106 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



acid they became as adhesive as ever, and the lime vv^hich 

 adhered to the surface was neutralized, and that the hme had 

 only a superficial effect upon them, although fermentation and 

 decomposition were prevented by the evaporation of the turpen- 

 tine, caused by the heat of the water. 



In addition to the experiments that are now noticed, the in- 

 ventor prosecuted numerous others, not noticed in this work, by 

 which his hopes were raised for a few weeks or months, only to 

 be disappointed. 



He next attempted the mixing of quicklime with the gum, 

 which at first appeared to act as a dryer, but this article was 

 too powerfully caustic to be worked by hand. He therefore 

 obtained access to the mill of a Mr. Pike, in Greenwich, now 

 a part of New York, who was at that time making some of the 

 common India rubber fabrics by horse power. Here he earnestly 

 prosecuted this experiment, frequently preparing his gallon jug 

 of slacked lime at his room in Gold street, and carrying it on 

 foot to the mill, a distance of three miles. 



The effect, however, of the lime upon the gum, after a time 

 proved to be too powerful, and it was abandoned. 



He shortly after this discovered what has since been known 

 as the acid gas process. In attempting to ornament a piece 

 of gum-elastic drapery, which was made by boiling in lime with 

 metal bronze, and not producing the desired effect, he after- 

 wards applied nitric acid for the purpose of removing the 

 bronze, in doing which, the specimen was discolored, and thrown 

 away as useless. In reflecting on this circumstance some days 

 afterwards, it occurred to the writer that he had not sufficiently 

 examined the unusual appearance of the article. He was for- 

 tunate in finding it, and followed up the suggestion made by the 

 circumstance, until, in the course of a few months, he was able 

 to make, by this process of tanning, as elegant specimens as have 

 ever been made since. 



This improvement attracted much attention from eminent 

 chemists, and the public institutions of the country. The cer- 

 tificates of some of these individuals, and the inscriptions 



