A LECTURE 
 
 3 -~]* 
 
 ON THE 
 
 PRESERVATION OF TIMBER 
 
 BY 
 
 RYAN’S PATENT 
 
 PREVENTING DRY ROT; 
 
 DELIVERED BY 
 
 DOCTOR BIRKBECK, 
 
 AT THE SOCIETY OF ARTS, ADELPHI; DECEMBER 9, 1834. 
 
 WITH AN APPENDIX, &c. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY JOHN WEALE, 
 
 (taylor’s architectural LIBRARY,) 59, HIGH holborn; 
 
 SOLD ALSO BY 
 
 j. W. NO RIF., AND CO. 157, LEAPENHALL STREET, AND 
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 Pi 'ice One Shilling. 
 
Cga'S' 
 
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 PRINTED BY J. AND C. ADLAHD, 
 BARTHOLOMEW CLOSE. 
 
ON 
 
 THE PRESERVATION OF TIMBER 
 FROM DRY ROT. 
 
 It has been emphatically enquired, (remarked 
 Dr. Birkbeck,) “ Where is the dust that hath not 
 been alive?”—Organized matter, when deprived 
 of the protection of the vital powers, no longer 
 preserves its constrained combination, but yields 
 to the dissevering influence of the affinities which 
 actuate the ordinary particles of matter, and, as 
 has been truly said, 
 
 “ All forms that perish other forms supply, 
 
 By turns we catch the vital breath and die.” 
 
 To counteract the operation of these decomposing 
 affinities, and to prevent the return of organized 
 beings to the dust from whence they were formed, 
 has been an object, through every age, from the ear¬ 
 liest periods of time, of deep and powerful interest. 
 In Egypt, “ the Cradle of Science,” we find an art 
 early prevailed whereby the tendency of animal mat¬ 
 ter to decomposition was for a long time effectually 
 checked; and where, also, a contrivance was employed 
 for preserving, to a very considerable extent, the 
 vegetable substances, and other matter by which it 
 
4 
 
 was surrounded, from decay. It does not appear, 
 however, that these early attempts were dictated by 
 anything like a systematic or scientific knowledge 
 of the object they had in view, either with regard 
 to the nature of those compound bodies which 
 it was the intention to preserve, or of the materials 
 which were employed, for the purpose of arresting 
 natural and inevitable decay. 
 
 Later periods have witnessed many similar 
 attempts; but it was not till the eighteenth century 
 that any process was conducted upon principles 
 approaching to scientific rationale. 
 
 With respect to the preservation of vegetable 
 matter, which it is more particularly our object to 
 consider this evening, it appears that, previous to 
 the year 1740, very little was known of methods to 
 correct vegetable decomposition. At that period, 
 however, it was proposed, by an individual named 
 Reid, to arrest decay by means of a certain vegetable 
 acid; and then, in a few years afterwards, about 1769, 
 Mr. Jackson proposed a very complicated lixivium, 
 in which vegetable bodies were to be immersed to 
 protect them against decay. With total disregard 
 of all chemical principles, he composed a lixivium 
 of the Muriate of Soda, Epsom Salts, Lime, Potash, 
 Saltwater, and several other substances. Mr. Jackson 
 had an opportunity of employing it in the prepa¬ 
 ration of the wood of several Frigates, and other 
 vessels in the Navy; but the result was, that those 
 vessels built with wood prepared according to his 
 
method were less durable than those which had 
 been ordinarily constructed. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, a person named Lewis at¬ 
 tempted to accomplish the Preservation of Timber 
 from decay by means of Lime. The Amethyst 
 Frigate was assigned for his experiment; but decay 
 was found to attack the vessel more rapidly than in 
 ordinary cases. This substance (lime) has been lately 
 brought forward as a protection to wood by Mr. 
 Knowles, who has written ably on the subject of 
 the Navy, and whose process is commended by two 
 individuals, in the Appendix to the 49th Volume of 
 the Transactions of the Society of Arts : one, whose 
 sentiments are derived from a Paper he presented to 
 the Society; and the other by a Letter addressed to 
 the Society. The former states, that by placing 
 pieces of wood, surrounded by pounded lime, in 
 spaces below the surface of the earth, they are so 
 acted upon, that when removed about the end of 
 twelve months they are protected against all the 
 ordinary causes of decay.—Now (said Dr. Birkbeck,) 
 here mark, assuming such principle to be correct, 
 the inconsistency which occurs with respect to ani¬ 
 mal and vegetable matter; and he (Dr. B.) would 
 venture to say, that whatever is true with respect 
 to the protection of the one, will be found equally 
 true with respect to the protection of the other. All 
 are aware that when the dead among human beings 
 are to be rapidly dissolved or disorganized, quick 
 lime is thrown into the pit in which they are depo¬ 
 sited, not for the purpose of protection from decay. 
 
G 
 
 but for the very reverse. Yet this is the substance 
 which, upon various occasions, and perhaps more 
 extensively than any other, has had its preservative 
 powers boasted of by different writers. 
 
 The next claim to prevention from Dry Rot 
 was about the year 1808 , when Carbonized Wood 
 was asserted to be completely protected against 
 decay ; but soon the fallacy of this opinion was 
 discovered. Then Sulphate of Iron and Mundic 
 were proposed for the purpose; and, subsequently, 
 the proposition of Mr. Langton, which is perhaps the 
 best of them all. He went a little farther than his 
 predecessors, and suggested that oil and pyroligneous 
 acid should be made to penetrate the interior of the 
 wood, by the previous removal of the atmospheric 
 air, by means of a large air pump, and a subsequent 
 impulsion by the pressure of the atmosphere of the 
 preserving matter into those spaces from which it 
 had been withdrawn. It is clear, however, that 
 Langton’s method admits of great objection; and 
 it is moreover obvious, that in his proposal there 
 is nothing directed against the root of the mischief 
 which he proposes to remedy. 
 
 1 believe, (remarked Dr. Birkbeck,) I may 
 safely assert, that of all the remedies that have 
 ever been proposed, the plan of Mr. Kyan will be 
 found the most effectual: and I have greater 
 pleasure in expounding this method, because it 
 enables me to enter into that which, I think, has not 
 yet been generally understood, viz. the rationale of 
 the process. 
 
