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#129164 06/14/04 03:35 AM
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old hand
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"...of course, stales confused the hell out the situation by using another name for kaolin --but his description, a clay that absorbs water, and is used as a medicine for diarrhea, fits kaolin!

Helen, Helen, Helen....

Kaolinite ain't Attapulgite (Kitty Litter).

And Attapulgite ain't Kaolinite.

They are both clays - and hence they are both silicates.

However, Kaolinite is aluminium silicate hydroxide and Attapulgite is a hydrated magnesium silicate.

Kaolinite the mineral lends its name to a group of 3 minerals with the same chemistry, but different moecular structure. The others are Dickite and Nacrite.

So now ya know!!

stales



#129165 06/14/04 10:41 AM
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Carpal Tunnel
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Ok--However, Kaolinite is aluminium silicate hydroxide and Attapulgite is a hydrated magnesium silicate.

thanks for the clarification.. now, since you mentioned its (attapulgite) is use internally for medicinal purposes.. WHere? kaopectite is pretty common in US (and i think the same stuff is sold in UK.. is attapulgite used in OTC remedies, or just in prescription stuff? is a more absorbent? or less..

and since this is a once again active topic, i got to tell you, i was disappointed no one picked up on pica.
i knew the word, and i thought most here would too, --but as i typed it, i wondered about it. why is eating dirt (or ice, a pica i have) called a pica? what has eating dirt have to do with a type font?

well YCLIU, i did..


#129166 06/14/04 06:31 PM
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F
addict
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Well, do tell. I'm sure we will devour every word of your explanation!


#129167 06/14/04 08:26 PM
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W
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W
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I think "pica" refers to an unusual pattern of eating anything that isn't a food; ice chips, most characteristically. Supposed to be a clue to iron-deficiency anemia, which in some wisdom-of-the-body-ish way might explain a craving for clay or dirt (although it says nothing about why ice chips). Had your blood count checked lately? Oh well. Another good theory shot to pieces...


#129168 06/14/04 09:55 PM
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yes wofa, a pica is any 'abnormal' eating habit, and the most common one is dirt, but why a pica?

its from the latin name for a blackbird/magpie-- who eat (or at least pick up in their mouth and carry away) many sorts of things.. so a pica is to eat like a blackbird/magpie, and to eat non-food items!

i didn't bother to look up pica as type font.. perhaps someone else will.

sometimes its seems we have discussed every word there is.. but then, sometimes we are just jaded.. most of us here knew the term pica (as an abnormal eating habit) and we let it slide by..we have to open our eyes, and find new and interesting words..


#129169 06/14/04 10:18 PM
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Pica as a type size is from what purports to be the same Latin word but something to do with the mass, apparently because that part of the mass used that size type. Or something like that.


#129170 06/15/04 04:19 AM
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Not being an adept "Make A Shorter Link" AWADer, I trust the following doesn't create too much mayhem:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202076.html#Brands

Anyways, here is the answer re Attapulgite for human oral ingestion. Everything you want to know. Including the brand names which, out of respect for those that don't like commercial references in AWAD posts, I will encourage you to seek for yourselves. Helen did however mention Kaopectate....well, that's on the list. Both the Advanced Formula and Maximum Strength!! Why, I dunno. I just assume it's also got Kaolinite in it - or that they are being free n easy with the use of "kao" (if nothing else, it's use in the product name ["KO" praps?] has more impact than "atta").

stales


#129171 06/15/04 10:50 AM
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It was the orders of service which you refer to in terms of pica. The "pica" was the size of the initial capital, standardised on 1/6th of an inch (or thereabouts). It was purely arbitrary until type was "standardised" for newspapers. Now, a pica is a standard size. I still have a pica ruler from my 15 years as a printer ... sad bastard, aren't I?


#129172 06/15/04 11:36 AM
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sad bastard

Hey, Pfranz. I have a slide rule. And the batteries are still good.


#129173 06/15/04 06:42 PM
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Pooh-Bah
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Whit were th' battries fer, Faldo?


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