A New Injection Mass—Rubber Latex

Abstract

THE principle applied in the utilisation of rubber latex as an injection mass is the fact that the latex of the rubber tree—Hevea brasiliensis—coagulates to form rubber in the presence of dilute organic acids such as acetic or formic. After tapping the rubber tree, the collected latex may be preserved in a fluid condition by the addition of ammonia, and I believe it is exported from Ceylon preserved in this way. The latex which I used in my first injections was obtained more than three years ago, when ammonia to the extent of 5 per cent, was added to it, and although, standing so long, it had become creamy at the surface, it regained its normal fluidity on shaking. Latex is of the consistency of milk, so no difficulty arises in its introduction into blood-vessels or its penetration into the finer capillaries.