7 
 
 A very effectual procedure has taken place in 
 regard to one form of animal matter, by the pre¬ 
 servation of the skin from natural decay in a process 
 known by the name of “ Tanning.” This process 
 will give a very good idea of Mr. Kyan’s invention. 
 Tanning consists in protecting the leather and skin 
 by the introduction of Tannin, which is generally 
 derived from an infusion or decoction of the bark 
 of the oak. If no change were produced in the 
 gelatine, which makes the largest part of the skin 
 to be immersed in the tan-pit, it would undergo 
 certain chemical changes,—it would putrefy, and 
 lose its tenacity; but if a portion of animal jelly is 
 dissolved in water, and a little of the substance 
 added, smilar to the tannin, a combination will take 
 place between the tannin and the gelatine, a preci¬ 
 pitate will follow of the animal matter, which is the 
 tanno-gelatine, or a compound of tannin and gela¬ 
 tine, and is precisely that substance which is formed 
 in the leather, and gives to it durability and 
 power to resist the causes of decay. The same 
 intention exists in the process of Mr. Kyan. It is 
 true he does not act on the gelatine of animal 
 matter, but he does on the albumen —one of the 
 proximate principles of vegetable matter , which 
 appears to have been slightly perceived by Fourcroy, 
 but which was actually discovered by Berzelius 
 about the year 1813. 
 
 In order to obtain this vegetable matter, (albu¬ 
 men,) there are various substances which may be 
 employed. The Hibiscus Esculentus yields it in 
 
8 
 
 considerable abundance: it is a West Indian plant, 
 which Dr. Clarke mentions as adopted, in Demerara, 
 for the same purpose, as, in the other Islands, the 
 white of eggs and blood are employed in the 
 process of clarifying sugar. The Ficus Indica, also, 
 if divided at the stem, will exude a considerable 
 quantity of this matter. If the solution of the 
 Bichloride of Mercury, (which is the agent adopted 
 by Mr. Kyan,) is added to the vegetable matter. 
 Albumen, it will be found, when they come in 
 contact, that decomposition occurs. 
 
 Dr. Birkbeck here took an albumenous solution 
 collected, from the Hyacinth, and the moment it 
 came in contact with the solution of Bichloride of 
 Mercury, a precipitation took place. The analysis 
 of the result performed by Fourcroy, and subse¬ 
 quently by Berzelius and others, is, that the bichlo¬ 
 ride of Mercury has been converted into protochlo¬ 
 ride. In that form it combines with the albumen, 
 which, being no longer soluble, descends in a visible 
 form with the protochloride. In the change, the 
 bichloride loses one proportion of its chlorine. 
 Bichloride of Mercury consists of 200 parts, or one 
 proportion of mercury, and 72, or two proportions 
 of chlorine. One proportional is separated in this 
 process, leaving the protochloride 200 parts of 
 mercury and 36 of chlorine; that is, one propor¬ 
 tional of mercury and one of chlorine; and the 
 albumen, being separated along with the protochlo¬ 
 ride or calomel, descends. 
 
 Mr. Kyan, who had been for a series of years 
 
9 
 
 (since 1812) engaged in trying a variety of experi¬ 
 ments on the preservation of timber, was led to 
 the present experiment by having, as he conceived, 
 at length ascertained that albumen was the primary 
 cause of putrefactive fermentation, and subse¬ 
 quently of the decomposition of vegetable matter. 
 Aware of the established affinity of corrosive sub¬ 
 limate for this material, he applied that substance 
 to solutions of vegetable matter, both acetous and 
 saccharine, on which he was then operating, and in 
 which albumen was a constituent, with a view to 
 preserve them in a quiescent and incorruptible 
 state, and obtaining a confirmation of his opinions 
 by the fact, that during a period of three years, the 
 acetous solution openly exposed to atmospheric air 
 had not become putrid, nor had the saccharine 
 decoction yielded to the vinous or acetous stages of 
 fermentation, but were in a high state of preserva¬ 
 tion; he concluded that corrosive sublimate, by 
 combination with albumen, was a protection against 
 the natural changes of vegetable matter. He was 
 further confirmed in his opinions by having under¬ 
 stood that Sir Humphry Davy and several others 
 had noticed, that corrosive muriate of mercury, as 
 it was formerly termed, had the effect of preserving 
 animal matter, and that it was used by the natural 
 historian for the purpose of preserving his subjects. 
 Extending this view by a very judicious hypo¬ 
 thetical analogy, Mr. Ivyan argued that if the 
 albumen found in these lluids be the cause of 
 
10 
 
 their liability to change, and if it make a part 
 of the substance of wood, then the introduction 
 of this solution into that wood must be the means 
 of preserving it from decay; and he reasoned 
 with great correctness respecting the nature of 
 albumen in wood. He inferred that, as wood con¬ 
 sists of various successive layers, in which the 
 albumen, or juices containing albumen, circulated 
 freely, it is quite certain that as these juices within 
 the wood, with the watery parts, fly off by the 
 leaves, that the albumen remains behind; and it is 
 probable that this albumen, which from its nature 
 is peculiarly prone to enter into new combinations, 
 is the thing in wood which begins the tendency to 
 decomposition, and produces ultimate decay; whe¬ 
 ther that decomposition is attended with the forma¬ 
 tion of cryptogamic substances, or whether, in the 
 less organized form, the change occurs with the 
 simple production of what has been called the Dry 
 Rot. 
 
 He (Mr. Kyan) conceived, therefore, if albumen 
 made a part of wood, the latter would be protected 
 by converting that albumen into a compound of 
 protochloride of mercury and albumen ; and he pro¬ 
 ceeded to immerse pieces of wood in this solution, 
 and obtained the same result as that which he had 
 ascertained with regard to the vegetable decoctions. 
 Having done so, it became necessary to employ 
 various modes of experiment, as well as comparative 
 experiments, which, in the course of the Lecture, 
 
2 . 
 
 Tigr. 1. 
 
11 
 
 would be described. Now, it is not clear in what 
 part of the wood the vegetable albumen may be 
 found, though it exists more especially in that part 
 of the tree which is denominated the alburnum or 
 sap, and is found between the heart-wood and the 
 innermost layer of bark. The experience of all 
 practical men has confirmed the opinion that this 
 portion of wood is the first to decay. 
 
 If a piece of wood is squared in the manner 
 described in the section (see Fig. 1), instead of 
 taking off the whole of the alburnum, which is exhi¬ 
 bited in the diagram by the broad light circle between 
 the bark and heart-wood, and if this timber became 
 a part of the ground joist, girders, beams, or rafters, 
 it would be very soon discovered, that the change 
 which is denominated Dry Rot, but which may be 
 simply termed vegetable decomposition, would occur 
 in those parts of the timber where the sap or albur¬ 
 num is left; and, as decay is progressive, would then 
 proceed from the angles throughout the whole of 
 the wood. Here will be obvious the great benefit 
 of Mr. Kyan’s process, which preserves even the 
 alburnum or sap from decay. At present it is the 
 custom to square timber, exclusive of all sap, as is 
 shewn by the section, (see Fig. 2.) The difference 
 of the cubical contents in two logs of timber will be 
 easily perceived; and when it is considered how 
 much timber will be thus rendered serviceable, the 
 discovery of Mr. Kyan deserves the most serious 
 attention. 
 
