Ivory

Strictly applied only to the material of the tusks of elephants, but in a more general sense includes the tusks of walrus, horn of narwhal, and the teeth of some Cetacea. That it was known to the ancients is shown on the Egyptian monuments. Pliny states that ivory was so plentiful in Ethiopia that it was used for fences, door-posts, and cattle stalls. African ivory is preferred to Asiatic, as it is of a closer texture and le liable to discoloration. The tusks are ab. 9 ft. long and 160 lbs.' weight. The color externally is usually yellow or dark-brown, but on the inside it is white. It is used in carying, to make billiard balls, handles of knives, piano keys, etc. Ru ia supplies a large amount of ivory, the remains of extinct varieties of elephants. This is called Fo il Ivory. It is composed of calcium phosphate 64, organic matter 24. water 11.15 and calcium carbonate 0.10. Artificial Ivory is produced in a number of ways, but nearly all contains caoutchouc, sulphur, and some white ingredient as zinc oxide, and gypsum. See IVORY CARVINGS and CELLULOID.