144 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



12th. ODOE, 



The vulcanized India rubber is, to a very great extent, freed 

 from the natural offensive odor of the native gum. There has 

 been heretofore so great an objection to all India rubber goods 

 on account of their odor, and the removing of it has been a 

 thing so difficult to accomplish, that the inventor does not choose 

 to express an opinion with regard to the perfection of this im- 

 provement. He does not profess to have made even these 

 fabrics unexceptionable to all persons, as it is clearly a matter 

 of which no one can judge for another. To such persons as are 

 particularly sensitive, and to all who have occasion to use either 

 these or vulcanized gum-elastic fabrics, it may be a satisfaction 

 to know that the articles are greatly improved by age, and that 

 the odor of other things with which they are placed in contact 

 is readily imparted to them, and when they are perfumed, or ex- 

 posed to the fumes of burning coffee, or other aromatic sub- 

 stances, or if only placed in contact with them for a short time, 

 the new odor is imparted and retained so as to predominate over 

 that of the gum for a great length of time. 



As it appears to be rendered certain that a great variety of 

 articles manufactured from gum-elastic must come into general 

 use, it is to be hoped that this objection is now so far removed 

 that the goods will not be particularly objectionable on account 

 of their odor. However this may be, it is certain that offensive 

 odors become less objectionable where they necessarily exist, and 

 that the sense of smell, like that of hearing, becomes insensible 

 to those annoyances from which it cannot be protected. Al- 

 though this rule is not without exception, it holds in most cases, 

 and is strikingly exemplified in numerous occupations, among 

 which might be instanced that of the druggist and tanner. 



The patient endurance of the offensive odor of soiled bank 

 notes and of leather, afford illustrations of the effect of necessity 

 and habit. 