 It is probable that, as the alburnum becomes sue- 
 
12 
 
 ce^sive layers of wood, it loses a quantity of albumen, 
 or that, in consequence of the pressure which takes 
 place hy the addition of each successive layer, it be¬ 
 comes so situated as to lose a part of its exposure to 
 the vessels where a change may occur, and there¬ 
 fore becomes in some measure protected. For that 
 which is one year alburnum or sap may be, and 
 indeed generally is, proper wood the next. 
 
 It might be imagined there would be a great 
 difficulty in the transmission of the protecting solu¬ 
 tion through the substance of the wood, so as to 
 reach its central parts. In order to show that this 
 is practicable, a few simple experiments with the 
 air-pump were resorted to. 
 
 A great diversity of opinion has prevailed with 
 respect to the elementary organs comprised in 
 wood. They are generally reckoned four:—the 
 cells, the woody fibre, the sap vessels, and the spiral 
 vessels. It is much contested by a recent vegetable 
 anatomist (De Candolle,) whether there are any 
 vessels that pass from one end to the other, or 
 whether the whole of the texture is not made up 
 itself of cells of various degrees of elongation, some¬ 
 times circular, sometimes elliptical, occasionally 
 hexagonal, and sometimes very much elongated, but 
 yet not otherwise than cellular. 
 
 If any confirmation were wanting of the passage 
 of fluid through the woody structure, it can be 
 obtained by the assistance of the air-pump, in 
 allowing the air to pass through a piece of wood 
 covered laterally with sealing-wax, so as to prevent 
 
13 
 
 its entering laterally, and of such a length that if it 
 had not entire longitudinal vessels it would be im¬ 
 possible for air, urged by the pressure of the atmos¬ 
 phere, to pass. It then must be admitted, that if air 
 will pass through it, water will also. For it has been 
 asserted, for what reason is not quite clear, that 
 particles of water are smaller than particles of air; 
 and that through whatever pores air can be made to 
 pass, water will certainly penetrate. 
 
 In this experiment it will be observed that the air 
 passes with the greatest facility from one end of 
 the wood to the other, and the number of globular 
 particles collected at the lower extremity will show 
 the transit of air to be very great. That it is air, 
 may be proved by placing the hand on the surface 
 of the wood, when very little will pass; and when 
 the hand is removed, it will become abundant. This 
 will sufficiently show the air must have passed 
 through the wood, and has therefore found spaces 
 which are permeable to it. But that there also 
 exists a quantity of air in the wood will be made 
 apparent by taking a piece of wood and removing 
 the resident air, when it will become much heavier. 
 Solid as the piece of wood may appear, it will afford 
 air in great abundance; and, although it may appear 
 generally to float, it is much heavier than water. 
 The pine or the elm has the specific gravity of 1.46, 
 and the oak 1.54; so that, it is obvious, when they 
 are deprived of the air which gives them buoyancy, 
 they must sink in water. 
 
14 - 
 
 The air being removed, certain spaces must have 
 been left vacant; and if it be true that air, by the 
 force of atmospheric pressure, can be made to pene¬ 
 trate the substance of wood, there is reason to 
 believe that when wood is exposed to the operation 
 of Mr. Kyan’s process, water may be made to enter. 
 That which is accomplished by removing the pres¬ 
 sure of the atmosphere, is effected by the affinity of 
 the bichloride of mercury for the albumen, with 
 which it has come in contact when it enters the 
 vessels of the wood. After the immersion of tim¬ 
 ber in the solution for about twelve hours, some¬ 
 thing like the ebullition of soda-water will be per¬ 
 ceived, which arises partly from the chlorine pro¬ 
 ceeding from the solution, and partly from the air 
 contained in the wood itself. The wood being filled 
 with the solution, ebullition ceases, because the bi¬ 
 chloride has been converted into protochloride, and 
 there is no longer any escape of the other propor¬ 
 tion of the chlorine, which constitutes the bichloride. 
 
 Wood is also penetrable by substances, which, 
 though apparently fluid, are of a species of fluidity 
 different to water. Dr. Birkbeck made an experi¬ 
 ment by taking a piece of wood of great firmness 
 and protected laterally by sealing-wax to prevent 
 the air escaping, and caused a quantity of mercury 
 to pass through it. The mercury was placed under 
 the pressure of the atmosphere by the air-pump, so 
 that it might have additional force to its own 
 weight, and the mercury was seen descending in a 
 
 5 
 
15 
 
 rapid manner by a vast number of streams through 
 the extremity of the wood. There was, therefore, 
 sufficient reason to believe that wood is penetrable 
 to fluid; and, according to the observations previ¬ 
 ously offered, that albumen makes a part of the 
 wood. Albumen is a substance exceedingly dis¬ 
 posed to change, and might be expected to be so 
 from its being a quaternary compound. Gay Lussac, 
 in analysing animal albumen, has found that it 
 consists of 2 parts of nitrogen, 6 of oxygen, 17 of 
 
 carbon, and 13 of hydrogen ; or 
 
 
 Nitrogen 
 
 15.705 
 
 Oxygen 
 
 23.872 
 
 Carbon 
 
 52.883 
 
 Hydrogen 
 
 7.540 
 
 
 100. 
 
 And it is probable, if vegetable albumen were ana¬ 
 lysed, these would be found to be its parts existing 
 in nearly the same proportion. In all compounds, the 
 more numerous the ingredients the weaker is their 
 affinity. The most beautiful and elaborate of the 
 compounds which nature has produced,—the vege¬ 
 table and animal compounds, — on account of that 
 affinity which results from their complicated forms, 
 change more quickly than those compounds which 
 are merely binary, and which form such compounds 
 ultimately. Thus, for example, if 1000 parts of gum 
 be taken, it will be found to consist of 586 parts of 
 water, or oxygen and hydrogen in the exact pro¬ 
 portions which form that quantity of water, and 414 
 of carbon, and is therefore a hydrate of carbon. 
 
