164 SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



cloth can be hung up at full length to dry; and the 

 operation repeated until of whatever thicknefs wanted. 

 For the reafons above-mentioned, care mud be taken 

 that one fold does not come in contact with another 

 while wet. 



Having obferved that mod: of the patent catheters 

 and bougies made with a iblution of the elaftic gum, 

 whether in ether or in the effential oils, had either a 

 difagreeable flickinefs, or were too hard to admit of 

 any advantage being derived from the elafticity of the 

 gum, I was induced to make fome experiments with 

 the milk towards removing thefe objections. 



From that fluid, by evaporation, I made feveral 

 large fized bougies of pure gum, which, from their 

 over-fiexibility, were totally ufelefs. I then took fome 

 flips of fine cloth covered with the gum, which I 

 rolled up until of a proper fize, and which I rendered 

 folid by foaking them in the milk, and then drying them. 

 Thefe pofTefTed more firmnefs than the former, but in 

 no degree fufficient for the purpofe intended. Pieces 

 of ftrong catgut, coated with the gum, I found to 

 anfwer better than either. 



Befides an effectual cloathing for manufacturers 

 employed with the mineral acids, which had been long 

 a defideratum, this fubftance, under different modifi- 

 cations, might be applied to a number of other ufe- 

 ful purpofes in life; fuch as making hats, great coats, 

 boots, &c. for failors, foldiers, filhermen, and every 

 other defcription of perfons who, from their purfuits, 

 are expofed to wet (lockings ; for invalids, who fuffer 

 from damps; bathing caps, tents, coverings for car- 

 riages of all kinds, for roofs of houfes, trunks, 

 buoys, &c. 



This extraordinary vegetable production, in place 

 of being injured by water, at its ufual temperature 



4 is 



