Caoutchouc found in theAscleplas Vincetoxicum, 125 



from the most simple and trifling circumstances ; the full 

 effect of which has not always been evident at first sight. 

 To mention one singular instance of this kind. The very 

 simple improvement of expressing the powers and roots of 

 quantities by means of indices, introduced a new and 

 general arithmetic of exponents t and this alijorithm of 

 powers led the way to the invention of logarithms, by 

 means of which, ail arithmetical computations are so much 

 facilitated and abridged. Perhaps this child possesses a 

 knowledge of some more important properties connected 

 with this subject; and although he is incapable at 

 present of giving any satisfactory account of the state of 

 his mind, or of communicating to others the knowledge 

 which it is so evident he does possess, yet there is every 

 reason to believe that, when his mind is more cultivated 

 and his ideas more expanded, he will be able not only to 

 divulge the mode by which he at present operates, but also 

 point out soa>e new sources of information on this interest- 

 ing subject. 



The case is certainly one of great novelty and importance : 

 and every literary character and everv Iriend to science 

 must be anxious to see the experiment fairly tried, as to tlje 

 effect which a suitable education may produce on a mind 

 constituted as his appears to be. With this view a num- 

 ber of gentlemen have taken the child under their 

 patronage, and have formed themselves into a commit- 

 tee for the purpose of superintending his education. 

 Application has been made to a gentleman of science, well 

 known for his mathematical abilities, who has consented 

 to take the child under his immediate tuition : the com- 

 mittee therefore propose to withdraw him, for the present, 

 from public exhibition, in order that he may fully devote 

 himseU to his studies But whether they shall be able 

 wholly to accon)plish the object they have in view, will de- 

 pend upon the assistance which they may receive from the 

 public. 



XXIV. On the Existence of Caoutchouc in the Jsclepias 

 l^incetvxicwn. By J. Woodcock, Esq. 



To Mr, TillocL 



Sir, In addition to the notice contained in your last num- 

 ber of the discovery of caf)u!chouc in several vegetables 

 growing in the vicinity of Philadelphia, by Dr B.iitou, I 

 beg leave to s^tale that I have found ihiK singular subataiice 



in 



