Wood Preserving by Painting. 
89 
torj of the University of Texas. From all facts that have come under 
my observation, and as far as I can learn through reference, the anti- 
septic properties of the other constituents of coal tar are far greater, 
solutions of the same strength being considered. Furthermore, Dr. Koch 
has found that carbolic acid dissolved in oils does not exhibit any anti- 
septic action. Another function that carbolic acid has been thought to 
perform, is the coagulation of albumen in the wood; it being assumed, 
first, that this is present; second, that albumen once coagulated will 
resist decay. Both of these assumptions are probably erroneous. Albu- 
men is very likely not present in woody fibre. Even if it is, the coagula- 
tion will not prevent decay, since Herr F. Boillat found that albumen 
which has been coagulated by carbolic acid and then washed with water 
to remove the carbolic acid, decays within from two (2) to forty (40) 
days. 
These facts, together with the experiments of Mr. S. B. Boulton, who 
showed that carbolic acid could be entirely removed, from creosote oils 
by washing with water, together with researches of Mr. G-reville Williams 
on a large number of creosoted timbers, which had been in the ground for 
a period, varying from one (1) to thirty-two (32) years, and in all of 
which the carbolic acid had entirely disappeared, showing conclusively 
that carbolic acid, and hence all tar acids, have no value for wood pre- 
serving. 
2nd. — Highboiling Oils. Samples of timbers had been pickled in 
creosote oil, and remained in the ground as follows : 
One specimen, sixteen years. 
One specimen, seventeen years. 
Two specimens, twenty years. 
Two specimens, twenty-two years. 
One specimen, twenty-eight years. 
Two specimens, twenty-nine years. 
One specimen, thirty years. 
One specimen, thirty-two years. 
These were subjected to dry-distillations with the following results: 
Fourteen (14) out of the seventeen (17) yielded semi-solid constit- 
uents, e. g., napthalene in twelve (12) of these. Only small percentages 
remained of oil distilling below 240° C. ; in the majority of instance^ 
from 60% to 75% of the total bulk of distillates did not distil until after 
a temperature of 315° C. had been reached. Evidently these timbers had 
been preserved by the presence of the less volatile oils found in the creo- 
sote with which they had been treated. 
Mr. S. B. Boulton impregnated wood shavings with the different boil- 
ing portions of creosote. After six months exposure the shavings pre- 
pared with the highest boiling oils were found to be perfectly sound, 
