[Sca-cooks] The great Medieval water myth

[Terry Decker]

In modern German, the correct word is das Natrium or das Natriumkarbonat. 
Natron is the obsolete form.  Borax is der Borax, das Natriumborat, or 
borsaures Natrium.

Since the word in question is actually Nitro, Ranvaig's comment that it and 
Natron are cognates is probably correct.  Modernly, Nitro is a combinative 
form of Nitrat, but nitrates in solution are colorless and odorless, thus 
that usage does not fit the context.  Rumpolt was using Nitro to describe a 
specific taste from a soluble substance in water.  Modernly, such a solution 
would likely be rendered das alkalinisch Wasser which would taste of Alkali.

Bear


>I believe that "natron," both in modern usage and in medieval Islamic 
>usage, is a mixture of carbonates. The medieval islamic source was dry lake 
>beds in Egypt.
>
> Nasrallah describes it as one of the two sorts of boraq, which she 
> translates as "borax," presumably correct etymology but not correct 
> chemistry.
>
> On 11/23/13 6:11 AM, Terry Decker wrote:
>>
>> per ENHG: erhalten = obtain, sustain
>>
>> **Erhalten can also mean "continue, go on" which I suspect is the meaning 
>> here in reference to being a cook.
>>
>> therefor all the water/ which has a sour/ sharp/
>> over-salted taste/ as of sulphur and Nitro
>> (soda?)/ it is harmful and unhealthy to use as a
>> natural drink.
>>
>>
>> Ranvaig
>>
>> If the word being used is "Natron," it's an obsolete reference to sodium 
>> in the general and sodium carbonate in the particular. Modernly, he would 
>> likely use the word Alkali in reference to a mineralized water possibly 
>> containing such nasty alkalis as arsenic.  The tap water in Reno, while 
>> safe to drink, is an example.
>>
>> Bear
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>
> -- 
> David Friedman
> www.daviddfriedman.com
> http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/
>
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