Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-04-05
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IsVDSaf REBBRR.
Remembering the almost endless variety
of uses to which Caoutchouc is now ap-
piled, we are almost amused at the first
idea that prevailed concerning its utility.
These are suggested by the name origi-
nally given to it, and oy which II is still,
to great extent, known-India Rubber.
One Of the first instances in which it is
mentioned as a useful article is in work
of DIR. Prestley published in 177O, in which
he speaks of it as II substance paich had
just been brought TO his notice. and was ad-
mirably suited to rubbing out pencil
marks and he adds that it was sold at the
rate of three shillings sterling for a cubcal
bit of about one-half an inch.
Though so great chemist as DR.. Priest
Icy had not known of this substance be-
fore, attention had been called to it as one
of the products OF Peru as early as 1875, and
to greater or less eytet it had been used
for rubbing out marks" from a period
probably not very long subsequent to its
discovery. Anything coming over the
seas from the far East, or remote West, in
those days was called Indian, and hence
tho name India Rubber. But the natives
called It Cdhuchu, and hence, by only
slight modification of sound, came the
name "CaOutchouc'-b which it is now
more commonly, and perhaps correctly.
called.
As is well known, Caoutchouc is the
gum or more properly the drio1 sap of
tree. The tree producing it abounds 10
various parts Of South America and also in
the East Indies. In the latter region es-
pecially this tree is represented as one of
the nobest in the whole forests where ii
grows being not infrequently as much as
seventyfive iect in circumference and one
hundred feet high, and crowned with
luxuriant foliage, so that it can be seen
miles away. The product, however, of this
Eastern tree, is not regarded az equal to
that Of the American.
The method of obtaining the gum is sim
liar in both regions. The tree is tapped at
various points along the trunk, and even
up the larger branches, the fluid which
runs out being generally caught in a little
cup which hangs beneath the incision.
About a gill is received from each incision
in the course Of the day. The method of
'i'N' "aiu D'tPdiluS tHls lOT inc
varies somewhat. Formerly it was al
lowed to run slowly over some clay mould
which was of the shape desired, and the
successive layers of it dried, much as heat
ed tallow, for example, is cooled in success
sive coats or layers upon the old fashioned
dipped candle. The mould afterward was
broken away, which left the rubber in the
shape in which the mould had formed it.
In this manner great numbers of bottles
and various fanciful figures were made and
exported from Para, which has always
been chief seat of this trade. 1t is not
many years since Rubber Shoes were al
together made in this way. Brazil used to
export several hundred thousand pairs of
these shoes annually.
The fluid, when ii runs from the tree, is
of a whitish color, or more nearly trans
parent; and the appearance it still retains
when dried in the sun. But to hasten its
drying fire is more commonly used, and
the smoke from this colors the gum black,
as we generally see it. Since the introduce
ton of the new process Of manufacture by
Goodyear and others, there has been no
object in bringing the gum to market in
any particular shape Qike that of the old
shoe, for example,) and consequently little
pains is taken in that direction. A COM
mon method OF preparing il now is to build
plam-nut fire, over which an earthern
jar Is placed, with a hole in the bottom so
arranged that the smoke from the tire shall
ascend through the jar BY this an Indian
sits with his vessel of the fluid which has
been collected from the trees. Having
small wooden paddle, he dips 1t into the
fluid, which he then holds over the smoke
till the gum becomes hardened, when he
dips again, repeating the process till he
has the stick covered with the hardened
gum of the required thickness. This is
then cut OIL, and he IS ready to begin again,
and so he repeats his work, day after day.
good days work is six pounds. More
or less impurlty Is always found in the
rubber so prepared but, besides this, sand
or other material, sometimes, is purposely
introduced between the layers of gum in
order to increase the weight.
Another method of bringing Caoutchouc
to market has been to filter the fluid as it
comes from the trees, and mix it with
strong ammonia in proportion OF about
two ounces of the latter to, say, two and a
quarter pounds of the former. The mix
ture is well shaken and placed in air-tight
vessels of either glass or tin, which are then
hermetcally sealed. From these vessels.
when afterward it is desired for use, the
gum is run out upon any smooth surface
and exposed TO temperature of seventy to
hundred degrees, when the ammonia
evaporates and leaves the rubber in the
form of the object that holds it. Imported
In this manner, 1t is accounted much better
than when dried. As before stated there
is also difference between the products of
different regions, the American being ac-