The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-09-10

Phenomena Which Resems
Diseases Of Live Matter

the Bumper vi Dr.s.au." brors
over $S,"oo at the sale Of the fam
Lama collection Very srrikinelv Il
onstra.es the tayo: which anti
and highly ornate objects of tbi, I
terial have regalneI with coller,]
and cOnnQisseurs
The collecting of old pew,e, /,
however. attended with a certain NJ
for it is strange although m
known facJ that this metal is 9
iect to an affection or disease viii
in German is very appropriately n
ignated zinnpest ttin plague).
1t is a we'll known fact that sal
metals are subject to phenousI
which, resembling in their effects II
diseases that attack living organise
cause them to decOmpose or De-
| Especially is this the case with ii
ter. whether as a result of chents
changes consequent on its comud
ton or not is not known. We /
know, however. that if exposed "a /
low temperature it is liable TO \
dergo a transformation under the
fuerce of which it is ultimately !
duced to powder As long as
temperature does not go below 6
grees Fahrenheit there is no dane5
Even at 60 degrees Fahrenheit be
effects are barely noticeable, but 10
temperatures lower than this ii
metal is decidedly susceptible. n
is the reason why so small nu
the period when tin or pewter v
extensively used. Exposed to
vicissitudes of changing temperstg
they have gone to pieces. Eve
cold museum will work their desn
ton.
Collectors of old pewter who ii
carefully look over their specima8
are likely to note the appearance
dull, grayish looking spots. ard
non-metalIic, and of a crumbling da
character. This is the first sympta
and means that the process Of !
indignation has commenced and
counts for the more or less dA
dated condition that occurs in cha
specimens of work in this mel
such as pewter medals, etc. To
same destructive influence the sped
corrosion Of tin roofs may be as15
ed. Where choice specimens OF pew
ter work, such for instance as
highly priced antique pieces by III
or Enderlein, dating from the Rem
sance period and superbly decon
in relief. are concerned, this va
be dire misfortune, and the a
ton should be promptly dealt
as soon as its occurrence is ndi
The most efficacious treatn7
though useful only in the earl
stage, is found to be boiling fa
prolonged period in pure water
which a little soda has been adj
and subsequent rubbing in whit
Moreover, as the disease appears
be contagious in character, the
full examination of all specin
from time to time and removal
any that show signs of infection
wise precaution for owners to ID
Tin is a peculiar metal, and
not surprising that it's alloys SOC
do strange things. 1t is so extrse
ductile that it can be rolled, pro
or beaten into thin sheets, as wlu
it's use in the shape of tinfoil OF
of the tubes in WI
paint, cosmetics, etc, are put
which are pressed at single SUI
Of a powerful press from a oup
like blank. The metal flows INTO
narrow spaces and interstices OF
mould almost as though fluid w
is all the more remarkable Wnei
decidedly crystalline character
sidered. When a piece of metaliN
is bent the crystals strike agalhsl
another with a peculiar ard cDA
teristic cracking sound. III
is inodorous, but if it or It's sp
be freely handled it imports ~
liar odor to the hand. One u
most valuable characteristics F"
Is it's resistance TO the eHeco
1t can be exposed "
air for a long time without STU.
any of the effects of oxidation W.
as it's alloys-bronze, for lns'aD,
soon accumulate a patina BY a~
ion of oxygen. A remarkaDN
.ure of the process or decomW
N pewter is that the produc.
an oxide or any other comon
If tin with other elements, ou'
metallic tin, only in place Oh
it is amorpnous'
)er's Weekly.