Some Account of the Elajllc-Gum Vine. if 



When, upon examination, I found that the boots and 

 gloves were of the thicknefs wanted, I turned them over at 

 the top, and drew them off, as if from the leg or hand, by 

 which I faved the trouble of forming new moulds. Thofe 

 of the bottles being fmalleft at the neck, I was under the 

 neceflity of diffolving in hot water. 



The infide of the boots and gloves which had been in 

 contaft with the wax being by far the fmootheft, I made the 

 outfide. The gloves were now finiihed, unlefs cutting their 

 tops even, which was beft done with fciflars. The boots, 

 however, in their prefent ftate, more refembled {lockings, 

 having as yet no ibles. To fupply them with thefe, I poured 

 upon a piece of gunny a proper quantity of milk, to give it a 

 thick coat of gum. Frorh this, when dry, I cut pieces fuffi- 

 crently large to cover the fole of the foot, which, having wet 

 with the nuik, I applied; firft replacing the boot upon the 

 mould to keep it properly extended. By this mode the foles 

 Were fo firmly joined, that no force could afterwards feparate 

 them. In the fame manner I added heels and ftraps, when 

 the boots had a very neat appearance. To fatisfy niyfelf as 

 to their impermeability to water, I flood in a pond up to 

 their tops for the fpace of fifteen minutes, when, upon pull- 

 ing them off, I did not find my ftockings in the leaft damp. 

 Indeed, from the nature of the gum, had it been for a period 

 of as many months, the fame refult was to have been ex- 

 pelled. 



After being thus far fuccefsful, I was greatly difappointed 

 in my expectations with regard to their retaining their ori- 

 ginal fliape; for, on wearing them but a few times, they loft 

 much of their firft neatnefs, the contractions of the gum 

 being only equal to about feven-eighths of its extenfion. 



A fecond difadvantacre arofe from a circumftance difficult ' 

 to guard againtt, which was, that if, by any accident, the 

 gum fliould be in the fmalleft degree weaker in one place 

 than another, the effeft of extenfion fell almoft entirely on ' 

 that part, and the confequence was that it foon gave way. 



From what I had obferved of the advantage gained in fub- 

 ftancTi and uniformity of ftrength by making ufe of gunny 

 as a bafis for the foles, I was led to fuppofe, that if an elaftic 



Vol. Vr. D cloth. 



