Borax

a white, salty crystal with a sweetish, alkaline taste. It is a compound of boron, sodium, and oxygen (Na2B4O7). It forms like ice around the shores of certain waters. American borax is obtained from the waters and deposits of saline lakes in California and Nevada. Large shipments are made from the volcanic lakes of Bolivia. Borax occurs in the hot springs of Tuscany and in certain brackish lakes of Tartary, Tibet, Ceylon, and China. Borax is used in blowpipe analysis. A little borax powder sprinkled in a joint facilitates welding and soldering. Theoretically a large dose of borax is poisonous, but no harm seems to come from its frequent use as a preservative. During the Spanish-American War, it may be remembered, an accusation was brought that meats furnished the troops were canned in borax. Borax ranks with alcohol and salt as a preventive of bacterial growth. It is a disinfectant. Borax water is used in washing the furniture, clothing, and bedding of the sickroom. Fresh borax water is used to rinse milk bottles, to freshen the teeth, and to spray a sore throat. Surgeons use boracic acid to sprinkle wounds. It is a milder antiseptic than listerine. Borax softens hard water and makes washing easier. About 40,000,000 pounds of borax are produced in the United States annually. The early use of long mule teams to haul borax from the Death Valley gave rise to the well known trade mark, 20-Mule-Team Borax. See Alkali; Salt; Death Valley