ASBESTOS

(Lat.), n..m. ®st’o’s. Gr., doBeoros. Fr., asbeste, amiante. Ger., As best, Bergflachs. 1. Anciently (réravos understood), unslaked lime. [Dioscorides (A, 311).] 2. A name given to several fibrous varieties of double silicate of magnesium and calcium, remarkable for their resistance to the action of heat. A soft, fibrous substance, made up of flexible or elastic fila- [“ Proc. of the Am. ments sometimes closely resembling those of flax or silk. It surpa es all other substances as a non-conductor of heat. It Is found chiefly in the mountains of northern Italy, but is sparsely distributed throughout the world. The constituents of the Italian and Canadian varietles are given as follows: Canadian, Lime and magnes i: » 8034 33°20 Silica. J 40°90 Oxide 575 Pota a. traces. Soda.... 0°68. Alumina.......... 660 Moisture hygrost te tetweese ° {)rgnnic matter and water of hydration. 12°50