228 
THE SUBSTANCE CAOUTCHOUC DESCRIBED. 
tion of yet unseen success “ which maketh 
not ashamed.” 
When his plans are fully before the world, 
and incredulity can no longer deny his suc- 
cess, nor ignorance itself mistake it, un- 
moving prejudice stands across his path, 
and forbids him his reward. His trials, 
however, have taught him to triumph by 
perseverance ; public opinion pronounces 
his title to recompense ; when some foul, 
lurking, perhaps wealthy, plagiarist, shrink- 
ing from no villany if it be but gainful, 
seizes on some quirk of law, robs him of 
his right, and employs his scoundrel purse 
to defend the rank iniquity. 
Such is too often the history of inventions 
and inventors. We have been reminded of 
some of its features by the inquiries recent 
and unexpected events have induced us to 
make into the progress of the manufacture 
of caoutchouc. 
This substance seems to have been first 
brought into Europe, or at least to have at- 
tracted the attention of men of science, 
about the middle of last century. It was 
then imported, and, indeed, known only 
in the solid state ; and it was not till many 
years after it was first received, that it was 
certainly known not to be an artificial pro- 
duction. Several French philosophers ex- 
amined it, and gave memoirs upon it ; but 
its use was confined to the well-known one 
of rubbing out the marks of blacklead pen- 
cils, from which it derived its name of In- 
dian rubber. A letter of Dr. Priestley’s 
mentions it as a rarity, and says that it was 
sold by Nairne, of the Royal Exchange ; 
the price of a cube of about half an inch on 
a side being three shillings and sixpence — 
somewhat more thandOZ. avoirdupois pound. 
If, however, little had been done in ren- 
dering this singular substance generally use- 
ful, it is amusing to observe how much was 
hoped for. The following paper, given by 
Dr. Anderson in the Bee, of March 23, 
1791, shows, both by the minuteness of 
description thought necessary, and the ex- 
travagance of the hopes avowed, how little 
was then really known on the subject : — 
“ The substance which forms the object 
of our present disquisition is called Caout- 
chouc, by the natives of the country where 
it is spontaneously produced. It is denomi- 
nated elastic gum, or elastic resin, by phi- 
losophers in Europe ; but it is now known 
in the shops by the name of Indian-rubber ; 
a substance that few of our readers are not 
acquainted with. It is a firm, tough, plia- 
ble substance, greatly resembling some kinds 
of leather ; but it possesses a degree of 
elasticity that cannot be equalled by any 
known substance in nature. It admits of 
being stretched out in every direction to an 
astonishing degree ; and when the distend- 
ing power is removed, it recovers its former 
shape and appearance. It neither can be 
dissolved in water, in ardent spirits, in 
acids, nor alkaline liquors, in the ordinary 
state of our atmosphere. Oils, in some 
measure, act upon it ; but the vitriolic ether 
is the only complete solvent of it that is as 
yet known. It is inflammable, and burns 
with a clear steady flame, emitting then a 
slight smell, not at all disagreeable. When 
exposed to a cold air, it is more hard and 
rigid than under a milder temperature ; but 
it neither becomes fluid, nor loses its elasti- 
city, till it be exposed to a piuch more in- 
tense degree of heat than is ever experienc- 
ed in any climate on the globe. It may, 
however, be melted by a very intense degree 
of heat ; and then it assumes a thick viscid 
appearance, like some kinds of semi-fluid 
oils. And having once been reduced to 
that state, it cannot be again made to ac- 
quire its former consistence or elasticity. 
“ This substance is now well known to 
be the inspissated juice of a tree. The 
natives in those regions where this tree 
abounds, extract the juice by making longi- 
tudinal incisions in the bark. It bleeds 
freely, and the juice, in a thick state of 
semi-fluidity, is collected into vessels placed 
to receive it at the bottom of the tree. 
It is then, by means of a brush, spread upon 
moulds prepared for the purpose, and- 
suffered to dry in the sun, or before a fire, 
which, by evaporating the moisture, soon 
brings it to the state in which it is sent 
over to us. By adding successive layers 
above each other, it may be brought to any 
degree of thickness wanted ; and by vary- 
ing the form of the mould, it may be made 
to assume to any shape or appearance you 
incline ; which shape, as has been said, it 
will ever afterwards retain, if no distending 
force be applied to alter it- 
From this simple detail of facts, it is easy 
to see, that the uses to which this substance 
might be applied in arts and manufactures 
are innumerable, and such as can be effected 
by no other known substance in nature. 
Yet so blind have mankind hitherto been 
to these advantages, that no attempts have 
been made in any accessible region where 
extensive manufactures could be establish- 
ed, either to cultivate the tree that produ- 
ces it, or to induce the natives to send the 
juice in its fluid state to Europe, where it 
could be properly manufactured. All that 
has been done is, to suffer the natives to 
mould it into the form of a small kind of 
bottles, which is found to answer some pur- 
pose among themselves ; and these, when 
brought to Europe, are applied to scarcely 
any other use than being cut to pieces for 
