GUTTA PERCHA. 



31 



Singapore, I was told of Gutta Percha in connection with caout- 

 chouc." " Thd'e are three varieties of this substance : 



Gutta Girek, 



Gutta Tuban, and 



Gutta Percha. 

 Dr. Montgomerie gives the localities where it is found. 



The second notice of Gutta Percha in Silliman's Journal, is 

 in vol. 5, second series, page 291, from which the following are 

 extracts : — 



"Gutta Percha. E. Soubeiran. (Jour, de Pharm. et de 

 Chim., Jan., 1847.) The chemical relations of Gutta Percha 

 are almost identical with those of caoutchouc. Separated 

 from impurities by hot water, and from the accompanying 

 resins by alcohol and ether, the substance was obtained in a 

 state of purity by Soubeiran. Submitted to analysis, it gave 

 carbon 87t^o, hydrogen 12to, while, according to Faraday, 

 caoutchouc gave carbon 87to, hydrogen 12to. 



" The action of solvents is also similar with the two sub- 

 stances. Water and alcohol have no effect ; ether and most 

 volatile oils produce only imperfect solution. The true solvent 

 is oil of turpentine, which produces a clear and colorless solu- 

 tion, from which the Gutta Percha may be obtained unchanged 

 by evaporation." 



The specific gravity of Gutta Percha is 0.9791 — that of 

 caoutchouc being 0.9355. 



The third notice of Gutta Percha in Silliman's Journal, is 

 in vol. 5, p. 433 ; concerning its applicability to modeling. 

 Mr. Brooke, of Borneo, stated that an unlimited supply might 

 be obtained from that country. 



The fourth notice of Gutta Percha in Silliman's Journal, is 

 in vol. 5, page 438, (1848,) being extracts from remarks upon 

 the substance, by Thomas Oxley, Senior Surgeon of the Settle- 



