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PREFACE. 



Gum-elastic, or India rubber, the subject treated of in the following 

 pages, has become one of such general interest to mankind, that it is 

 presumed no apology will be necessary for a publication of this kind ; 

 especially as httle has heretofore been written, and little is generally 

 known with regard to it. 



If an apology were necessary, the customary one might with truth 

 be made : the solicitations of friends and men of science, who have 

 deemed the matters herein contained of public interest. 



Notwithstanding the writer has been influenced by these considera- 

 tions, he is wilhng that it should be distinctly understood, that one 

 object he has in view in pubhshing this work, is to claim and secure 

 for himself and his country, that which is emphatically his, viz., the 

 credit of the discovery of the art of heating or vulcanizing gum- 

 elastic, which renders it so generally useful. 



Another object in view is to disseminate knowledge upon a subject 

 which is of vast importance to the interests and welfare of man- 

 kind, and which is as yet but imperfectly understood. There is too 

 little known by the best informed, in reference to the varieties of trees 

 that produce the gum, and the countries where they are found, to 

 satisfy the curiosity of most persons. It is hoped that by further 

 investigation, there may be added to the work, at a future period, 

 whatever is interesting, either on this or other portions of the subject. 



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