Caoutchouc

(koo-chook'). India-rubber. The chief substance contained in the milky juice that exudes upon incision of a number of tropical trees belonging to the natural orders Euphorbiacece, Artocarpaceie, and Apocynacece. The juice is a vegetable emulsion, the caoutchouc being suspended in it in the form of minute transparent globules. When pure, caoutchouc is nearly white, soft, elastic, and glutinous; it swells up in water without di olving; the best solvents are carbon disulphid and chloroform. It melts at about 1500 C., and decomposes at 2000 C. Capacity. Mental receptivity; pa ive (or active) mental capability; moral or legal responsibility. C, Vital. See Vital .