2.  Originally, chewing gum was made from the latex sap of the sapodilla tree in native Central America.  This sap was called chicle.  Early American settlers made chewing gum out of spruce sap and beeswax.  In 1871, Thomas Adams patented a machine for the manufacture of gum.

3.  In addition to the gum base, chewing gum contains sweeteners, flavorings, and softeners.  Softeners are ingredients such as glycerin or vegetable oil that are used to blend the other ingredients and help prevent the gum from becoming hard or stiff.  Neither natural nor synthetic latex are readily degraded by the digestive system.  However, if you swallow your gum it will almost certainly be excreted, usually in pretty much the same condition as when you swallowed it.  However, frequent gum swallowing may contribute to the formation of a bezoar or enterolith, which is a sort of intestinal stone.

4.  THE average American chews over 300 sticks of gum each year.  OVER $2 billion of gum is sold in the United States each year.  DRIED CHEWING gum can be removed from hair using peanut butter.  THE WRIGLEY'S company originally sold scouring soap and baking powder. Today, they are known only for their gum.  TEACHERS who once punished students for chewing gum in the classroom now are using bubble gum as a reward for good behavior.  WHILE the sale of chocolates and other candies has gone up and down over time, the sale of gum has always remained strong.  MOST gum is purchased between Halloween and Christmas.  TODAY, almost all gum is made by machine.

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z69 N3zwJUIE

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