SYRINGE TREE. 
245 
it more or less according to its thickness ; but never 
renders it fit to be moulded anew. This part of the 
process it would be highly gratifying to discover ; 
and we should be tempted, were it in our power, 
to rob the Indians of their secret, that so valuable 
and singular a commodity might be moulded by 
Europeans. 
Many different menstrua have been tried to dis- 
solve this singular substance ; but none seems to 
have succeeded completely except ether. This fluid 
dissolves it without any other heat than that of the 
atmosphere, and produces a transparent and amber- 
coloured solution. To succeed, however, in this 
operation, the ether must be of the very best quality. 
Spirit of turpentine appears to be the next best 
menstruum for this purpose, since with the assist- 
ance of heat it may be made to dissolve the elastic 
resin, provided only a small quantity, and that cut 
very thin, is exposed to the spirit, at a time. 
