Books and their enemies. 303 
which had been taken up the Demerara River for a few 
months, were unbearable for reading till nearly a year 
after being brought back to Georgetown. I have several 
examples of the effects of damp and mould in my collec- 
tion. One of the works being rather rare, I have taken some 
trouble to preserve it. For one-third of its width the 
leaves are thoroughly disintegrated, so that they chip off 
at the lightest touch, another has a crop of black mould 
between each leaf which soils the hands when touched, 
although it has been well aired for several years ; to brush 
this off would break the leaves in pieces, and even the 
separation of one leaf from another is very risky. 
To restore a rotten book is of course impossible, but 
it may be preserved if carefully aired and lightly handled. 
If valuable, the margins may be strengthened with tissue 
paper. When the volume is in its first stage of damp- 
ness, removal to a dry room, and airing of a few leaves at a 
time will prevent further progress of the destruftive 
agency. Attention to the following points will prevent a 
recurrence of the trouble ; first, never keep books on a 
ground floor; second, keep them well away from all 
walls, especially those of brick and concrete ; and finally 
do not use closed cases. There are apparently some 
advantages to be gained by the use of well-closed book- 
cases, but taking everything into consideration, open 
shelves are better. However close the case may appear 
to be, the seams open in dry weather and moisture per- 
meates when the first rains fall. Very soon the wood 
swells, the case closes so that the damp air inside be- 
comes stagnant, and if not opened, conditions are pro- 
duced which are very favourable to mould and insefts. 
Book-shelves should be made without casings, and 
QQ 2 
