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MINOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTS AND THEIR SOURCES. 191 
Sapotacee,) a native of British Guinea, where it forms a tree of large 
con. The milky juice is procured by incision of the trunk. It 
dries very quickly on exposure to the air, if the atmosphere is dry, and 
it can be molded into shapo by first being softened in water. This gum 
appears to be of acharacter intermediate between India-rubber and gutta- 
percha, possessing the elasticity of the one and the ductility of the other, 
without the intractability of India-rubber or the brittleness of gutta- 
percha. it has been successfully employed as an insulating medium for 
telegraphic purposes. 
Ureeola elastica, { Apocynacece.)—A large climbing shrub of the,islands 
of Sumatra and Borneo, yielding a milky juice which forms”a caout- 
ehoue called juitawan, but owing to the want of proper care in its prep- 
aration, it is inferior in quality to that from South America, the milky 
juice being simply coagulated by mixing with salt water instead of be- 
ing gradually inspissated in layers on a mold. It produces fruit about 
the size of an orange, containing numerous seeds surrounded by an eat- 
able pulp, which is highly prized by the inhabitants. 
Castilloa elastica, (Atrocarpacew.)—A Mexican tree that contains a 
milky juice which, under proper preparation, becomes solidified into 
caoutchouc. 
Alstonia scholaris, (Apocynacee,) called pallmara or devil tree about- 
Bombay, is a tree of large dimensions, with a furrowed, rough bark which 
is intensely bitter, and is used medicinally. .It has been stated recently 
that the juice of this tree possesses the same properties and is as readily 
manufactured as gutta-percha. It softens quickly when plunged into 
' boiling water, is soluble in chloroform and turpentine, and receives and 
retains even delicate impressions. 
Mudar gum.—tThe mudar tree of Africa, Caloptrohis gigantea, (Ascle- 
piadacee,) abounds in a milky juiee which hardens into a substance closely 
resembling gutta-percha, and the root yields a substance named mudarine, 
which possesses the property of gelatinizing when heated, and returning 
to a fluid state when cool. These products are used medicinally. 
Buphorbia cattimandoo, (Euphorbiacee.\—This East Lidia plant affords 
& juice which furnishes caoutchouc of a good quality, and is used for a 
variety of purposes. The milk is obtained by simply cutting the branches, 
when it flows freely. It is collected and boiled at once, and is then very 
elastic, but soon becomes resinous or brittle, in which state it formsa good 
cement by heating. This gum can be- molded to any shape when first 
boiled, and after becoming hard it can be made soft and pliable by heat- 
ing or soaking in warm water, and in that state will take any desired 
form. The guin resin known as euphorbium is a product of several 
Species of euphorvia, from Africa, the miiky juice being collected in 
leather bags. It is extremely acrid, and is used in external applications. 
Some authorities regard it as a poison. 
Lhe India-rubber of the East is. yielded by various species of Ficus, 
particularly Ficus elastica, (Moracew,) which attains to a large size, and 
sends down roots similar to the famous banyan tree. The juice is col- 
lected and spread over molds in thin layers, and dried either by fire-heat 
or by the sun, 
Vahea gummifera, (Apocynacen.)—A milky juice, obtained from this 
plant in Madagascar forms a superior article of caoutchoue. 
Hanecornia speciosa, ( Apocynacen.)—This is a Brazilian fruit tree, 
called mangaba. It abounds ina viscid milky juice which, when col- 
lected and exposed to the air, hardens into a caoutchouc, and is one of 
the sources of that gum. 
