”

“ XIII.—In a solution of borax in water soak a good quantity of glue until it has thoroughly imbibed the liquid. Pour off the surplus solution and then put on the water bath and melt the glue. Cool down until the glue begins to set, then add, drop by drop, with agitation, enough acetic acid to check the tendency to solidification. If, after becoming quite cold, there is still a tendency to solidification, add a few drops more of the acid. The liquid should be of the consistence of ordinary mucilage at all times. ”

“ Some bodies, when heated in the borax bead, present a clear bead both while hot and cold; but if the bead be heated with the intermittent flame, or in the flame of reduction, it becomes opalescent, opaque or milk-white. The alkaline earths are instances of this kind of reaction, also glucina oxide of cerium, tantalic and titanic acids, yttria and zirconia. ”

“ It might be considered a crucial test of imagination to dissipate and clear up these conditions, yet zone therapy does just this. For sties and such eye conditions as conjunctivitis and granulated lids are completely relieved by pressure exerted upon the joints of the first and second finger of the hand corresponding to the eye involved. In sties the relief is frequently complete in one or two treatments. In other inflammatory conditions of the mucous membranes of the eye it may be necessary to give treatments three times a week for several weeks. ”

“ In some cases 30 and even 15 grains per day appeared to cause illness, but it is acknowledged that these persons may have been suffering from influenza. The administration of 7·5 grains was declared by Dr Wiley to be too much for the normal man to receive regularly, although for a limited period there might be no danger to health. Dr Wiley concludes his report: “It appears, therefore, that both boric acid and borax, when continuously administered in small doses for a long period or when given in large quantities for a short period, create disturbance of appetite, of digestion and of health.” ”

“ Frederic S. Barff of Kilburn, England, it seems was the first to combine boracic acid with glycerine, and to produce a preservative compound known as boroglyceride, which is soluble in water and alcohol. As boracic acid is but slightly soluble in water and other common solvents this combination with glycerine—which is also a useful agent in arresting the growth of germs—is peculiarly valuable. It is tasteless and inodorous and imparts no dis­agree­able taste or odor to the substance being treated. ”