-""^i 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



AIR-WORK. 



Air-work. Self-inflating air-work. Cushions. Boat cushions. Ventilated boat cushions. Self- 

 inflating cushions. Ventilated cushions. Invalids' cushions. Coach, chaise, and box cushions. 

 Pillows. Self-inflating pillows. Ventilated pillows. Beds. Cape and poncho beds. Ventilated 

 beds. Self-inflating beds. Hospital air-beds. Observations on life-preservers. Life-preservers. 

 Pocket life-preservers. Cushion life-preservers. Pillow life-preservers, satchel hfe-preservers. 

 Jacket life-preservers. Nautilus life-preservers. Self inflating nautilus. Life-preserving wear- 

 ing apparel. Life-preserving bathing dresses. Balloons. Gasbags. Directions for mending 

 air-work. ' 



This is a term which has been technically applied to all arti- 

 ticles that are inflated with air. It was to such articles as beds, 

 pillows, life-preservers, cushions, &c., that India rubber was, in 

 the early stages of the manufacture, most commonly applied, 

 and from them the greatest advantage was, at that time, ex- 

 pected ; perhaps even more than from clothing, shoes, or sus- 

 penders. Little benefit, hovv^ever, has been derived from air- 

 work as yet, in comparison with other branches of this manufac- 

 ture ; the demand for this class of articles has increased very 

 little, if at all, since 1838, and notwithstanding the improvements 

 made in the gum by the heating or vulcanizing process, air-work 

 has not come into favor with the public as might have been an- 

 ticipated. The reputation of this class of goods was nearly 

 lost from the imperfect manufacture of the goods, before the 

 heating or vulcanizing process was introduced, and from the 

 use of metal tubes, to which gum-elastic will not adhere firmly. 



The cost of the articles, considering their liability to be lost, 

 by the slightest damage or defect causing leakage, or escape of 

 the air, has been quite too great. This expense has been owing 

 partly to a limited demand, but very much to the complexity of 

 their construction, and the quantity of materials necessary to 



