10 

 CHAPTER I. 



INDIA-RUBBER OR CAOUTCHOUC. 



FEW, if any, products, vegetable or otherwise, have made 

 such rapid advances in any given time as has caoutchouc or 

 India-rubber. When we remember that it was quite un- 

 known in this country till the latter end of the last century, 

 and when we try to think of what the world would now be 

 without it, we are able to realise to some extent the great 

 value of this remarkable and interesting substance. 



The introduction of Para-rubber antedates by some years 

 the period within our review. It will perhaps be of some 

 use to briefly sketch the history of the development of 

 caoutchouc in this country. 



In a work on " Perspective," by Dr. Priestley, published 

 about 1770, the writer speaks of the rubber as a new and 

 important discovery for " wiping from paper the marks of a 

 black-lead pencil," and he says that it could then be obtained 

 at only one place in London, the price being three shillings 

 for a cubical piece of about half an inch. In 1836-37 Para- 

 rubber of good quality was imported into this country to the 

 extent of 141,735 pounds, which had increased twenty 

 years later to 3,477,445 pounds. 



The first patent granted in the present century in con- 

 nection with caoutchouc was in 1813 to John Clark, for an 

 invention by which fabrics treated with India-rubber were 

 made air-tight and applicable for air-beds, pillows, cushions, 

 etc. ; but for the greater improvements in the India-rubber 

 manufactures we are indebted to Mr. Thomas Hancock, so 

 long connected with the firm of Charles Macintosh and Co. ; 

 and though the commencement of the trade in this country 

 dates from about the year 1819, its greater development has 

 been effected within the last thirty years. In 1839 India- 



