

POROUS FABRICS. 203 



POROUS FABRICS. 



Probably no new property has ever been given to caoutchouc 

 fabrics, which will serve so much to extend the use of them, as 

 that of porousness. That which has been chiefly aimed at 

 heretofore, has been to make their water- and air-proof qualities 

 to the greatest extent available. The idea was never, until 

 recently, entertained of making the goods porous, so that they 

 might be used instead of leather for shoes for constant weai', 

 and also for clothing and other purposes. 



But now that such a fabric is produced, that is pervious to 

 air and impervious to water, when not under pressure, (two 

 properties which are not found united in any other fabric,) it is 

 not easy to foretell how far the use of gum-elastic may be ex- 

 tended by the introduction of this improvement. 



Any one who will consider the subject attentively, may per- 

 ceive that there is very much needed, especially for the poorer 

 classes, some cheap and durable fabric, which will not be easily 

 soiled, and which will not, like cotton and woolen fabrics, accu- 

 mulate filth when brought in contact with it ; making it neces- 

 sary to submit them to the cleansing process of scouring and 

 washing, which is commonly attended with much expense of 

 time and money. The writer anticipates a material or fabric 

 in the porous cloths, which will in a great measure, if not 

 wholly, meet the want which is so obvious, and which will give 

 to the humble and laborious classes of mankind all the advan- 

 tages of cleanliness and decent apparel, that are now enjoyed 

 by those having ample means. 



The materials of the fibrous, the plated, and the porous fab- 

 rics are the same, and the method of manufacturing them is the 

 same, except that the gum is applied in the case of porous 

 fabrics in a more liquid state than is done when the same 

 fabrics are made impervious. They are made more or less 

 porous, at the option of the manufacturer, by the gum being 