16 
 
 Lignin was also found in the analysis of Dr. Prout 
 to consist of 500 parts of water and 500 of carbon 
 in 1000. So that, in the decomposition of woody 
 matter or gum, the tendency is, first, to arrange 
 themselves in one compound—water; and then, if any 
 oxygen be present, to give to the carbon that 
 oxygen, and thus form a second minor compound— 
 carbonic acid. Vegetable albumen is, therefore, 
 more easily decompounded, and sooner falls to 
 decay than any other. It is also the seat of another 
 extraordinary change: in it are the germs of vari¬ 
 ous fungous bodies, of the Boletus, Agaricus, Ly- 
 coperdon, Mucor, &c., which occasionally expand 
 or germinate. The germination, however, is not 
 produced by decomposition, nor does it produce 
 decomposition, but simply occurs because a soil 
 is provided for the germs by the decomposi¬ 
 tion of the albumen: and this is the first sign, 
 in many instances, of the occurrence of Dry 
 Rot. It will easily be seen that germs will 
 pass through tubes which mercury and water will 
 pass, because there are new animal existences 
 brought to our knowledge, which are far smaller in 
 all probability than the substances which have pe¬ 
 netrated vegetable bodies. For instance, the Monas 
 and others of the order of Infusoria, of which Professor 
 Ehrenberg gives an account, and states that in the 
 twelfth part of an inch there are 28,000, and in an 
 entire square inch no less than 500,000,000: hence 
 it will be easily understood there may be vegetable 
 germs small enough to be introduced through the 
 
17 
 
 spongioles of the roots. They acquire a residence 
 in those particular vessels where albumen abounds, 
 and there, in consequence of decomposition of the 
 albuminous matter, begin to vegetate, and form those 
 parasitical productions which have beenabsurdly said 
 by some writers, at the commencement of the present 
 century, to be the cause, and not the effect, of the dry 
 rot. Dr. Birkbeck here exhibited a Fungus, which 
 was taken from some timber at Shoreditch church, 
 and owed its existence entirely to the decomposition 
 that hadthere occurred. 
 
 Some very remarkable instances are related in a 
 late number of the Quarterly Review, concerning 
 an extensive rotting in a quantity of timber in one 
 of the Government vards, where destruction took 
 place to a very great extent without the slightest 
 appearance of any of those fungous productions, 
 though there were some instances in which fungous 
 productions did occur. 
 
 It might be said if water was necessary to the 
 decomposition of albumen, the ordinary process 
 of seasoning, which consists in simply placing the 
 wood where it may dry, is sufficient alone to pre¬ 
 vent decomposition, because the water by that pro¬ 
 cess would be removed. It must be remembered, 
 however, that the utmost drying that has ever been 
 effected, either by long exposure to the sun and air, 
 or by enclosure in rooms heated with air or steam, 
 never succeeds in removing the whole of the water 
 from the substance of the wood. Count Rumford 
 found, after having done all he could to dry a piece 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 of wood, that it contained one-fourth part of its 
 weight of water, and that in ordinary cases two- 
 fifths only consisted of solid matter. This is quite 
 enough to begin the decomposition, and, therefore, 
 if the difficulty of freeing the wood from that por¬ 
 tion of water alone existed, it would be sufficient 
 to induce the adoption of a mode rendering the 
 albumen undecomposable in despite of the water, 
 which can never be removed. 
 
 Dr. Birkbeck then observed, that, having now 
 examined the properties of the agent by which the 
 effect intended is to be produced,—the nature of 
 the substance on which it is designed to act,—and 
 the condition of the cavities and spaces within which 
 the action is to occur,—the result of the experiments 
 performed by Mr. Kyan will be better under¬ 
 stood. 
 
 After immersing the wood in a solution of the corro¬ 
 sive sublimate, it still remains in a state to influence 
 chemical tests or agents; so that at any time it will 
 be easy to detect, by a simple experiment, whether 
 timber has been prepared by Mr. Kyan’s process. 
 The effect may be observed by taking a piece of 
 simple deal, that has not undergone the process, and 
 applying a few drops of hydro-sulphuret of am¬ 
 monia, when no effect will be produced; but 
 when the same test is applied to a piece of wood 
 which has been immersed in the solution, a dark 
 stain will be instantly left upon it. Thus the pre¬ 
 sence of the protecting substance is proved by the 
 contactof a little hydro-sulphuret of ammonia, occa- 
 
19 
 
 sioning no change in the simple wood, and producing 
 a black mark instantaneously on its application to 
 wood previously immersed in the solution of corro¬ 
 sive sublimate. This evidently shows that among 
 the fibres, in the very substance of the wood, some 
 of the calomel remains behind. It was the case 
 with some specimens of linen examined by Professor 
 Faraday, which had been long immersed in the 
 solution of corrosive sublimate. Upon simply 
 washing in water, he found they yielded no evidence 
 of any process having taken place, but when he 
 applied nitric acid he obtained an action of the 
 mercurial matter within the substance, and rendered 
 it evident. 
 
 The manner in which the efficacy of Mr. Kyan’s 
 process can be demonstrated is exceedingly simple. 
 Dr. 13. shewed two pieces of linen, one subjected to 
 immersion in the solution of bichloride of mercury; 
 the other in its ordinary state. The piece which had 
 been immersed, after remaining in the Fungus Pit, 
 where all was decaying around, had not lost any of 
 its tenacity of substance, nor was it in the slightest 
 degree impaired. Substances of this kind, placed in 
 an ordinary cellar, would undergo a change similar 
 to that of the piece not prepared. It appeared, 
 decayed, as if it had been burned, yet it had had no 
 fire; its elements had been rent asunder by their 
 own action, aided bv the circumstances in which the 
 vegetable matter was placed. There was before 
 him another specimen of linen that had been placed 
 
 b 2 
 
20 
 
 in a cellar in the neighbourhood of Waterloo Bridge. 
 Though a canvass of considerable thickness, by 
 being placed in a situation of a certain temperature 
 that was damp, it had been rendered perfectly 
 fragile, and its tenacity completely destroyed. 
 Likewise cords on which weights had been sus¬ 
 pended, in a similar situation, had become so brittle 
 that the weights were permitted to fall. But the 
 samples prepared by Mr. Kyan exhibited no appear¬ 
 ance of mildew or dustiness, none of the powder of 
 decomposition which the others presented. They 
 retained the whole firmness of their fabric, and exhi¬ 
 bited full proof that vegetable matter, in its more 
 simple form, is rendered perfectly secure, by the 
 power of corrosive sublimate, against the influence 
 of mildew and damp, as well as the other causes of 
 Dry Bot in vegetable matter. 
 
