39 



fact practically none at all. From P. gutta, however, over 2 percent 

 was obtained, but I am informed that the Gutta Percha so obtained 

 is not of the first quality and will not do for cables. 



IV. — Manufacture and Transit. 



According to M. Collet who published a pamphlet on the subject 

 nearly all the Gutta Percha of commerce goes to Singapore, where 

 it passes through the hands of Chinese middlemen, the cleverest adul- 

 terators in the world. To such an extent has adulteration been carried 

 on that the finished article they turn out resembles bat slightly pure 

 Gutta Percha as taken from the tree, and he adds " it is impossible 

 to determine the origin of the Gutta Perchas comprising the reboiled 

 of Singapore." This is greatly to be regretted and I feel sure that 

 the present enormous fall in price is partly accounted for by the 

 adulteration to which this product has been subjected. As will 

 be seen further on the prices lately quoted in Singapore for Gutta 

 Percha are less than those current for very ordinary India rubber 

 of low grade. It is a well known fact that the exports of Gutta 

 Percha from Singapore greatly exceeded the imports. This is 

 however partly explained by the fact that very inferior " getahs " 

 such as " Jelutong," [Dyer a costulatd) are shewn when imported 

 as inferior India rubbers, and when mixed with Gutta Percha and 

 exported as such. " Jelutong " can hardly be called a Gutta 

 Percha however and this only bears out my statement. Whereas 

 the price of Gutta Percha rose in 1902 to §600 per pikul, one 

 pikul= 1 33i lbs., the average price of getah Jelutong is only $6.50. 

 Gutta Percha also finds its way into Singapore under the name 

 of India rubber, also a certain amount is probably brought in by 

 passengers and smuggled through, in small quantities at a time. 



V. — Properties 01 Gutta Percha. 



As is generally known pure Gutta Percha, when heated, becomes 

 soft, malleable and plastic, but when allowed to cool it becomes 

 hard, retaining any shape given it when hot. Pure Gutta Percha 

 is so hard that it would be difficult to drive a nail into it when in 

 the cool state. In composition it differs from India rubber more 

 physically than chemically. It burns freely with a very charac- 

 teristic odour. When exposed to air for any length of time it 

 oxidises, when its insulating qualities and durability decrease, hut 

 if kept in water its duration is indefinite. 



Acids do not affect it unless concentrated. 



Its chief value of course arises from the fact that it is unaffected 

 by sea water; this and its insulating qualities make it invaluable 

 for submarine cables. 



The chemical composition according to W. P. BRANDT is as 

 follows : — 



Carbon ... 86-36 



Hydrogen ... 1 >: 1 5 



Oxygen ... 1*49 



IOOOO 



