Abstract
DR. SCOTT referred to the disintegration of stone objects arising from the crystallisation of salts contained in the porous material, and to the extraction of the salts by means of wet paper pulp; salts are also removed from fragile brick tablets by first applying a celluloid coating, and then diffusing the salts into distilled water. Stains on old manuscripts can frequently be removed by the application of pyridine, and brown marks on water-colour pictures by the application of a solution of chloramine-T. The treatment of ‘bronze disease’, a condition due to the presence of chlorine, by soaking in sodium sesquicarbonate solution followed by copious washing will often remove all the chlorine without attacking the patina, whilst in aggravated cases, soaking in citric acid solution or the use of an electrolytic process may be necessary. Fourteenth century glass from Wells Cathedral was found to be coated with material derived from the combined action of an impalpable powder arising from the limestone floor and sulphuric acid provided by the combustion of gas. Other problems the successful solutions of which were described by Dr. Scott included the corrosion of a silver chalice, the unrolling of a manuscript on fragile leather, and the cleaning of marble busts.
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Restoration and Preservation in Museums. Nature 129, 339–340 (1932). https://doi.org/10.1038/129339d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/129339d0