The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-01-14

a large and evenly distributed rainfall
and perfect drainage.
Some one has called rubber the
"handmaid of civilization" but it is
more than that, it is man IS best friend,
for every profession that ministers to
and relieves the suffering ones of the
earth has enlisted it in it's service, and
in thousand ways uses. it to assuage
pain and make surgical operations east
er and at the same time lessening the
chances of contagion.
To enumerate the articles made of
rubber used by scientific men would be
an endless task, as each year more and
better ones are invented; so it can be
safely said that if rubber in its various
forms and appliances were to suddenly
be removed from hospitals and the of
fees of dentists, doctors and surgeons
it would paralyze the services of these
ministers of mercy. AS everybody is
heir to suffering and pain, it ought to
be an interesting study to know where
this wonderful product of nature comes
from, how it grows, and what processes
are used to bring it to a state that
makes it fit for daily use.
Rubber is not only used to alleviate
giving man pleasure, adding to the en-
joyment of man in thousand ways, in
this age of rush, speed and force.
Anybody who has ridden in the won
derful automobile, with its luxurious
motion caused by its running on large
rubber ties, and skimming the ground
with more than the speed of a race
horse, is ready to say rubber is indeed
the friend of man.
The history of man s struggle to OBJ.
tain rubber is as intensely interesting,
as full of romance, and as full of horror,
as is the story of the adventures, hard,
ships and cruelty of the Spaniards in
their search of gold.
Unlike the yellow metal, rubber is
not widely distributed over the earth
for the benefit of mankind, and what
little is left is rapidly disappearing.
Wild rubber or caoutchouc, is OBJ
tanned from several varieties of trees
shrubs and vines, nearly all of which
are indigenous to the tropics. Sontl
America, Central America, India and
Africa each furnish large quantities
the gum produced being all rubber, diff
fering somewhat in its characters, du,
largely TO the various methods of gath
ering and eoagulation.
Para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis)
what is known ms Para rubber of com
meree, is obtained from the vast region
drained by the Amazon and its tribn
taries. estimated TO embrace territor,
nearly two,thirds the size OF Europe
Yet so enormous has the worlds con
sumption of rubber become that thi
great region is practically denuded o
its rubber growth
The Mexican rubber tree, growing II
the district of ROeonuseo, on the shore
of the Pacific, has been named Castill
/ luetitna Castillo, IN honor Of Castillo
spanish boianist, who died In 40
while engaged 10 the preparation of
ilnra ~ Mexico, and luetihna signifyin
"iiowing milk" distinguishing u fror
ifeer In other localities from which ih
: milk eAndes, but docs not rnn freely,
] Tho aulid = supply of rubber has n
90 thls Time been drawn almost Nhoil
from ihr Nili trees found gfoAing i
! be aenaa depths Of tie tropical foI
efis, but aaina % The aesifaellf
) melhods " gathering pursued ~ 81
J ngiilea, millions q these Ioff hay
boen dntiIoyed 40 replace Ntleh vi
ieqalrs ihs serb ilelllaf u thousand
NJ efgeg