OCT., igiO.] THE DECAY OF STONE ANTIQUITIES. IO5 
shown by Dr. Anderson in the tubes, without microscopical 
examination. One tube seemed to contain the mycelium of a 
•/ 
fungus, but that might be due to imperfect sterilization. With 
respect to the weathering of syenite mentioned by Mr. Lowe, 
he could only say it appeared to depend on the amount, and con¬ 
dition, of the felspar present, the result of the action of water 
being the crumbling of the rock, and the setting free of the dis¬ 
integrated felspar in the form of china clay. He believed that in 
large manufacturing towns the presence of hydrochloric acid from 
chemical manufactories frequently injured limestone buildings, 
as in the case of the Houses of Parliament. The natural tendency 
of soot was to contain antiseptics such as creosote which might 
deter fungi from developing, as carbolic acid certainly did. 
Dr. F. A. Bather agreed that the decay mentioned could not 
be due to wind erosion, since the wind could not act without sand 
or ice particles (snow) to drive against the stone, and in the present 
case such abrasive particles were not at hand. While the paper 
was being read, the idea that the decay might be due to some 
organic agent had independently suggested itself to him, and, 
while admitting the force of Mr. Sheppard’s able criticism, he 
would remind his hearers that many processes previously believed 
to be purely physical were almost daily being proved due to the 
action of bacteria or other humble forms of life, e.g., the nitrate- 
bacillus of South America and the sulphur-bacillus of the Black 
Sea. It had been suggested that a peculiar leprosy (as Old 
Testament writers would have called it) which attacked bronzes 
was due to bacteria, and perhaps Mr. Reginald Smith could give 
them some information on that point which would elucidate the 
present case If the decay were due to bacteria, sulphate of copper 
would certainly prove a good disinfecting agent, as shown by its 
use in the purification of drinking water. It would, however, 
require renewal, and he would suggest that some hardening fluid, 
such as Browning’s Preservative Solution,* would be more per¬ 
manently effective. 
Mr. Reginald A. Smith said that the preservation of ancient 
metal objects had been dealt with by Dr. Friedrich Rathgen, of 
the Berlin Museum, and members might usefully consult his book 
upon the subject.f He also mentioned the name of Sir Arthur 
Church as a recognised authority upon the subject under discussion. 
He would no doubt be willing to advise Dr. Anderson. 
* See the speaker’s paper on the Preparation and Preservation of Fossils, 
Mus. Journ. vol. 8, p. 86. 
t “The Preservation of Antiquities.” (Translated by G. A. and H. A. 
Auden, Camb. Univ. Press, 1905.) 
