39 
fact practically none at all. From P. gutta, however, over 2 per cent 
was obtained, but 1 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. Coluet 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 but 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 u 
such as “ Jelutong,-” [Dyer a costulata ) 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=i^3i 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 of Gutta Percha. 
As is generally known pure Gutta Percha, when heated, becomes 
soft, malleable and plastic, but when allowed to cool it becomes 5 
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 
12-15 
Oxygen 
1 *49 
IOOOO 
