The Decay of Wood Carvings. 853 



had been coated with thin clear parchment size, which, being 

 an animal substance, was supposed to be unpleasant to the 

 wood-eating insects. This did not affect the appearance of the 

 carving, and the Commission recommend the adoption of this 

 treatment as a preventive, adding about sixty grains of corro- 

 sive sublimate to one pint of size. 



The report describes a successful process of restoration 

 adopted by Mr. Gr. W. Rogers, in the case of the fine carvings 

 by Grinley Gibbons, belonging to Belton House. Mr. Rogers 

 had photographs taken, so that the exact position of the vari- 

 ous parts of the carving might be known. He then employed 

 corrosive sublimate in its aqueous solution ; and to restore the 

 colour which was injured by its use, he resorted to ammonia, 

 and in some cases to a "slight treatment with muriatic acid/' 

 " After this, the interior of the wood was injected with vege- 

 table gum and gelatine, in order to fill up the worm holes and 

 strengthen the fabric of the carvings. - ''' Finally, a varnish of 

 resin and spirits of wine was applied, and the dismembered 

 pieces put together in conformity with the photographs. 



When the objects could be removed, and were not too large, 

 we should have thought it advisable to have placed them in a 

 vessel, from which the air could have been exhausted. They 

 would then, on the introduction of the benzine or chloroform, 

 and probably also of the carbolic acid, thoroughly absorb the 

 vapours. The latter substance might act under such circum- 

 stances to an extent sufficient to kill any insects that could 

 stand the partial deprivation of air, and to destroy the eggs. 

 In the case of chloroform we apprehend no permanent effect 

 would be produced on the wood, and benzine would probably 

 be equally evanescent in action. The carbolic acid would, on 

 the contrary, if once effectually introduced, be likely to render 

 the substance distasteful to the insects for many a long year* 



