290 IVORY AND THE ELEPHANT 



matter, a pearly or coralline appearance could be imparted 

 to this artificial product.* 



As a substitute for ivory a composition containing milk 

 as one of the ingredients has been experimented with, the 

 name bestowed upon it, "Galalith," suggesting the half- 

 mythical galactite, or "milk-stone," of olden time. The 

 great world war operating to cut off much of the usual sup- 

 ply of ivory and the fear that, even under normal conditions, 

 the wholesale slaughter of elephants would sooner or later 

 render genuine ivory a very scarce article, has served to 

 draw attention toward any possibly satisfactory substitute, 

 and the new milk-containing composition has been favour- 

 ably received in some quarters. 



An effective method of distinguishing genuine ivory 

 from its vegetable substitute has been recommended. This 

 is to treat a sample piece of the material to be tested for 

 from twelve to fifteen minutes with concentrated sulphuric 

 acid. The whiteness of genuine ivory remains unaffected 

 by this treatment, while the vegetable ivory, derived from 

 the Phytelephus macrocarpa, becomes rose-tinted. It can, 

 however, readily be restored to its original hue if washed 

 with water. I 



The substance named celluloid, composed of cellulose or 

 vegetable fibre reduced by acids to gun cotton, camphor 

 being then added, is the most commonly used substitute 

 for ivory. After the addition of the camphor and any 

 required colouring matter, the resultant mixture is con- 

 densed in cylinders, and finally moulded by heat and pres- 

 sure into the various desired forms, whether useful or 

 ornamental. Lacking as it does all the finish and delicacy 

 of ivory, even in its external appearance, the camphory 

 odour pervading celluloid and its inflammability make it 



*Chemical Neivs, October, 1866, p. 19. 



^Scientific American, Supplement No. 1235, p. 19800; September 1, 1899. 



