CHEWING-GUM

‘The original chewing-gum was spruce-gum, obtained from several species of the spruce-tree. Later, refined paraffin-wax, variously flavored, took its place—only in its turn to give way to the chicle now almost universally employed as the chief ingredient. ee Fe. ene.. 8. Fue ees \ee the tree which bears the one of the most — \\! ae delicious of tropical fruits. | - fall ¥ be Chicle was first com- Theos 1% — e mercially imported into Wok 3 73a this country as a substi-;: gay ooo tute for rubber, but its peculiar suitability for Boiling down the chicle ‘‘milk’’ chewing-gwn has resulted in all available supplies being consumed by that very considerable industry. The sapodilla-tree, known also as the ‘‘naseberry,’’ is a handsome evergreen which reaches a height of fifty to sixty feet. Itis found in every tropical region, but the countries of its origin—Mexico and Central America—are still the chief sources of chicle. The trees are ‘‘tapped’’ during the rainy season. The ‘‘chiclero’’ slashes the bark diagonally eri j, ero the full height of the rf & main trunk, and the bluee i ish-white, viscous ‘‘ down the channels - agit yt, ee) thus made for it into the a we ay, ae “ canvas bag supported in -the foot of the I fu Pt tee P tree. Several quarts may _: ae be yielded before the flow 3 aie a a stops, but the tree will not oo / “ be ripe for tapping again oN annie for several years. The aa, 4 >. chiclero collects the exeee — — uded milk daily, going the., | rounds with a large canvas sack, and carries it into —_— ————— the ‘camp’? where it is Barges of block chicle boiled down and kneaded until all the milky appearance is lost. It is then molded into large, rough blocks, brownish-cream in color —the ‘‘erude chicle’’ of commerce. In the chewing-gum factory, the blocks are broken and ground to a coarse meal, then reduced again to a sirup and thoroughly refined and sterilized. The chicle is now ready for the cooking, sweetening, and flavoring which convert it into the ehewing-gum of which such enormous quantities are annually sold. The moderate use of chewing-gum aids digestion by stimulating the secretion of saliva. It also makes specifically for tooth-preservation, as the increased flow of saliva—together with the mechanical action of chewing-—-moistens, cools, and cleanses the mouth. These last points have won commendation for its use in many serious illne es, especially among patients of tender years. It should not, under normal circumstances, be used before a meal, and exce ive chewing should be avoided as a waste of nervous energy. Facing page 99 is a color-page of the sapodilla-tree slashed for chicle. See also the article on the Sapropiuia.