36 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
collect its milky juice in a trough formed of the hollow stem 
of the plantain leaf, when being exposed to the air, it soon 
coagulates. 
Dr. Montgomerie suggests, among the less immediately 
obvious uses to which Gutta Percha is applicable, that 
. of making raised type for the blind, and embossed maps 
for the same unfortunate beings: it takes a clear, sharp 
impression, and is also tough and durable: he thinks it 
would likewise be found serviceable in stopping decayed 
teeth. 
In the abstract of the new Patents, given in the October 
Number of the Magazine of Science and the Arts, we notice 
that C. Hancock, Esq., has taken out a patent for improving 
the manufacture of Gutta Percha. He suggests several me- 
thods of purifying the substance, which generally comes 
home much mixed with extraneous matter:—it may be 
dissolved by heat and strained; or passed through a screw- 
press; or melted by the addition of rectified oil of | 
turpentine, and after filtering through flannel or felt, the 
solvent may be evaporated. In every case, the Gutta Percha 
should form a residuum, of the consistency of dough or 
putty, this plastic state being gained by the maintenance 
of a suitable temperature during the above process. 
_ Mr. Hancock would combine Gutta Percha with Caout- 
chouc, and a substance galled Jintawan, (we have no clue 
as to what this “ jintawan" may be), in order to form 
an elastic material, impervious to water; varying the pro- 
portions according to the greater or less degree of hardness 
or of elasticity required. For making elastic bands, a com- 
pound is used, where 50 parts of Gutta Percha are combined 
with 24 of * jintawan," 20 of caoutchouc, and 6 of orpi- 
ment or sulphuret. From a mixture of these, Mr. Han- 
cock also prepares a light porous and spongy material, 
suited for stuffing or forming the seats of chairs, cushions, 
matrasses, saddles, &c.; likewise, springs of clocks, clasps, - a 
belts, garters and string. Wherever the requisite is flexi- - = 
bility and elasticity, then the oa of Gutta Percha _ 