 He requested attention and observation to the 
 hollow and decayed condition of a section, on the 
 table, of a mast; its outside appeared exceedingly 
 fair and sufficient, but on looking down into the 
 middle of what ought to be its substance, it was a 
 mere shell of wood ; so that there remained but an 
 external substance of about an inch in thickness, 
 which, under certain circumstances of difficulty, 
 would become totally inefficient, and lead to the 
 destruction of the vessel. It appears as if it had 
 been bored out, and that the Dry Rot had acted 
 like an auger, and made almost a cylindrical hole. 
 It had decayed regularly according to the manner in 
 
21 
 
 which the albumen w as arranged ; and it is probable, 
 on account of the external strata having been better 
 dried before the paint w r as applied, they had retained 
 their firmness, while the interior, though better 
 circumstanced with respect to decay, had been 
 entirely destroyed. 
 
 lie had also some comparative experiments of 
 great importance: two pieces of w r ood, which were 
 placed together in a pit in Westminster, where a 
 great deal of rotting was going on; that which had 
 been previously immersed was perfectly sound, 
 while the other, to which nothing had been done, 
 might be picked to pieces, and was unable to resist 
 the lightest force applied to it. These being pieces 
 of the same wood, and the same part of the wood, 
 were a fair comparative experiment. There were 
 also two slabs of deal, which had been allowed to 
 retain a portion of alburnum. In that part of the 
 wedge which had undergone no preparation, the 
 alburnum w r as perfectly pulverulent, and crumbled 
 into a powder beneath the pressure of the fingers. 
 The other piece of this sappy wood, which had been 
 prepared, was like heartwood, and manifested no 
 tendency to crumble, though it had been cut with a 
 knife. 
 
 In like manner, in two specimens of wood cleft 
 from each other, the one prepared by immersion in 
 the solution, and the other unprepared, the same 
 relative hardness and want of hardness was exhi¬ 
 bited; so that, even in this instance, the material 
 
advantage of this process of preparing was evident, 
 for that sap which would not answer for use may 
 be made useful by the hardening and preserving 
 effects of the solution. 
 
 The next specimens before him were two pieces 
 of wood, prepared and unprepared, which were 
 placed beneath a floor at the house of Messrs. Harris 
 and Warner, hatters, in Southwark. The spot in 
 which they were placed was so efficacious in pro¬ 
 ducing Dry Rot, that every three years the floors 
 were obliged to be relaid. In the course of three 
 years the unprepared piece of flooring had lost all 
 tenacity, and would serve no purpose for which a 
 floor could be desired, while the piece lying along 
 with it, having been previously immersed in the 
 solution, manifested not the slightest appearance of 
 decay, and had produced no animal or vegetable 
 matter, but became harder and more perfect than 
 when it was taken from the sound tree. Facts of 
 this kind, attested by the parties who witnessed 
 the progress and result of these experiments, 
 appeared to him (Dr. B.) completely to settle the 
 question. 
 
 He (Dr. B.) would now mention some instances 
 of Dry Rot that had occurred recently.—A number 
 of fragments were before the members, which were 
 removed from the floor of the London Institution, 
 on the occasion of some recent repairs. This build¬ 
 ing had been erected about nineteen years. It is 
 true it was erected on a spot that not long ago was 
 
little better than a swamp or morass; but the archi¬ 
 tect had placed the floor on timber that was sup¬ 
 ported at a considerable height above the ground, 
 by means of iron pedestals. In spite of all this, 
 however, about three years ago, when there hap¬ 
 pened to be some pressure, the floor gave way. The 
 wood could be pulled in pieces with the greatest 
 ease, and was deprived of that character which 
 would render it fit for building. The floor had been 
 entirely removed, and wood prepared by Mr. Kyan 
 wisely introduced; and he (Dr. Ii.) trusted that 
 some persons present, who might live to see any 
 repairs hereafter performed, would compare the 
 effect of similar causes operating on prepared and 
 unprepared wood. 
 
 Another important advantage arising from Mr. 
 Kyan’s process was, that wood of a very inferior 
 description could be rendered fit for the ordinary 
 purposes of building. On the table was a piece of 
 green larch, such as was to be used for sleepers in 
 the construction of the Southampton Railway. 
 When it was put into the solution, it had cracked 
 in various radial directions—some of the openings 
 being large enough to admit a penny-piece. The 
 wood was now rendered perfectly solid, and a slight 
 alteration in the level shewed where the fissures 
 had been. This was a remarkable illustration of 
 the manner in which the corrosive sublimate acts 
 upon the wood. The diameter, which had been 
 perfectly level, was now distinctly curved; and 
 
24 
 
 the two extremities were gathered up toward the 
 vertical part of the wood. The spherical surface 
 was given to the diameter by the process, when all 
 the parts which were separated became dragged 
 together; and the result was, that it had acquired 
 a degree of firmness it would never otherwise 
 have had, and was now fit to be employed at any 
 time for any of the purposes for which wood 
 may be used. Thus, by the change this process 
 effects, in many species of wood, that which would 
 be rejected on account of insufficiency will be ren¬ 
 dered competent for every purpose the architect 
 may desire. 
 
 It is not, however, to these larger concerns this 
 process is alone applicable: it might be applied with 
 equal effect to Casks, &e., and more particularly for 
 the preservation of Hop-poles; and if a calculation 
 were made of the number consumed, it would be 
 found to be no inconsiderable matter. If the num¬ 
 ber of acres occupied in the cultivation of hops in 
 the Kingdom is taken to be 50,000, and if the culti¬ 
 vator every year is exposed to a cost of 10/. for the 
 supply of new poles, and for the repair of old ones, 
 upon every acre; and those poles are required to be 
 renewed every six years in the ordinary way, but if 
 prepared by Mr. Kyan's process the poles would last 
 for thirty years; then it will be at once evident that 
 a sum of 400,000/. will be annually saved upon the 
 500,000/., or, in other words, the annual expense 
 to the hop-grower would be, by the adoption of 
 
25 
 
 Mr. Kyan’s process, one-fifth of what he at present 
 incurs. 
 
