54 Dr MaeCulloch on Perfumes for Preventing 1 Mouldiness. 



sential oils that I have tried, and that even when used in a very 

 minute quantity. 



Ink, paste, leather, and seeds, are among the common articles 

 which suffer from this cause, and to which the remedy is easily 

 applicable. With respect to articles of food, such as bread, cold 

 meats, or dried fish, it is less easy to apply a remedy, on account 

 of the taste. Cloves, however, and other spices whose flavours 

 are grateful, may sometimes be used for this end ; and that they 

 act in consequence of this principle, and not by any particular 

 antiseptic virtue, seems plain, by their preventing equally the 

 growth of those minute cryptogamous plants on ink, and other 

 substances not of an animal nature. 



The effect of cloves in preventing the mouldiness in Ink, is in- 

 deed generally known ; and it is obtained in the same way by 

 oil of lavender, in a very minute quantity, or by any other of 

 the perfumed oils. 



To preserve Leather in the same manner from this effect, is a 

 matter of great importance, particularly in military store-houses, 

 where the labour employed in cleaning harness and shoes is a 

 cause of considerable expence, and where much injury is occa- 

 sionally sustained from this cause. The same essential oils an- 

 swer the purpose, as far as I have had an opportunity of try- 

 ing effectually. The cheapest, of course, should be selected ; 

 and it would be necessary to try oil of turpentine, for this rea- 

 son. The total interruption of all my pursuits has hitherto 

 prevented me from carrying these trials as far as I intended. 



It is a remarkable confirmation of this circumstance, that 

 Russian leather, which is perfumed with the tar of the birch- 

 tree, is not subject to mouldiness, as must be well known to all 

 who possess books thus bound. They even prevent it from 

 taking place in those books bound in calf near to which they 

 happen to lie. This fact is particularly well known to Russia 

 merchants, as they suffer bales of this article to lie in the Lon- 

 don docks in the most careless manner, for a great length of 

 time, knowing well that they can sustain no injury of this na- 

 ture from dampness, whereas common curried leather requires 

 to be opened, cleaned, and ventilated. Collectors of books will 

 not be sorry to learn, that a few drops of any perfumed oil will 

 ensure their libraries from this pest. 



