TESTS OF aUALITY. 145 



Many articles which are in common use are by no means 

 inodorous because they are supposed to be so. Wearing apparel 

 or household stuff, particularly woolen, ever so neatly kept, 

 would be found to be filled with odors offensive to any person 

 unaccustomed to their use. 



It is but reasonable to suppose that the objectionable odor 

 which exists in gum-elastic, and which it has seemed impossible 

 to overcome, will sooner or later be removed. Notwithstanding 

 the constant failures to accomplish this object would almost lead 

 one to despair of attaining it, and although nothing may yet have 

 been done to warrant the expectation, the writer believes the 

 thing which is so desirable and important will be attained. 

 There is at least some ground for expecting this, from the fact 

 that substances in general which are indispensable to the com- 

 fort and welfare of mankind, however imperfect they may be, 

 are yet so made as not to offend the senses, and it may be hoped 

 that such will be the result as relates to gum-elastic. 



TEST OF VULCANIZED & UNVULCANIZED GUM-ELASTIC. 



Camphene or turpentine, and also oil of sassafras, and all the 

 essential oils, are as sure tests of the quality of gum-elastic, as 

 nitric acid is of the genuineness of gold. As the native gum, 

 and also the common manufacture of gum-elastic, have the same 

 general appearance to those who are not acquainted with the 

 manufacture and are not judges of the goods, as those that are 

 vulcanized or solarized, these tests are necessary, not only to 

 decide whether the goods are genuine, but also to ascertain 

 whether those that are vulcanized or solarized are properly done. 

 When these tests are applied to any fabric or cloth of native 

 gum, they are rendered very adhesive, and so quickly, as to 

 destroy any light fabric almost immediately ; while they have no 

 effect to make goods that are either well vulcanized or solarized 



