1845: Complete Prior History and a Prediction on the Future uses of Asbestos

I love running across books like The History of Silk, Cotton, Linen, Wool, and Other Fibrous Substances authored in 1845 by Clinton G. Gilroy. I decided to purchase a hard copy first edition advertised on AbeBooks but electronic versions are readily available in electronic format on the Internet. See https://books.google.com/books/about/The_History_of_Silk_Cotton_Linen_Wool_an.html?id=x51BAAAAYAAJ.

This book has about 7 pages starting on 392 that adds the flavor and background as to the ancient history of asbestos use, including footnotes to relevant ancient texts and support. The fact that asbestos is not mentioned in the title but, rather, falls within “Other Fibrous Substances” tells a lot about how asbestos was viewed in 1845. The level of extensive details of the ancient historical uses, however, is seen just by reviewing the below two pages. You should get the entire book pages from 392 to 399 if you really want a deep dig.

Speaking of page 399, Gilroy makes the following prediction right at the end that asbestos was, and would always remain, useless. He states:

“In modern times cloth of asbestos is scarcely made. Indeed it is not probable that this material will every be obtained in much abundance, or that it will cease to be a rarity except in the places of production. It is never seen in Great Britain, or on the continent, save in the cabinets of the curious.”

That may have been the worst prediction of the year back in 1845.

Let me know what you think either by leaving a comment or emailing me at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks. Marty