ON THE TARIOUS APPLICATIONS OP GUTTA PERCHA.. 321 
and in doing so, said that speaking tubes of gutta percha 
were quite new, as was also the means of calling attention 
by them of the person at a distance, which was accomplished 
vy the insertion of a whistle, which being blown, sounded 
at the other end quite shrilly. Attention having been thus 
obtained, you remove the whistle, and by simply whisper- 
ing, the voice would be conveyed quite audibly for a dis- 
tance of at least three quarters of a mile, and a conversation 
kept up. It must be obvious how useful these telegraphs 
must become in large manufactories • and indeed in private 
houses they might quite supercede the use of bells, as they 
were so very cheap, and by branch pipes could be conveyed 
to different rooms ;— and, indeed, if there were no electric 
telegraphs, they might, by a person being stationed at the 
end of each tube of three quarters of a mile or mile, be 
made most speedily to convey intelligence for any distance. 
In private houses the whistle need not be used, but a more 
musical sound could be produced. He then amused the 
auditors by causing the end of the tube, which was of the 
length of 100 feel, to be inserted into the mouth-piece of a 
flute held in a person's hand, regulated the notes, and placing 
his own mouth at the other end of the tube, " God save the 
Queen" was played at a distance of 100 feet from the per- 
son giving the flute breath. Turning to the Bishop of St. 
David's he said that in the event of a clergyman having 
three livings, he might, by the aid of three of these tubes, 
preach the same sermon in three different churches at the 
same time. Mr. Whishaw also exhibited the gutta percha 
submarine rope or telegraph: which consisted of a tube 
perforated with a series of small tubes, for the conveyance 
of telegraphic wire, and which, for the purpose of prevent- 
ing its being acted upon by sea water or marine insects, 
was banded or braided round by a small rope, and its being 
perfectly air-tight would render it quite impervious to the 
atmosphere.— PAcrrw. Joiirn., from J2tkenseum. 
29f 
