Note 173 — II. Preservation of Organic Substances.

Attention may be drawn to a paper which (Dec. 1904) will shortly be published by the Imperial Commission for Monuments of Art and History in Vienna. At a meeting in Vienna a paper was given by Bolle on the animal enemies of paper, leather, and wood, and their destruction by means of carbon bisulphide. Carbon bisulphide is an infallible poison and has no effect upon colours when used in a perfectly dry state. This may be carried out by a preliminary displacement of the air by carbonic acid which is readily obtained in the liquid form in cylinders. Benzine would probably act equally well, but would require a longer time for its action. References to other methods such as the employment of a vacuum or of heat will be found in the same publication.