Borax, in chemistry, a salt produced in the mountains of Thibet, in Asia, both naturally and artificially by evaporation.

The borax imported from China is purer than that of Thibet, and is found in a natural state in small masses of irregular crystal-, of a faint white colour. Beside the vi-trescible earth, which is an essen tial principle of borax, it cor, ; copper and the marine acid, but no traces of the vitriolic. It has also been clearly proved by < riments, that borax consists of fossil -alkali, in some degree neutralized by a peculiar salt When dissolved and crystaliz.d, it form small transparent m and the refiners have a method of shooting; it into large crystals, which, how, in many re differ from and are. inferior to, the genuine salt.

Borax is useful in metallurgy for sold ring ; in the fusion of vitrifiable earths, with which it forms glass; as well as in several other chemical pro and dyers frequently employ it giving a gioss to silks.

Its medical properties have not been sufficiently investigated.Mr.

Bisset recommends a weak solu-tion of this salt in water, for healing aphthous crusts, or the thrush in the mouth and fauces of children. A small quantity of it, p. . and mixed with sugar, is often applied for the same purpose. We are. not acquainted with a more bal-samic application to sore nipples, or chapped lips and hands in frosty weather, than a few grains of borax dissolved in warm water, with the addition of a little pure honey.