314 
NATURE 
[Marcu 10, 1923 

the investigation of the corrosion of condenser tubes 
and of aluminium, and to the Institution of Civil 
Engineers for a research upon the deterioration of 
structures in sea-water. In direct association with the 
Department is the Food Investigation Board, which is 
dealing with the fundamental problems of food pre- 
servation. The Fabrics Research Committee and the 
Forest Products Research Board are interested in the 
protection of fabrics and woods respectively from decay, 
and we understand that a committee has recently been 
formed to inquire into methods of preserving stone- 
work. Finally, by means of the laboratory which has 
been set up at the British Museum, the Department 
has provided for research into the causes and preven- 
tion of corrosion and decay occurring in museum 
specimens. Though each of these organisations has 
its own specific ends in view, judicious co-ordination 
of their efforts and intercommunication of the results 
they obtain will doubtless be of great assistance to the 
general progress. 
A second report 1 on the investigations in progress at 
the British Museum has recently been published, and 
its appearance could scarcely be more opportune. The 
information it gives will be of great value to the 
curators of museums of antiquities and, we imagine, 
will be specially welcome to those who are engaged in 
the responsible and delicate task of recovering the 
archeological treasures of King Tutankhamen’s tomb. 
Little scientific research directly bearing upon the 
preservation and restoration of museum specimens has 
been undertaken in the past. Too often have the at- 
tempts at restoration been left in the hands of museum 
workmen whose empirical efforts have in some cases 
ended admirably, in others disastrously. Successful 
methods so devised have sometimes jealously been 
guarded as “trade secrets”? guaranteeing continuity 
of employment. Such an unsatisfactory state of affairs 
cannot continue ; if it is our duty—and indubitably it 
is—to preserve for future generations the evidences of 
past phases in the life of mankind, then it is essential that 
knowledge of trustworthy preservative processes should 
be communicated freely to all concerned. It is gratify- 
ing that Great Britain should take the lead in in- 
stituting scientific research of a very high order in this 
direction, and in publishing the results for the general 
benefit of all who are possessors or curators of valuable 
antiquities. 
The Department has admittedly been very fortunate 
in enlisting Dr. Alexander Scott as director of 
the investigations which are being conducted at the 
British Museum laboratory. His second report, like 
its predecessor, shows abundant evidence of the high 
+ “The Cleaning and Restoration of Museum Exhibits.” 
upon investigations conducted at the British Museum. 
Stationery Office, 1923. Price 2s. net. 
NO. 2784, VOL. 111] 
Second Report 
Published by H.M. 

degree of experimental resource required in work of 
this kind, and of the very fragile character of many of 
the objects which he has successfully restored and 
protected from further deterioration. But in Dr. Scott 
the fears and caution of the antiquary are tempered 
by the confidence born of scientific knowledge; as a 
result of this happy combination we have on record 
the solutions to a number of problems which have long 
been a source of anxiety to museum curators. Prints 
and pictures, and objects of stone, silver, iron, lead, 
copper, bronze, and wood have all been brought to 
Dr. Scott for treatment, and subsequently have been 
returned to their places in the museum restored and 
insured against further attack. 
The work at the British Museum laboratory has 
hitherto, naturally, been chiefly of a chemical character. 
But many museum problems have a microbiological 
aspect. The cellulose-destroying moulds and bacteria, 
for example, must play an important part in the decay 
of fabrics, paper, and other materials in museums ; in 
time, doubtless, the laboratory will be able to turn its 
attention to these problems. Reference to such a 
development suggests the interesting possibilities which 
would be involved in a microbiological examination 
of the fabrics and cellulosic débris found in King 
Tutankhamen’s tomb. Even though the examination 
proved negative so far as the discovery of spores of 
bacteria and moulds is concerned, valuable informa- 
tion would be yielded by the decayed material itself, for 
it is now known that cellulose fibres which have been 
attacked by such organisms show characteristic mark- 
ings. We strongly hope that facilities will be given for 
such an examination to be made before the material 
has become infected with present-day organisms. 
Attention should be directed to a feature of Dr. 
Scott’s report unusual in Government publications, the 
excellent collotype illustrations ; these supply striking 
visual confirmation of the successes he describes. 

Physiology in Medicine. 
The Heart as a Power-Chamber : a Contribution to Cardio- — 
; 
Henry Frowde and Hodder and Stoughton, 1922.) _ 
By Dr. Harrington Sainsbury. (Oxford 
Publications.) Pp. xii+248. (London: 
Dynamics. 
Medical 
12s. 6d. net. 
F we compare the text-books of physiology of to-day 
with those of twenty years ago, we cannot fail to 
be impressed, not only with the vast strides that have 
been made by the subject within this short time, but 
also with the fact that a large majority of the latest — 
discoveries, which have an intimate bearing on the 
| understanding and control of disease, could not figure 
ar ti((w‘(C#N(NN 
