Gutta-percha

[Sarah]

A concrete juice produced by various trees found in the Malayanarchipelago, especially by the Isonandra, or Dichopsis, Gutta. Itbecomes soft, and unpressible at the tamperature of boiling water,and, on cooling, retains its new shape. It dissolves in oils andethers, but not in water. In many of its properties it resemblescaoutchouc, and it is extensively used for many economical purposes.The Mimusops globosa of Guiana also yields this material.