ag 3 
foftening the elaftic refin with the animal oil of Dippelius, or with 
oil of turpentine, as propofed by Heriffant, for the purpofe of 
forming it into probes, &c. produce the effect defired. It appears 
therefore that Macquer’s procefs of diffolving this fubftance in ether, 
by which he was enabled to give a coat of Caoutchouc 6f confiderable 
thicknefs to a cylindrical mould of wax, is the beft way yet difcovered 
of adapting this fubftance to furgical and other purpofes: for on 
immerling the waxen mould, thus covered with the elaftic refin, in 
boiling water, the wax foon melts and rifes to the furface, leaving 
behind a regular tube of Caoutchouc. . In order to render the tubes 
of fufficient firmnefs to be ufed as catheters, it has been recommended 
that gold or filver wire, rolled in a clofe {piral manner, fhould be 
coated with the elaftic refin, and thefe, as poflefling both pliability 
and firmnefs, are faid to fucceed very well. Various other methods 
of forming catheters, bougies, peflaries, truffes, &c. of this fubftance, 
are to be found in the Journal de Medicine,” efpecially by Durand 
and Juville; and by its remarkable flexibility and elafticity it accom- 
modates itfelf to the motion of the body, and thereby poffeffes peculiar 
advantages. For a fyringe, or injeéting machine, the common form 
in which it is brought here is exceedingly well adapted, and only 
requires that a proper pipe be fixed-to the neck of the elaftic bottle 
to render it fit for ufe, which is now well known. 
- We are told that in Quito one of thefe bottles, faftened to a hollow 
reed, and filled with water, is always prefented at entertainments to 
each of the guefts, who ufe it as an injection before eating. 
The Indians make boots of the Caoutchoue; alfo a kind of cloth 
which they ufe for the fame purpofes as we ufe oil cloth. Flambeaux 
are likewife made of this chia, which yield a beautiful light without 
any difagreeable fmell. In this country it is much ufed for rubbing 
_ out black-lead pencil marks. . 
age _® See-toms 60. & 620. 
THEA,. 
