168 APPENDIX. 



The same tree is referred to in Watt's Dictionary of 



V 



In tliis, an extract taken from 



Drury's Useful Plants of India, suggests that the gum might bo 

 usefully utilised as a sub-aqueous cement or glue; or that, on account 

 of its perfume when heated, it might possibly be rendered of some 

 value to the pastille and incense makers. More recently tliis gum has 

 been analysed by Mr. David Hooper, F.C.S-, FJ.C., Quinologist to 

 the Government of Madras, and the results are given in the Annual 

 Report of the Cinchona Plantations of Madras for 1891, p. 18: 



*^ Indian Gutta-percha, — An abundance of gutta-percha milk has 

 been yielded during the dry weather in the WynAd by the Panchotee 

 tree {Dichopsis elUpfica), and some planters have been asking for 

 information on the subject, and inquiring whether it could be made 

 into a commercial article. The milk has been known for some years 

 to afford what was called Indian gutta-porcha or Pala-gum, and has 

 been used as an adulterant of Singapore gutta* General CuUen 

 brought it to notice 35 years ago, and Dr. Gleghorn published a 

 memorandum on the subject at the time. It was reported upon by 

 experts in London, who found that it was unfit for water-proofing 

 purposes, as its solution in coal-tar and turpentine dry up to such 

 a biittle consistence that the fabric is useless. It could be used as a 

 birdlime or cement, and keeps well under water as a cable insulator, 

 especially if mixed with some genuine gutta. By b oiling the milk 

 of the Panchotee tree, a white mass separates, which can be kneaded 

 by the fingers, but which becomes hard and brittle when cold. The 

 brittle character of this substance, I find, is due to a large proportion 

 of a crystalline substance found also in true gutta, and called crys* 

 talban or alban, Crystalban, according to Payen, occurs to the 

 extent of 14 to 19 per cent, in the best kinds of gutta-percha, but 

 I have extracted as much as 69-2 per cent, of crystalban from the 

 diied secretion obtained from Wyn^d. The presence of a large 



course 



utility 



pure gutta-percha. I cannot see 



um 



Malaya 



A note on a gum from a closely allied plant {^Dichopsls ohovata, 

 C. B. Clarke) received at Kcw fi'om Burma appeared iu the Keto 

 Bulklin, ly<j2, p. 215. (^Kew Bulletin^ Doc, 18U2.) 



