Oct 1906.] 291 Saps and Exudations. 



latex, but he thought in the future they would come to this. It seemed to him 

 rather absurd to make your rubber and then unnerve it again by various processes 

 which he had described, mix it with sulphur, which was as they might imagine, 

 one of the most difficult processes out, and re-form it in sheet. If they could make 

 it on the spot— not themselves, but the manufacturers who could come out and 

 make it— it would be a very decided step in advance and possibly make the demand 

 for rubber greater. 



Mr. Brett (London). —I am quite sure Mr. Bamber's description of vulcanisa- 

 tion must have been extremely interesting to all who have been present, and valuable 

 in that way ; but I think the difference between the part of the lecture which is merely 

 informing, and that part which is to be applied in Ceylon ought to be emphasised. I 

 understand that Mr. Bamber does not suggest that the actual vulcanisation should 

 take place in Ceylon, but merely the process of combining the latex with 

 sulphur. I mention this because it struck me that otherwise much opposition 

 might be brought forward which might be avoided if this were clearly understood. 

 There is one other point I should like to mention. Your Eastern rubber is being 

 very largely used for experimental purposes at present, and every day the methods 

 of preparation are being perfected. I have often heard it said that your rubber 

 has a high standard of purity, and possibly in the future it will be possible to 

 use it straightaway in the factories for solution purposes and so on, without any 

 mastication or washing. (Applause.) 



Mr. Bamber :— I quite agree with Mr. Brett. There is no intention to vul- 

 canise, but the idea is merely to mix sulphur and various compounds out here with 

 the latex and send it home to the manufacturers as sheet ; but that would be done 

 not by the planters, but by the firms of manufacturers coming out and doing it 

 themselves. 



Mr, Devitt (London) :— I should like to ask, if the market is bad and a planter 

 has two or three thousand gallons of latex on his hands, how is he to store it ? He 

 might have to hold it two or three months. Each planter would have to have a place 

 to store it in ; if not, he might have to sacrifice it at whatever price he could get. 



Mr. Wright :— You would still have scrap rubber to deal with. 



Mr, Ryan :- We could manufacture in the ordinary method. In that form 

 rubber does not deteriorate quickly. 



action op ammonia and formalin on latex. 



Mr. Wright said in regard to the maintaining of latex in the liquid condi- 

 tion for a long period, there were persons who were afraid to add any chemical agent 

 whatever to the latex, and he wished Mr, Bamber would definitely explain the 

 action of ammonia and formalin. He estimated, though he might be quite 

 wrong, that the addition of ammonia did not prevent decomposition, but it 

 simply neutralised the acids formed in decomposition. On the other hand 

 he took it that formalin acted in a quite different manner and prevented 

 the original decomposition, so that formalin would have preference over 

 ammonia, while it could be driven off easily by the application of heat. 



Mr. Bamber said the action of ammonia and formalin was exactly as 

 described by Mr. Wright. The ammonia combined with the acid produced by decom- 

 position by the action of bacteria, whereas formalin prevented the development of 

 bacteria at all; and, therefore, there was no chemical change except possibly 

 the production of sulphuretted hydrogen, which he had not heard of before it was 

 mentioned that day. He did not say that no chemical change at all would take 

 place. Changes might take place owing to variations of climate and temperature, 

 but they would not be due to formalin. 



