ASBES′TOS

Syn. Asbes′tus (ασβεστος, incombustible, unconsumable, Gr.), Amianth′us , La′pis A. , ., L.; Asbeste , Amiante , Fr.; As best , Steinflachs , Ger. In mineralogy , a soft, fibrous substance, composed of flexible or elastic filaments which, in their most highly developed form, greatly resemble those of flax or silk, and which bear exposure to a very considerable degree of heat without suffering decomposition. It has been proposed to clothe our firemen in dre es of asbestos; but without freedom of respiration could be insured in a heated and poisonous atmosphere, this envelope would be of little service. Gloves are sometimes made of it, for holding red-hot crucibles. It is also used as a filtering medium for corrosive liquids. A kind of felt made of asbestos is now used as a substitute for wire gauze to support beakers, retorts, ., over lamps. Var. Of these there are several; as Am′ianth or ELAS′TIC ASBESTOS , LIG′NIFORM A. , MOUNTAIN-CORK , M.-LEATHER , M.-WOOD , .; varying from a grey, brown, or green colour, to pure white, and from extreme flexibility and softne , to rigidity and hardne , as indicated by the respective names.