84 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



pentine to dissolve the gum as above specified. Another fabric 

 is made of this compound alone, without any other substance, by 

 spreading it upon any smooth article or glazed cloth, or upon 

 that which 1 prefer to any thing else, a web of cloth, manufac- 

 tured and finished according to this specification. This fabric 

 is found very superior on account of its elasticity, delicate tex- 

 ture, and adaptation to surgical uses. It will be understood, 

 that after the compound is sufficiently dry, it is removed from 

 the cloth. By this method I also manufacture a fabric of pure 

 gum-elastic, for which letters patent were granted me, June 17, 

 1837. 



When these several fabrics are sufficiently dried, either in a 

 heated room or by the weather, they are then exposed to a high 

 degree of heat, say about two hundred and seventy, by running 

 the fabrics between heated callenders, or before or through a 

 furnace or oven, or a heated metal plate. I consider the best 

 method of doing it before or between plates, at a little distance 

 therefrom ; when the fabrics ai^e first made into various articles 

 for which they are adapted, they are placed in an oven, and 

 baked with the required degree of heat ; or they may be im- 

 mersed in any article that is melted or fluid, at about the 

 degree of heat herein specified. 



The effect of the heating process is to improve very much the 

 quality of the fabrics; previous to this they have a resemblance 

 to, and are liable to some of the objections of, India rubber goods 

 generally, but afterwards they are by this method every way 

 improved, and in no way injured, excepting that the fabrics 

 which can otherwise be made of fancy colors, are changed in 

 color to a brown. 



Being finished in this manner, these fabrics are not injured by 

 any kind of oils, and cannot be made adhesive by them, or in 

 any other method of which I have any knowledge, nor are they 

 soluble like gum-elastic in spirits of turpentine, or other essen- 

 tial oils ; although by long exposure to them they may be made 

 somewhat tender and pulpy, yet they resume their original 

 strength when the oils are allowed to evaporate. 



