Gutta percha, its discovery, history, and manifold uses.

Date:: 1851

Credit: Gutta percha, its discovery, history, and manifold uses. Source: Wellcome Collection.

34/50 page 32

$thus saving the patient from much suifering; whilst, from the light¬ ness of the material, the incon¬ venience arising from the old wooden and iron splints is avoided. The following sketch will give our readers a view of the splint when applied to a patient. Grutta Percha has also been employed with success for catheters, &c. A pamphlet, be¬ fore quoted, further remarks— “ The Grutta Percha Pessaries, (particularly Coxeter’s Patent,) and || Bedpans, may be confidently recom- v, mended by surgeons to their patients \ —their use will at once prove their Fig. 47, clavicular Spiint. superiority over those ordinarily employed. The non-aflection of Grutta Percha by acids or alkalies renders it especially adapted for any chemical purposes, and Mr.Herapath makes the following remark— With respect to Grutta Percha as an article to supply our wants instead of earthenware, I am sure it will only have to be knovTi to be appreciated highly; no fractures can occur, however roughly the utensils may be used.’ ” The last observation is one which managers of .lunatic asylums or prisons will especially know how to estimate. In Dental Surgery, Grutta Percha promises to effect remark¬ able improvements. It has long been in use for filling teeth, and has been employed in the fabrication of false palates. But it is$

Gutta percha, its discovery, history, and manifold uses.

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