GLAUBER (JOHN RUDOLPH,) an in dustrious chemist, was born in Germany. After passing a considerable time in travel, he settled at Amsterdam, about the middle of the seventeenth century. He wrote a number of works, mostly in fected with the enigmatical jargon and unintelligible theory of the hermetic phi losophy, yet containing some useful facts in true chemistry, and some processes of his own invention. His name is perpe tuated in the purgative neutral salt called Glauber's, composed of the sulphuric acid and soda ; a valuable remedy, but, toge ther with others of his invention, extolled by himself to an extravagant degree. He kept several of his medicines secret, and made advantage of them as nostrums. Of his works an abridged collection was made in German, which was translated into English in 1b89; but they are now consigned to oblivion.
salt. See SODA, Sulphate of.
It is found native ; and, according to Bergman, it contains sulphuric acid, soda, and water, in the proportions of27.15.58 ;
that is, when saturated with water of crystallization. When efflorescent, the native Glauber's salt contains, beside pure sulphate of soda, some oxide of iron, and portions of muriate and carbon ate of soda. It is found in old salt mines, on the borders of the salt lakes in differ ent parts of the world, and on the surface of peat-mosses in France. It is also held in solution in the Natron lakes of Egypt, and the mineral springs of Carlsbad. Glauber's salt easily dissolves in water, and shoots into long and beautiful crys tals, which contain a large quantity of water ; in consequence of which they undergo the aqueous fusion, when ex posed to heat. This salt, on account of its efficacy as a purgative, was formerly held in the highest esteem, and was de nominated sal mirabile Glauberi. It has been used in some countries as a substi tute for soda, in the manufacture of white glass.