76 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[November 1, 1916. 



can be successfully used in many other commercial lines. With 

 my experience as a chemist and a practical rubber man, I can 

 give ocotillo gum nothing but the very highest praise. 



.•\n interesting point brought out by Judge W. H. Stilwell of 

 .Arizona is thus stated : 



It is not unreasonable to suppose that rubber produced in 

 this country will meet the demands of the climate and elements 

 more succt-ssfully than rubber produced elsewhere. 



J. D. Crawford, whom ■'.Arizona" describes as an American 

 chemist and wage earner in the rublicr industry, is given the 

 credit of the discovery of the ocotillo as a rubber producer. Mr. 

 Crawford, so says "Arizona," discovered the value of guayule 

 and "sold his processes to the Madero brothers for a small con- 

 sideration." His discovery of guayule is 18 years old, that of 

 ocotillo is 3 years old. 



The plan of the Arizona Chicle Co. is not to manufacture 

 either chewing gum or automobile tires. Instead it will extract 

 the gum and sell first to manufacturers of the articles named 

 and later to any and all who tind the gum of use. The initial 

 plant is planned for a daily capacity of 600 tons. 



H. E. Shrum, of Phoenix, Arizona, who has charge of the 

 sale of stock, kindly sent the editor of The India Rubber World 

 a small sample of the bark of the ocotillo plant and a piece of 

 vulcanized rubber. Whether this was a bit of the tire compound 

 cited above does not appear. He further stated that the com- 

 pany expected to be producing gum by the first of the year. As 

 to the cost of the gum, it is stated that it can be produced in 

 quantity for 10 cents a pound. 



If this project proves successful in adding to the sources avail- 

 able for the production of rubber, or even plastics from plants 

 indigenous to our own country, it will certainly be well worth 

 while. Perhaps this desert "cactus" may become as valuable as 

 the once neglected guayule shrub which has proven of such 

 substantial use in the rubber industry. 



In the meantime the rubber trade awaits with interest elucida- 

 tion of the foUow-ing points: 



First — What percentage of ocotillo gum entered into the com- 

 position of the "Arizona" tire. 



Second— Would it be possible to make a tire or anything 

 else in rubber using ocotillo gum. and compounding and curing 

 it without the addition of "plantation sheet" or any other rubber? 



A frank answer to both of the above will tell the story of the 

 value of the gum beyond peradventure. 



THE ELECTRICAL EXPOSITION. 



RUBBER GLOVES FOE X-HAY SURGICAL OPERATIONS. 



Rubber gloves for surgical operations w-here X-rays are used 

 are made opaque to these rays by being impregnated three or 

 four times, at intervals of about a half hour, with a paste ob- 

 tained by thoroughly mixing the following ingredients in a 

 chemist's mortar: 



100 grams finely ground lead carbonate. 

 50 grams of rubber solution (similar to solution used for 



repairing cycle tires). 

 50 grams of light mineral oil. 



Large size surgeon's gloves need from 40 to 50 grams of paste 

 each ; the paste is applied with a soft brush, preferably on the 

 interior surface of the gloves, the latter being turned inside out 

 and filled with talc or a similar powder. The paste adheres 

 better when the surface has been coated beforehand with diluted 

 rubber solution. 



This paste is not affected t)y prolonged contact with water- 

 containing phenol, nor by strong alcohol, but it blackens if the 

 gloves are placed in boiling water for any length of time, and 

 then it develops a tendency to crack when the gloves are 

 stretched in any way. 



In French military hospitals many doctors coat their hands 

 with the paste above described before putting on their rubber 

 gloves. The paste can be easily washed off by using mineral 

 oil. ["Journal de Pharmacie et de Chimie."] 



FOR two weeks in October the Electrical Exposition and 

 Motor Show of 1916 was held in the Grand Central Palace, 

 N'ew York City. As in previous similar exhibitions, this served 

 to show the progress in electrical achievements during the year, 

 many exhibits being particularly interesting and attractive. Out 

 of a total number of 105 exhibitors there were some which 

 were more or less related to the rubber industry. Among these 

 might be mentioned the following: 



The Habirshaw Electric Cable Co., Yonkers, New York, ex- 

 hibited a very complete line of samples of rubber insulated cables, 

 including the large armored cable made for the Interborough 

 Rapid Transit Co. and laid under the Harlem River; and a 

 sample of the submarine cable made for the Signal Department 

 of the United States Government. This cable was made and 

 tested at the Habirshaw works in one piece, 34 miles long, which 

 is now in service in the Philippines. 



The Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co., East Pitts- 

 burgh, Pennsylvania, exhibited a large number of electrical de- 

 vices for the modern residence, office and factory. Electric 

 fans, motors, transformers and rectifiers for charging storage 

 batteries were also shown, as well as lightning arresters for 

 the protection of electrical circuits, lighting fijcfiires for street 

 use. and motors for various industries. 



The General Electric Co., Schenectady, New York, showed 

 the modern application of its Mazda lamps, o-E;iarious capacities. 

 .\ mechanical display showed exactly what the consumer gains 

 by the use of these over other lamps, as demonstrated by the 

 use of a mechanical meter. .An electrically lighted fountain, 

 an electrical clock, a reproduction of a modern show window 

 illuminated with miniature lamps, X-ray plates, motors, gen- 

 erators and transformers completed the exhibit. 



The Electric Storage Battery Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 

 displayed a large number of storage batteries of its manufacture, 

 those used in submarine vessels, in electric vehicles, in mine 

 locomotives, and also for central lighting and power stations 

 for telegraph and telephone service. There were also various 

 batteries used for automobile starting and lighting, wireless 

 telegraphy, fire alarm and gun firing. 



-Another storage battery was the "Edison," shown by the 

 Edison Storage Battery Co., Orange, New Jersey, which is 

 used in a great variety of ways for lighting and motor power 

 in vehicles, boats, etc., and for supplying current to modern 

 searchlights, telegraph, telephone, time clocks and light ma- 

 chinery. The Edison electric safety mine lamp was also shown. 



The New York Edison Co., New York City, showed the 

 work of its various bureaus in a very comprehensive exhibit, 

 demonstrating the capabilities of its service. For instance, 

 there was a completely equipped electrical hospital, an X-ray 

 room, an electro-mechanical gymnasium, a dental hospital, and 

 a photographic studio. A three-room apartment, in miniature, 

 was shown, furnished with figures, furniture and electric fittings, 

 all arranged to show the different lighting effects. 



The vacuum cleaner would be far from practicable, were it not 

 for the rubber hose which gives it portability. The Frantz Pre- 

 mier Co., Cleveland, Ohio, and the Hoover Suction Sweeper 

 Co., New Berlin, Ohio, had exhibits of these machines. Rubber 

 tubes form a part of the electrical milking machines which were 

 seen in operation in the Dairy division, several prize Guernseys 

 and Holsteins being exhibited by a well-known condensed milk 

 company. 



The S. S. White Dental Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia, 

 Pennsylvania, among other items of itS- exhibit of a modern 

 dentist's office, showed an electrically heated rubber tube for 

 conveying the gas administered to patients at about the tem- 

 perature of the body, thus lessening excitement and irritation. 

 Prepared rubber and rubber dam for dental purposes were 

 also shown. 



