^ 



INDIA RUBBER IVORY. 215 



CAOUTCHOUC IVORY. 



This material differs from the marble before described, in 

 being compounded with less metal and sulphur, and not so 

 hard ; and yet it is solid enough to receive the finest polish. 

 It is not affected, like ivory, horn, or buffalo horn, by being 

 boiled in hot water, and resists the action of oils, acids, and 

 other destructive agents, like glass. On account of the econ- 

 omy and facility with which it is moulded, the manufacture of it 

 is not attended with waste of material like that of bone, buffalo 

 horn, and ivory. The cost of it per pound is about the same as 

 the cost of the other gum-elastic compounds, and it contains 

 about the same proportion of gum-elastic as the vulcanized car- 

 springs. To attempt to enumerate all the articles to which it is 

 supposed it may be economically and profitably applied, is im- 

 possible and unnecessary. It is certainly well adapted, and 

 perhaps better, all things considered, than any other substance, 

 to make the handles of table cutlery, for the reason that they 

 can be put on while in an adhesive state, and vulcanized so that 

 they will not come off". It is also well adapted to make fine 

 brush handles, fancy boxes, and numerous other articles that are 

 now made of bone, buffalo horn, and ivory. 



How far it may be substituted for veneers and fine wood, in 

 the manufacture of musical instruments and fine furniture, and 

 to what extent it may be applied to these and other uses, on 

 account of its being more substantial, and not being liable to 

 crack or warp by the changes of temperature, is a matter of 

 curious inquiry.* 



Many special advantages maybe obtained from this substance, 

 on account of the facility of uniting or cementing it as part and 

 parcel with the softer fabrics, in the same way as peculiar ad- 



* Some new and peculiar methods of using veneers of this material for furniture may be found 

 Vol. II., Chapter ,and also a novel method for the manufacture of musical instruments of 



this new material, Chapter 