 The mode in which the application of the solu¬ 
 tion takes place, is in a Tank similar to the model on 
 the table. (See Frontispiece.) They are constructed 
 of different dimensions, from 20 to 80 feet in length, 
 6 to 10 in breadth, and 3 to 8 in depth. The tim¬ 
 ber to be prepared is placed in the tank, and secured 
 by a cross-beam to prevent its rising to the surface. 
 The wood being thus secured, the solution is then 
 admitted from the cistern above, and for a time all 
 remains perfectly still. In the course of 10 or 12 
 hours, the water is thrown into great agitation by 
 the effervescence occasioned by the expulsion of the 
 air fixed in the wood, by the force with which the 
 fluid is drawn in by chemical affinity, and by the 
 escape of that portion of the chlorine or muriatic 
 acid gas which is disengaged during the process. 
 In the course of 12 hours this commotion ceases, 
 and in the space of 7 to 14 days (varying accord¬ 
 ing to the diameter of the wood,) the change is com¬ 
 plete, so that as the corrosive sublimate is not an 
 expensive article, the albumen may be converted 
 into an indecomposable substance at a very moderate 
 rate. But this is not all, the seasoning will take 
 place in the course of two or three weeks. Instead, 
 therefore, of the Government requiring a three 
 years’ stock of timber for the purpose of seasoning 
 (as is the case in many of the Government, as well 
 as private yards,) the effect by Mr. Kyan’s process 
 
26 
 
 would be produced in a few days. The loss which 
 arises from a diminution of one-third of the timber 
 in the progress of seasoning, as well as the injury 
 sustained by the sheds and pits in which the timber 
 is placed to season, would be entirely prevented, and 
 the whole secured from the destruction of dry rot 
 by a short and economical process. 
 
 There were, however, examples remaining on the 
 table which were still more striking, and shewing 
 the importance of Mr. Kyan’s discovery to the Bri¬ 
 tish Navy ; and he (Dr. Birkbeck) had reserved his 
 remarks upon them from a deep sense of the mag¬ 
 nitude of the benefits this discovery would confer 
 on every Maritime Nation whose seamen were ob¬ 
 jects of solicitude and pride, and whose revenues 
 imposed economy. 
 
 A piece of oak was on the table, which had been 
 introduced into one of the most villanous cavities 
 (with regard to the condition of the wood) that could 
 possibly exist. He alluded to the fungus pit at 
 Woolwich, where it is said no substance, either 
 vegetable or animal, can by possibility escape de¬ 
 struction. The piece of wood to which he (Dr. 
 Birkbeck) called most particular attention, had been 
 five years in that severe place of test, surrounded 
 by decaying matter—by the decaying property of 
 the pit—by the heat generated by that decay—and 
 by the quantity of carbonic acid which always exists 
 in the pit, and escapes in great quantities when the 
 doors are opened. After remaining three years in 
 
27 
 
 this pit, it was exposed to the air for six months, 
 and, in order to test it still more completely, it 
 was again introduced into the pit, where it re¬ 
 mained for two years longer. This is a probation 
 which must be considered quite sufficient to decide 
 the question. 
 
 There was not the slightest disintegration or 
 mouldering of any of its fibres,—it exhibited no 
 appearance of generating any animal or vegetable 
 matter,—it retained all the hardness, elasticity, and 
 difficulty of bending, that belongs to the oak,—and, 
 therefore, it may truly be said to have remained 
 perfect in spite of all the circumstances to which it 
 had been exposed. The truth of what had hap¬ 
 pened to this piece of wood, is established by a me¬ 
 morandum which was signed by those who were 
 spectators of the removal. It states, “ That on the 
 “ 19 th of July, 1833, the wood was removed from 
 “His Majesty's Fungus Pit at Woolwich, in the 
 “ presence of the subscribing gentlemen ; that the 
 “ block of timber that was taken out formed part of 
 “a larger block,—that it was sawn through, and 
 “ split into three pieces in their presence, and that 
 “ it was found to be in a sound and healthy state, 
 “ perfectly free from insects, and every appearance 
 “ or symptom of dry rot or decay." 
 
 He would now advert to a most important fact^ 
 relative to the effect of Mr. Kyans process in the 
 preparation of ship timber. Recently some very 
 ingenious gentlemen have chosen to believe that, in 
 the application of timber thus prepared for ships. 
 
28 
 
 the crews might be effected injuriously by the 
 exhalation or evaporation of the corrosive subli¬ 
 mate, forgetting, or not knowing, that the corrosive 
 sublimate is decomposed, and that it will not sub¬ 
 lime at any such temperature as ever takes place in 
 the hold of a ship. But facts and experiments, as 
 far as they have been made in the building of ships, 
 and also in their being inhabited by seamen, tend to 
 the proof that ships constructed of prepared timber 
 will be more healthy than in those built of ordinary 
 timber. One fact in science, all will allow, will 
 convey more conviction than a multitude of sup¬ 
 positions, however strong and apparently derived 
 from just principles. But he (Dr. Birkbeck) re¬ 
 quested attention, previous to the mention of that 
 fact which he regarded as most important and 
 conclusive, while he stated that it was in accord¬ 
 ance with every true principle, as well as correct 
 in theoretical deduction, that ships should be 
 more healthy when built of the prepared timber; 
 for timber, when decomposing or decomposed, must 
 affect the surrounding atmosphere,—more especially 
 the confined air in the hold of a ship,—and, conse¬ 
 quently, such vitiated air must tend to promote the 
 decomposition in the wood; and thus, by action and 
 reaction, both vessel and crew suffer from atmos¬ 
 pheric deterioration. On the other hand, timber 
 saturated with a solution of corrosive sublimate 
 would be antiputrescent, and neither be the cause 
 of any vitiated state of the internal atmosphere of 
 the ship, nor be affected by it. 
 
29 
 
 The French Government, who are ever alive to 
 every improvement, and are anxious to remedy the 
 defects in their vessels, have, in the statistical 
 accounts of the French navy, most clearly proved 
 that the mortality of the crews is far greater on 
 board new built than in old vessels; and this they 
 attribute solely to the active and profuse exhalation 
 arising from the fresh timber while generating dry 
 rot, and subsequently decomposing; and the sick¬ 
 ness of the crew is further increased by the exha¬ 
 lation of the sulphuretted hydrogen from the bilge 
 water , which of course, permeating as it does in 
 small portions through every seam and interstice of 
 the decomposed and decaying timbers, becomes, 
 when collected in the hold, quite putrescent, and 
 the incessant source of noxious vapours. 
 
 Now he (Dr. Birkbeck) would state the fact , 
 which appeared to him to silence at once all casuis¬ 
 tical objections to the application of Mr. Kyan’s 
 process to the British Navy, as well as to every 
 other class of vessels. 
 
