10 FAMILY RECEIPTS. 



PERFU3IES A PREVENTIVE AGAINST MOULDINESS. 



Dr. M'Culloch, of Edinburgh, has pabhshed a paper 

 in the Philosophical Transactions of the city, in which 

 he points out that all essential oils possess the property 

 of preventing the growth of mould. His observations 

 are of such general utility, that I copy them for public 

 benefit. 



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

 articles Avhich suffer from this cause, and to which the 

 remedy is usually 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 flavors are grateful, 

 may sometimes be used for this end; and that they act 

 in consequence of this principle, and not by any parti- 

 cular antiseptic virtue, seems plain, by their preventing 

 equally the growth of those minute crj^ptogamous plants 

 on ink, and other substances not of an animal nature. 



"The effect of cloves in preventing the mouldiness in 

 Ink, is indeed generally known; and it is obtained in the 

 same way by oil of lavender, in n 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, where the labor 

 employed in cleaning harness and shoes is a cause of 

 considerable expense, and where much injury is occa- 

 sionally sustained from this cause. The same essential 

 oils answer the purpose, as far as I have had an oppor- 

 tunity of trying effectually. The cheapest, of course, 

 should be selected, and it would be necessary to try oil 

 of turpentine for this reason. 



"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. The fact is 

 particularly well known to Russian merchants, as they 

 suffer bales of this article to lie in the London docks in 

 the most careless manner, for a great length of time, 

 knowing well that they ran sustain no injury of this 



