The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-01-13
LIME AS A PRESERVATIvR.

1t would be interesting tc record the
many evidences of the value of lime in
aTresting decay. AS long ago as 1869 a
Mr.. Jackson, a chemist, obtained per-
mission to prepare timber for the ship
yards, by immeTsing it in a solution of
salt water, lime. muriate of soda, etc.
another practical eXperimentalist Sug-
gested slaked lime. thinned with q solu-
tion of glue, for moping the timbers of
a ship. The preservation of timber has
been attempted by surrounding il with
pounded lime, and several attempts
have been made to preserve timber by
lime. Mr., Britton, in his work on dry
rot mentions a number of cases where
lime has been of service. He saws.
''quicklime with damp has been found
to accelerate putrefaction in conse-
quence of it's extracting carbon but
when dry and IN such large quantities
as to absorb all moisture from the wood.
the wood is preserved and the sap hard
ened. - Vessels long in the lime trade
have afforded proof of this fact, also ex-
amples in plastering laths which are gen.
orally sound whereIthey have been found
dry" The jOists and sleepers OF base
ment floors are rendered less subject to
decay by coating of limewhite and
this might be renewed at intervals. The
same writer adds, Hit does not appear
practicable to use limewater to any ex-
tent for preserving timber, because wa
ter holds in solution only about 1-5OO
part of lime, which quantity would be
too inconsiderable it, however. renders
timber more durable. but at the same
time very hard and difficult to be work
ed" These facts are instructive: they
show, at least. that lime in Il sufficient
quantity kept dry is a valuable preserva-
tive agent, and some practical chemist
might earn deserved Tepute if he could
prepare lime solution that would be
capable of rending so substantial a ser
to all builders. Such a solution would
be at least sufficiently Tenumerative to
make it worth while tO'trv few exper-
lments in this direction. It is stated on
good authority that the white ant in In
dla costs the government e100 600 a
year for repairing woodwork. bridges.
etc, caused by its depredatiOus Con-
crete easements have been found to re-
slst the encrOachments of the ant. DR..
Darwin proposed process of timber
preservation some years ago. in which an
absorption OF lime water was effected.
and after that had dried a weak solution
of sulphuric acid, so as to form sulphate
OF Dme IN the pores of the wood. The /.
growth of dry-rOt or fungus on timber 4
has been prevented by limewater and T.
many instances have been mentioned of .
its value. The cleansing and sanitary
virtues of lime are more generally T.
known. The painter uses ltmewater to F.
kill the grease upon his work instead of .
and SCOT stains on the out
side of flues have been removed by the
agency of thick warm limewash The
value Of limewhite as wash for walls.
as purifier of the air in sheds. stables.
and other buildings is unquestiOnabIe.
though all limewashed roof timbers have
rather a rough and penuTious look. As
a preseTvative coating to the jOists of
floors and other timbeTs not exposed to .
damp, it seems worthy Of a more extend .
ed triHl