INDIAN RUBBER, the substance known by the names Indian rubber, elastic gum, Cayenne resin, •autaoc, and by the French eaoutchou•, is prepared from the milky juice which occurs in several plants, such as the siphonia calnica, jatroplia elastica, &c. It is, however, extracted chiefly from the first plant, which grows in South America and Java. The manner of obtaining this juice, is by making incisions through the bark of the lower part of the trunk of the tree, from which the fluid resin issues in great abundance, appearing of a milky whiteness as it flows into the vessel placed to receive it, and into which it is conducted by means of a tube or leaf; fixed in the incision, and supported with clay. On exposure to the air, this milky juice gradually inspissates into a soft, reddish, elastic resin. It is moulded by the Indians in South America into various figures, but is commonly brought to Europe in that of sphere-shaped bottles, which are said to be formed by spreading the juice of the siphonia over a proper mould of clay ; as soon as one layer is dry, another is added, until the bottle is of the thickness desired. It is then exposed
to a thick dense smoke, or to a fire, until it becomes so dry as not to stick to the fingers, when, by means of cer tain instruments of iron or wood, it is ornamented on the outside with various figures. This being done, it remains only to pick out the mould, which is easily of by soft ening it with water. Indian rubber may be subjected to the action of bOlne Qt' the most powerfill Illellstrua, without suf fering the least change, while its pliability and elasticity are eminently peculiar to itself.