 In August, 1831, there was a ship, the “Samuel 
 Enderby,” built at Cowes, of 420 tons, in which 
 every timber, sail and rope, was prepared according 
 to Mr. Kyan's process. During the building of this 
 vessel, in the yard of Mr. White, the shipwrights 
 were unusually healthy, most unequivocally proving 
 that no volatilization does take place from the tim¬ 
 ber; for if such were the case, it would occur im¬ 
 mediately after immersion in the solution, and those 
 
30 
 
 persons engaged in building the vessel would per¬ 
 ceive, or be affected by it. Therefore it is very 
 satisfactory and conclusive, if no volatilization takes 
 place in building the vessel, and shipwrights expe¬ 
 rience the reverse of any ill effects from working 
 among prepared timbers, that the crews of such 
 vessels may navigate them with additional confi¬ 
 dence, both with regard to health as well as safety. 
 
 The “ Samuel Enderby” came up channel to 
 London to be fitted for the South Sea Fishery, and 
 just before she sailed, after three months of that 
 very hot weather which all must remember, her 
 hold was examined, and the bilge water , to the 
 surprise of every nautical person, was found to be 
 perfectly sweet, both as to taste and smell. He 
 (Dr. Birkbeck) understood that this fact had, among 
 naval men, excited the greatest surprise, and was 
 considered alone as carrying conviction to every 
 mind of the salubrity as well as other advantages of 
 the process. 
 
 No further comment did he deem necessary, as 
 he thought what had been shewn, both by reasoning 
 and facts, that evening, was sufficient to prove most 
 incontestibly that at length an effectual antidote was 
 discovered and established for the prevention of 
 that bane in timber, which had cost the nation such 
 vast sums, and which was dreaded in every domestic 
 building. 
 
 What would be the result of the application of 
 this plan to the Navy, he (Dr. Birkbeck) would 
 
 5 
 
31 
 
 point out by what was stated in a very able work 
 from the pen of Mercator, which had been published 
 on the subject of the expenses occasioned in the 
 Building and Repair of vessels in the Navy. The 
 cost of an average number of years would there be 
 seen, and the result easily understood, without a 
 detail of the particulars, in the quotation he was 
 about to read. 
 
 “ Having thus,” says the writer, “ particularly called your 
 “ attention to the Character and Amount of the Repairs of 
 “the Navy, I shall proceed to point out what would be the 
 “probable Annual Saving to the country by a Certain Pre- 
 “ vention of Dry Rot in Timber. On careful investigation of 
 “ the subject, it will be obvious that enormous diminution of 
 “expense would arise from various resources! but I shall 
 “ found my calculation on the figures of the Estimates, and 
 “subsequently merely advert to the additional saving from 
 “ other considerations. The average duration of ships built 
 
 “ of ordinary timber has been variously stated—seven, eight, 
 “ and ten years. If Dry Rot were prevented, and the ships 
 “ subject only to ordinary casualties, it may be fearlessly 
 
 “ asserted that thirty years at least would be their average 
 “ duration. 
 
 “ Assuming such difference,—therefore, if in a Navy, built 
 “ and repaired of Timber, whose duration is ten years, in 
 “ order to keep up the number by Building, as well as to 
 “ Repair them, the annual average sum of 1,190,613/.,—it is 
 “ very evident that ships built and repaired of timber whose 
 “ duration would be thirty years, would have required only 
 “the annual average sum of 396,871/., to keep up their 
 
 “ number by Building and Repairs; and there would have 
 
 “ been, under such circumstances, an annual saving to the 
 “country of 793,742/., or, in the twenty years, the total of 
 « 15,974,840/. 
 
32 
 
 “ It may be urged that this calculation is not applicable to 
 “ the present time of peace: but the Navy Estimates for all 
 “Repairs, from 1822 to 1832, amounted to 7,971, 8521. Is. 4 d. y 
 “ being an annual average of nearly 800,000/. Let the same 
 “ principle of calculation be applied to these latest Estimates, 
 “ in times of peace, and the amount will be sufficient to excite 
 “ the most serious attention to this important subject.” 
 
 In fact, remarked Dr. Birkbeck, the application 
 of this discovery may be said as yet to be in em¬ 
 bryo, as the extent to which it may be carried will 
 be better understood when it has been contemplated 
 properly by the public. It is, therefore, earnestly 
 to be hoped that those who are concerned in the 
 formation and preservation of the British Navy 
 will pay the greatest attention to the subject; and 
 that those also who are employed in a less extended 
 sphere will not neglect an opportunity of pro¬ 
 tecting the buildings they erect. If it be true that 
 every man’s house is his castle, it is very desirable 
 that the foundation of that castle should always 
 be secure; so that while he believes himself to be 
 placed in a spot that is impregnable, he should not 
 find it in hourly danger of tumbling about his ears. 
 So with that Navy, which is the pride and bulwark 
 of Great Britain, it is to be hoped (although it is de¬ 
 sirable it should long be laid up in ordinary,) that it 
 should be rendered secure, when called into active 
 service ,from the ravages of that destructive evil which 
 has hitherto cost the country such enormous annual 
 sums. Indeed, it may truly be said that in a ma¬ 
 ritime war, the dry rot in ships has hitherto been 
 the greatest expense to the country. But there is 
 
33 
 
 another class of vessels about which all must feel 
 deeply interested. Our ships are navigating in 
 every direction, and it is not to be endured that the 
 lives of our seamen and the property of our coun¬ 
 trymen should be endangered by the instability of 
 the material of which these ships are composed, when 
 there exists a power and a prospect of giving per¬ 
 fect firmness and durability to the substances em¬ 
 ployed in their construction. It is also most desir¬ 
 able that, while British ships are spreading the 
 fruits of our arts, our science, and our civilization, 
 through every part of the known world, they may 
 not have to encounter more dangers than those 
 which arise from the insecurity of winds and waves ; 
 and that while we extend the wealth of Great Bri¬ 
 tain over every portion of the habitable globe, we 
 may also disseminate the results and advantages of 
 such important discoveries as that which has this 
 evening been the subject of our consideration.” 
 
 KNl) OF LECTURE. 
 
 C 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 ADVANTAGES TO TIMBER, &c. BY THE APPLICATION 
 
 OF 
 
 MR. KYAN’S PROCESS. 
 
 Prevention of Dry Rot. 
 
 The process here employed, completely and with certainty 
 prevents the possibility of the destructive effects of the active 
 principle which nature employs to cause decomposition and 
 decay. When this principle is exposed to moisture within 
 certain degrees of temperature, fermentation commences, and, 
 under various forms and modifications, proceeds from partial 
 to total decomposition. Corrosive sublimate neutralizes this 
 primary element of fermentation, forming a new chemical 
 compound, which is solid, insoluble, inert, and does not 
 attract moisture. By this chemical change the fibre of the 
 wood is rendered as indestructible as charred timber, when, 
 by the action of fire, the same fermentative principle is totally 
 decomposed or destroyed. 
 
