230 
CAOUTCHOUC APPLIED TO CHIRURGICAL PURPOSES. 
of elasticity ; by consequence, when they 
ascended into the higher regions, the 
expansion of the gas was in danger of 
biirsting the globe ; it was therefore neces- 
sary to leave it open below to guard against 
that accident. A globe of caoutchouc 
would have possessed the quality here want- 
ed ; it would have expanded as the circum- 
stances of the case required ; and while it 
was perfectly tight, to prevent the involun- 
tary escape of the smallest quantity, it would 
have adapted itself in size to every variation 
of circumstances. It is true, 'the retentive 
power of this substance, when very thin, has 
never yet been ascertained by experience ; 
but there is reason to believe it is very 
great. 
“ 7th. As this substance is inflammable, 
and burns with a bright flame without re- 
quiring any wick, it might be employed per- 
haps with great economy as torches or flam- 
beaux. Solid balls have also been made of 
it, that are light, and of an amazing degree 
of elasticity ; but what useful purpose could 
be made of these, does not at present ap- 
pear. It might also be moulded into the 
form of riding -whips, and would probably 
answer that purpose admirably well ; and 
after they were wore out, they might be 
employed as torches. 
“ 8th. As a material for chirurgical pur- 
poses, it might be employed on many occa- 
sions. Catheters have already been made 
of it, after having been dissolved in ether, 
that have been found to answer the purpose 
wanted, and to occasion much less irritation 
in the parts than those of any other sort that 
have yet been tried ; but the great price, 
when thus manufactured, prevents them 
from coming into general use. The little 
bottles, when applied to the breasts of wo- 
men distressed with sore nipples, can be so 
managed, as to occasion a more gentle suc- 
tion than can be effected any other way, and 
have therefore afforded very great relief. 
In short, the variety of uses to which they 
might be applied, as bags for injecting or 
for sucking, are too numerous, to admit of 
being here so much as pointed at. 
“ 9th. Elastic Springs . — In all cases 
where a spring is wanted to act by its 
contractile power, no substance can be con- 
ceived more proper than that of which we 
now speak, especially in cold climates ; and 
there are innumerable cases in which it 
might be employed in this manner with the 
happiest effect, in various kinds of machine- 
“ 10th. It is many years since Dr. Ber- 
gius at Stockholm, made some experiments 
on this substance in Papin’s digester. By 
subjecting it in that way to an intense de- 
gree of heat, it is said to have been convert- 
ed into a hard, elastic, horn-like substance, 
I have not heard that these experiments 
have been repeated; but if upon further 
trial this shall be found to be invariably the 
result, it would extend the utility of this 
substance far beyond the limits we have 
hitherto thought of ; but in the state of 
uncertainty that at present prevails on that 
head, it would be improper to say more. 
“ I might go on at this rate for many 
pages together, pointing out various other 
uses to which it might be applied , but I 
shall content myself with specifying one 
other only. 
“ Geographical globes are at present an 
article of great expense, especially when of 
such a size as to admit of exhibiting a tole- 
rable view of the earth’s surface. These 
could be made of caoutchouc of any size 
required, at a very moderate expense. The 
savages of America, whom our philosophers 
represent as destitute of every mental en- 
dowment, will teach us the way of proceed- 
ing. 
“ The little bottles we import from thence, 
are formed upon moulds of clay dried in the 
sun. When the caoutchouc has hardened 
on the surface by the process already des- 
cribed, a little water is introduced at the 
mouth of the bottle, which gradually sof- 
tens the clay, and in time allows it to be 
washed entirely out of it. A globe of clay 
might be easily moulded of any dimensions 
required, leaving at one of the poles a small 
protuberance for a little neck. This ball, 
when dry, might be covered with caoutchouc 
till it acquired the thickness required ; and 
for the purpose here wanted, this might be 
very thin. The clay might then be washed 
out, so as to leave it empty. The remainder 
of the process might be here described, were 
I not afraid of encroaching too much on the 
patience of the reader. 
“ It now only remains, I should give the 
reader some notices concerning the tree that 
produces this singular substance. 
“ In no one instance that I know has the 
inattention of mankind to useful improve- 
ments been more conspicuous, than with res- 
pect to the object of our present discussion. 
It is not much less than sixty years since 
Mr. de la Condamine first made known to 
Europeans this singular substance, which 
possesses qualities that obviously render it 
one of the most useful bodies that hath ever 
come to the knowledge of man for many im- 
portant purposes in life ; yet the culture of 
the plant which afibrds it, has been, till 
this moment, entirely neglected by every 
European nation ; nor do I believe, that 
ever a single seed of it was planted by one 
person in the universe.” 
