Startling Revelations

" Sonie startüng revelatiocs," says a recent wiiter, "havo been made in roference to wbat is known as vulcanizad rubber. This substance is ordinarüy composed of india-rubber mixed with from 10 to 20 per centum of sulpliur at a temperature of about 300 degroes Fahrenhcit. It is custornary, however, to add a certain proportion of lead or zinc oxide, by which means the vnteaoite acquires additionalweightand solidity. Nov, tbesa oxides act most injuriously on the human system when absorbed, and it was ir conaequence of the coniplaints which were everywhere made some time ago that caoutohouc suckers containiug zinc have been almost uniyersally diseontinued in the manufacture of sucking bottles for infants. A case, however, has recently eome to light in Berlin which shows that a similar danger attends the use of any sort of toy made of caoutchouc. A child had received a rubber dol], and, from holding it a graat deal to hismouth, was taken ïll. The dolí, when placed in vinegar, became coated with incrustations which proved to be acétate of zinc. On close examination it was discovered that 60 per centum of the substance of which the doll was composed consisted of zinc oxide ! Another dol!, which came from Brunswick, and was said to bo quito 'harmless,' yielded as much as 57J per centum of ashes, consisting of zinc oxide, with small traces of impurities, snch as lead, iron and lime."