174 A BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF 



be drawn out into long, tranfparent threads, refem- 

 bling, in the polifh of their furface, the fibres of the 

 tendons of animals ; when they broke, the elailicity 

 was fo great, that each end inftantaneouily returned 

 to its respective mais. Through all theie Itagcs the 

 leait preifure with the finger and thumb united dif- 

 ferent portions, as perfectly as if they never had been 

 feparated, and without any clamminefs, or flicking 

 to the fingers, which renders moil of the folutions of 

 caout-chouty 10 very unlit for the purpofes for which 

 they are required. A piece of catgut covered with 

 the half infpiffated folution, and rolled between two 

 fmooth furfices, loon acquired a polifh, and con- 

 fiftence very proper for bougies. Cajeput oil, I alfo 

 found a good menflruum for American caoul-chouc } 

 and was as readily feparated by the addition of a little 

 fpirit of wine, or rum, as the other, and appears 

 equally tit for ufe, as I covered a piece of catgut with 

 the wafhed folution, as perfectly as with that of Ur- 

 ao]a % The only difference I could obferve, was a 

 little more adhenvenefs from its not drying fa quickly; 

 the oil of turpentine had greater attraction for the ca- 

 oid-chouc, than for the fpirits of wine, confequently 

 remained obiiinately united to the former, which pic- 

 vented its being brought into that ftate of firmneis tit 

 for handling, which it acquired when Cajeput oil 

 was the menflruum. 



The Cajeput folution employed as a varnifh did 

 not dry, but remained moiil and clammy, whereas 

 the turpentine folution dried pretty tail. 



ExprefTed oil of olives and linfeed proved imper- 

 fect menitruums while cold, as the caout-cbauc, in fe- 



veral days, was only rendered foil, and the oils vifcid, 

 but with a degree of heat equal to that which melts 

 tin, continued for about twenty-rive minute?, it was 

 perfectly diflolved, but the lolution remained thin 

 and void of elailicity. I alio found it foluble in wax, 



and 



