Cha?. II.

TniBEIl.
507
1751. Wlien the carcass of a building is complete, it slioiild be left as long as possible
to di
J',
and to allow to tlie t inbers what may be ciillfd a second seasoning. Tlie modern
practice of finishing buildings in the quickest possible period, has contribi.tid more to dry
rot than perhaps any other cause; and tor this the architect lias been blamed instead of liiy
employer, whose object is generally to realize letting or to enjoy occupation of tl.em as
early as possible. After the walls and timbers of a building are once thoroughly dry. all
means should be employed to exclude an accession of moisture, and delay is then i)rejudicial.
1752 Among the many inventions to ])rescrve wood from dic ly, those of England have
proved the most successful. In 17:57 a patent was granted to Mr. Emerson to prepare
timber with hot oil. This w<is followed by various recommendations early in the jjresent
century
;
those of later date consist of: I. Kyan's process, 1832, who steeped the timber
in a solution oi bichloride
of
mercury, known as corrosive sublimate {par, 1742.) It appears
to penetrate fir less than some other woods
(
Faraday). The wood thus treated becomes ot*
less specific gravity, less flexibility, and more brittle. II. Sir William Burnett's patent of
1836, was for using the chloride of zinc. III. jNI. Bri'ant in 1837 suggested sulpliate of
iron, whicli was found not to alter the qualities of the timber as did the corrosive sublimate.
IV. M-irgary's patent, 1837, is for steeping timber in a solution made of one pound of
Bulphate of copper with eight gallons of water. Wood impregnated with suljiiiate of
co))per (blue vitriol) will not last longer in sea water than any other wood. But wood so
treated will last longer in the soil tlian if either tarred or charred. Its application for the
])revention of rot is beneficial, and it miglit be used wliere not expostd to the action
of water, on account cf the solubility of the salts. The proportion of the sulpliate should
be one jiound to four gallons of water ; we have also met with the proportion of one pound
to two gallons
;
perhiips the strongest is the best {pur. 17526.) V. Payne, 1841, patented
a system for using two solutions; first, sulphate of iron, wliich would form an oxide of
iron in the cells ; and secondly, carbonate of soda : some very good results were obtained,
but the process must be done under pressure and with the greatest care.
1752a. VI. Bethell's ))atent, 1838, consists in the injection of oil of tar, containing crea-
sote and a crude solution of acetate of iron, Co.nmonly called pyrolignite of iron, after the
air in the wood has been extracted. This process is etiective to a great extent, and full
))artieulars are given by G. II. Burnell in his paper read belbre the Society of Arts 1860,
from which we have been quoting. It, however, can only be recommended for railways
and other large works ; the offensive smell and increased danger by fire should deter
its use in lious* building. In the best creasoting works, the oil is injected at a ti-mperature
of 120 and under a pressure of 150 lbs. on tlie square inch, so that ordmary fir timber
absorbs 10 lbs. weight of the creasote per cubic foot; the wood should be weighed to
ascertain that it did absorb that quantity. For all engineering purjjoscs, fir timber thus
treated is far more durable than the best oak, teak, or otlier hard woods, and the cost of
the operation is very smull. Timber which has just been taken out of water contains .so
large a quantity that it resists the entrance of the oil
;
imless time, therefore, be given for
it to be first dried, it would necessarily be badly prepared.
17526. VII. Dorsett and Blvtlie, 1863, ])atented the injection of heated solutions of
sulphate of copper {par. 1752, I V.
),
a process said to have been iidoi)ted by Fienth, Spanish,
Italian, and otlier railway companies. Amongst its advantages, thi-y state that wood so
jirepared is rendered to a great extent incombustible ; and that for out-door purposes it has
a clean yellowisii surface, without odour, requires no painting, remaining unchanged
for any length of time.
1752c. Experience of the English processes shows that creasoting is the most generally successful ; the
application of the sulphate ot copper is satisfactory in many cases ; while the other processes, although
no doubt of occasional value, have been practically abandoned. They all depend for their success upon
the skilful and conscientious manner in which the. are applied ; for as they involve chemical actions on
a large scale, their efBciency must depend upon the observation of the minute practical precautions
required to exclude any disturbing causes.
\'52d. Carbolineum Avenarius is said (1887) to be an efficient preservative of wood against all external
and internal injurious infliienc. s, driving the moisture out of it by making it impervious to damp, and
is stated to be a preservative against the attack of white ants in hot cUmat^ s. Being thin and liquid it
soaks into the wood readily. One gallon will cover from 30 to 50 square yards.
1753. It is no easy matter to cure the dry rot wliere it has once taken root. If it be
found necessary to substitute new limbers for oldoms, every particle of the fungus, known
as the 3Ieraliits lacrymans, must be removed from the neighbourhood of such new timbers.
After scraping it from the adjoining walls and timbers, perliaps no better application than
one of the washes above mentioned can be employed. Aljout 300 of heat would effect
the same purpose, but this is difficult in application. Coal tar has been found useful, but
its odour, arising at a moderate degree of heat, is an objection to its use. A weak solution
of vitriolic acid with water will generally stop the rot if it have not gone too far. Pyro-
ligneous acid is recommended for preventing the spreading of the disease. Tlie i)recautions
indicated above for the prevention of decay, although not always successful, must be deemed
preferable to the application of after remedies.