Abstract
ONE of the most important services which science can render to mankind is in the discovery of the precise origin of corrosion and decay brought about by natural causes and of methods of counteracting the destructive agencies. It becomes increasingly important to man to preserve, during such times as he may desire, the material fruits of his labour in their original form. Foodstuffs must be preserved during periods of plenty and during transportation to lands where they are scarce; structures of wood, metal and stone must be safeguarded from the destruction caused by living organisms, water, frost, and the atmosphere; fabrics must be protected from the deterioration brought about by light and bacteria. The annual monetary loss due to our lack of knowledge of the mechanism and counteraction of the phenomena involved is enormous and, in fact, incalculable.
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Preservation and Restoration. Nature 111, 313–314 (1923). https://doi.org/10.1038/111313a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/111313a0