Chap. II. STONE.

481
nicated to the stones operated upon. But, unfortunately, the action of the silicic acid is a
vnry slow one, and when the surfaces washed in the manner described are exposed to
rain, it is by no means rare to find the solution carried away. Another objection is, that
when the alkaline silicate acts upon the stone, the soda and potassa generally used are
left free, and in efflorescing they are likely to carry away the finer details of the sculpture;
at the same time, as they form to some extent deliquescent salts upon the face of the stone,
they attract to it a dangerous amount of humidity. This process is only applicable to the
preservation of the stones in which the carbonates of lime predominate,
1667^. IV. Si/ filling in the pores
of
the stone with an insoluble material which should
effectually exclude water
:
This may be said to have been effected by the process patented
by Mr. Eansome. The stone is first cleaned carefully from dust or other extraneous
matters; then it is made to absorb as large a quantity as possible of the silicate of soda
or potassa. "When this solution has dried into the stone, a second wash is applied, con-
sisting of the chloride of calcium or of baryta. Thp silicate of soda and ihe chloride of
c^dcium are most frequently employed ; and the effect of the respective applications is,
that a double decomposition takes place in the washes, giving rise to the precipitation of
a finely crystallised silicate of lime or of baryta in the pores of the stone, and an efflo-
rescence of extremely soluble salts of the chlorides of soda or of potassa. The former
remain in the pores, the Litter are spee:lily washed away by rain. As the rate of con-
traction and ext ansion of the silicate of lime is. as nearly as may be, the same as that of
the stone it is intended to protect, there is no danger of the precipitate being detached
by this cause. This process, in contradistinction to that of Kiihlmann, is applicable to
limestones, sandstones, bricks, plasters, and cements. It has even been suggested that
it may be advantageously applied to chalk.
1667m. It must not be forgotten, however, that it is as important to prevent a
stone from decaying as it is to aiford a protection to it when that effect has commenced.
If any internal decay or any organic decomposition, so to speak, be once allowed to
establish itself in a building stone, it will be impossible effectually to arrest its progress,
EtHorescence, for instance, will continue, however effectually the exposed surface of the
stone may be closed by a mechanical or a chemical deposit, and thus even some of the
results of Mr. Ransome's process appear equivocal. The student should make himself
master of the attempts lately made to discover a universal remedy for protecting the
surfaces of various materials. The following inventions were described by the late Sir
W. Tite, at the Royal Institute of British Architects, January 1861
:
I. Bethell's patent,
1838, perhaps never applied to stone. II. Hutchinson's, 1847, which has been chiefly
applied to the Calverley stone of Tunbridge. Ill, Daine's, 1854. IV. Szerelmey's,
1857. V, Newton's, 1841. And VI. Ransome's, 1856. We consider it needless to
notice here the inventions in detail. It is difficult to pronounce on their respective
merits, but Ransome's perhaps promised the best results.
1667?J. Sylvester, in 1846, suggested the following very useful and simple recipe for
protecting stone or brickwork from the absorption of water; it has been repeatedly
tried, and answers well in exposed situations, but requires a fresh application about every
three or four years. Mix
fib. of mottled foap in a gallon of nearly boiling water, and
apply it in a boiling state over the surface of the work, steadily and carefully, with a large
flat brush, making no lather, and filling up the crusty surface of the work, either of brick
or stone. This is to remain for twenty-four hours to become dry and hard. Then
\
lb, of
alum is to be mixed with four gallons of water and left standing for about twenty four
hours, so that the alum may be completely dissolved
;
this solution is to be applied in the
same manner. Sir G-. G. Scott has \ised for the internal work of Westminster Abbey a
solution of shell-lac in spirits of \\ine, which, squirted into the stone work, appears to
answer perfectly in securing the face from further decay arising from damp only. He
also found it of some effect in tJie open air where defended from rain, but it failed when
exposed to its action.
After cleaning down Bath stone of the best quality, it generally may with advantage
be washed over with two coats of lime-water prepared as follows : Fill a tub with water,
and into it put some lime; stir it up well when slaked and let it settle. If any impurities
should rise to the surface remove them, and when clear ajoply it with a clean brush to
the stonework. This is an excellent preservative, and reinstates the skin or crust re-
moved with the drag, without altering the colour of the stone. (Sumsion, of Bath).
Tabary's metallic cement has been in use in France during the last twenty-six years,
under the French government and the municipality of Paris, for restoring monuments. It
is stated to be permanent and to resist all attacks of acids in the atmosphere. The whole
ol'the decayed stone need not be removed. It is carved and worked in situ. It costs
less than stone. Restorations are more rapidly done than in ordinary stone. The colour
of the original stone can be matched, and it can be used in all weatheis.
"
This metallic
cement is composed of a stone of Trachytic origin, reduced to powder, and the moltcules
II