770 GUTTA-PERCHA 



18-13, wherein he recommends the substance as likely to prove useful for some surgical 

 purposes, and supposes it to belong to the fig-tribe. In April 1843 the substance 

 was taken to Europe b.y Dr. D'Almeida, who presented it to the Society of Arts of 

 London, but it did not at first attract much attention, as the Society simply acknow- 

 ledged the receipt of the gift ; whereas, its value becoming known, they awarded a 

 gold medal to Dr. W. Moutgomerie. 



The gutta-percha tree, or gutta turban, as it ought more properly to be called, 

 according to Mr. Oxloy, belongs to the natural family Sapotece, but differs much 

 from all described genera, having alliance with both Achras and Bassia, yet differing 

 in some essentials from both. It is the Isonandra gutta of Hooker, and is described 

 in the 'London Journal of Botany,' 1848, where it is figured, and in Pereira's Materia 

 Medica. 



The tree is of a large size, from 60 to 70 feet in height, and from 2 to 3 in dia- 

 meter. Its general appearance resembles the genus Durio, or well-known Doorian, so 

 much so as to strike the most superficial observer. The under surface of the leaf, 

 however, is of a more reddish and decided brown than in the durio, and the shape is 

 somewhat different. 



Only a-short time ago the gutta-percha tree was tolerably abundant on the island of 

 Singapore ; but already all the large timber has been felled, and few, if any, other 

 than small plants, are now to be found. The range of its growth, however, appears to 

 be considerable, it being found all up the Malayan Peninsula, as far as Penang. The 

 tree also occurs in Borneo, and, there is little doubt, is to be found in most of the 

 islands adjacent. 



The localities it particularly likes are the alluvial tracts along the foot of hills, where 

 it flourishes luxuriantly, forming, in many spots, the principal portion of the jungle. 

 But, notwithstanding the indigenous character of the tree, its apparent abundance and 

 wide-spread diffusion, the gutta will soon become a very scarce article, if some more 

 provident means be not adopted in its collection than those at present in use by the 

 Malays and Chinese. 



Montgomerie says, ' a magnificent tree of 50, or more probably 100 years' growth, 

 is cut down, the bark stripped off, and the milky juice collected and poured into a 

 trough formed by the hollow stem of the plantain-leaf ; it quickly coagulates on ex- 

 posure to the air ; but from one tree I am told not more than 20 Ibs. or 30 Ibs. are 

 procured.' 



The mode in which the natives obtain the gutta is by cutting down the trees of 

 full growth, and ringing the bark at distances of about 12 to 18 inches apart, and 

 placing a cocoa-nut shell, spathe of a palm, or such like receptacle, under the fallen 

 trunk, to receive the milky sap that immediately exudes upon every fresh incision. 

 This sap is collected in bamboos, taken to their houses, and boiled, in order to drive 

 off the watery particles and inspissate it to the consistence it finally assumes. Although 

 the process of boiling appears necessary when the gutta is collected in large quantities, 

 if a tree be freshly wounded, a small quantity allowed to exude, and it be collected and 

 moulded in the hand, it will consolidate perfectly in a few minutes, and have all the 

 appearance of the prepared article. 



When it is quite pure the colour is of a greyish white ; but, as brought to market, it 

 is more ordinarily found of a reddish hue, arising from chips of bark that fall into the 

 sap in the act of making the incisions, and which yield their colour to it. Besides 

 these accidental chips, there is a great deal of intentional adulteration by sawdust and 

 other materials. Some specimens brought to market do not contain much less than 

 \ Ib. of impurities : and even in the purest specimens, one pound of the substance 

 yielded, on being cleansed, one ounce of impurities. Fortunately, it is not difficult 

 to detect or clean the gutta of foreign matter, it being only necessary to boil it in 

 water until well softened, roll out the substance into thin sheets, and then pick out all 

 impurities, which is easily done, as the gutta does not adhere to anything, and all 

 foreign matter is merely entangled in its fibres, not incorporated in its substance. 

 The quantity of gutta-percha obtained from each tree varies from 5 to 20 catties, so 

 that, taking the average at 10 catties, which is a tolerably liberal one, it will require 

 the destruction of ten trees to produce one picul. How much better would it, there- 

 fore, be to adopt the method of tapping the tree, practised by the Burmese in obtaining 

 the caoutchouc from tho Ficm clastica (viz. to make oblique incisions in the bark, 

 placing bamboos to receive the sap which runs out freely). True, they would not at 

 first get so much from a single tree, but the ultimate gain would bo incalculably 

 particularly as tho tree seems to be one of Blow growth ; by no means so rapid as the 

 Ficus elastica. 



Properties of the Gutta-pcrclia. This substance, when fresh and pure, is of a flirty 

 white colour, and of a greasy feel, with a peculiar leathery smell. It is not affected 

 by boiling alcohol, but dissolves readily in boiling spirits of turpentine, also in naphtha 



