260 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



introduced. The reasons have been, undoubtedly, then' expen- 

 siveness, then- liabihty to be damaged, so that the air would 

 escape from them, and their being uncomfortably warm. 



It is believed that, by the new method of manufacture from 

 the fibrous fabrics, they will now be furnished at extremely 

 low prices. The objection of warmth is entirely removed in the 

 ventilated articles, so that they are even cooler than other stuffed 

 leather or cloth cushions, and the risk of damage to those 

 filled with air, need hardly be considered, since when they are 

 not made so as to be stuffed through the tubes, they may be 

 cut open underneath and stuffed, so that they will answer all the 

 purposes of leather and cloth cushions, after they are damaged. 

 Those inflated with air are often found very comfortable for 

 invalids. Their superiority is most apparent when used for 

 riding, either in coaches or wagons. A journey will be found 

 much less fatiguing with them than with any other cushion. 

 Those made of the light fabrics, and the self-inflating, are de- 

 signed chiefly for this purpose, as they may be packed in so 

 very small a compass that they may be carried in the pocket 

 for occasional use. Settees, as well as chair cushions, especially 

 those that are made in separate compartments, may be highly 

 recommended for use on board of steamers and vessels, since, 

 when trimmed for the purpose, with suitable fastenings, they will 

 form infallible life-preservers. The common patterns, inflated 

 by a single tube, are represented in plate xxvii., figs. 1 and 2. 

 Those made in separate compartments, and inflated by a num- 

 ber of tubes, are represented by fig. 3. 





BOAT CUSHIONS 



Are made of plated canvas or elastic knit goods, and inflated 

 by one tube, as represented by plate xxvii., fig. 4, or like fig. 5, 

 with a self-acting valve tube in each compartment, in order that 

 they may be stuffed, if desired. In case of accident, these 