 The perfect and certain Seasoning of Timber. 
 
 A desideratum almost as important as the prevention of 
 Dry Rot, and for many domestic purposes more so, is the 
 perfect and certain seasoning of timber. To effect the 
 seasoning of timber in the usual way, it is left seldom less 
 
than three years, and often as long as six or eight years, 
 protected from wet, but exposed freely to the air. By this 
 means the destructive principle is dried, and, under common 
 circumstances, rendered inert. But when the timber is 
 afterwards exposed to great moisture, &c. (the fermentative 
 principle being soluble when merely dried), it will sometimes 
 be again called into action. The process already described 
 for the prevention of Dry Rot has not only altogether 
 destroyed this principle, and rendered it inert, but, by 
 making it solid and perfectly insoluble, has removed it from 
 the action of moisture altogether. It has thus lost its 
 hygrometic properties; therefore, prepared or patent-seasoned 
 timber is not liable to those changes of atmosphere which 
 affect that which is seasoned in the common way. It 
 is scarcely necessary to point out the great importance of 
 the process, in this point of view, to joiners, cabinet-makers. 
 Sic. See., inasmuch as all wood, including mahogany, and the 
 finest and most expensive woods, may thus be seasoned, with 
 the greatest certainty and perfection, in the short space of 
 two months, instead of the years at present employed. 
 
 Protection from all Insects, $c. 
 
 During: the time the timber is immersed, the solution 
 insinuates itself into every pore throughout the whole of the 
 wood, and in whatever state the mercury presents itself, 
 either under the form in which it is in the solution, or in 
 the solid form which it assumes when partially decomposed 
 by the fermentative principle; it is equally efficacious in pre¬ 
 venting the destructive effects of animals of every kind. 
 Thus vessels, by being composed of timber prepared in the 
 manner here described, will be protected from the various 
 kinds of animals which adhere to, or injure them, as com¬ 
 pletely as if they were coppered. 
 
36 
 
 Application of the Process to Canada and British Timber. 
 
 Canada timber is much more liable to decay than that 
 grown in the northern parts of Europe, and for this reason 
 is never used in buildings of a superior description. The 
 principle of decay being destroyed as above shewn, this 
 objection is no longer in existence; and this kind of timber 
 may now be employed with as great security as that of a 
 superior quality and higher price. 
 
 The same observation applies with great force to timber of 
 British growth, particularly to that of Scotland, much of 
 which is at present considered of very little, if any value 
 for durable purposes, on account of its extreme liability to 
 decay, whether in exposed situations or otherwise. The pre¬ 
 sent process will therefore render of considerable value plan¬ 
 tations of larch, firs of all kinds, birch, elm, beech, ash, 
 poplar, &c., which are the chief products of the great 
 wooded estates, and which, when prepared, may be advan¬ 
 tageously employed to most useful purposes. 
 
 Preservation of Canvass, Cordage, Sfc.from Mildew, fyc. 
 
 When canvass, cordage, calico, &c. are exposed to 
 moisture at the usual temperature of the atmosphere, the 
 decaying principle which they possess, in common with all 
 other substances of vegetable and animal origin, is par¬ 
 ticularly active, and will, in the course of a few weeks, 
 destroy their texture to such a degree that they will not 
 even hold together. This was the case with both cauvass 
 and calico, when exposed in the fungus pit in Woolwich 
 Dock-yard from August 1832 to February 1833, as well as 
 in the trial made by Professor Faraday, on pieces placed in 
 the cellar of the Royal Institution from the 10th December, 
 1832, to 21st February, 1833, and from loth December to 
 
37 
 
 the same date. (See page 11.) The corrosive sublimate acts 
 precisely in the same way as on timber, neutralizing the 
 element of decay, converting it by mutual combination into 
 an insoluble, inert, and indestructible compound, which 
 therefore cannot be removed by subsequent moisture or wet, 
 but becomes as much a part of the cloth, &c. as the fibres 
 of which it is composed. The destructive principle being 
 removed by being rendered inert, moisture has no longer 
 any substance on which it can act, and the fibre is preserved 
 in its full strength. 
 
 Purposes for which the Prepared Timber, fyc. 
 would be highly useful. 
 
 HOUSES,* 
 
 FARM-HOUSES, 
 
 OUT-HOUSES, 
 
 f Large timbers 
 [ Floors 
 
 < Roofs,gutters,&c. 
 Furniture, and all 
 joiner’s work, 
 
 V 
 
 Preserved from Dry 
 Rot, and perfectly 
 seasoned. 
 
 Posts 
 
 Rails 
 
 Gates 
 
 Park paling 
 
 Fences 
 
 Ilop-poles 
 
 Felloes 
 
 Spokes 
 
 Shafts, &c. &c. 
 
 1 
 
 For these purposes any kind of 
 timber may now be used, instead 
 of the more expensive kinds. It 
 >■ will also supersede, in many cases, 
 the employment of iron, from its 
 acquired durability and greater 
 economy. 
 
 * The following is an estimate of the extra expense of using prepared 
 
 timber in buildings: 
 
 First rate, 25 loads of timber. 'I 
 
 Second do. 12 do. [ At an additional expense to the landlord 
 
 Third do. 10 do. of twenty shillings per load. 
 
 Fourth do. S do. 
 
PUBLIC WORKS. 
 
 All wood exposed to 
 moisture , as in 
 
 Docks 
 
 Bridges 
 
 Piers, jetties, &c. 
 
 Canal gates and works 
 Sleepers for rail-roads, 
 instead of stone 
 
 Piles for foundations, j 
 ike. ) 
 
 Preserved from Dry Rot and 
 Insects. 
 
 NAVIGATION. 
 
 VESSELS OF ALL KINDS. 
 
 Steam-boats, Barges, 
 
 Masts and Spars, Boats, &c. 
 
 CANVASS, CALICO, &c. 
 
 FOR 
 
 Sails, 
 
 Awnings for all purposes. 
 
 Covers for carts, 
 
 Bags and sacks. 
 
 Cloth blinds for houses, 
 
 ROPES AND CORDAGE 
 
 * 
 
 FOR 
 
 Shipping, Whalers’ lines. 
 
 Warehouses, Fishing nets. 
 
 Cranes, Garden nets, &e. 
 
 Tents, 
 
 Rick cloths, 
 Tarpaulings, 
 Hammocks, &c. 
 
39 
 
 COPIES 
 
 OP 
 
 OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS AND CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 WITH 
 
 THE ADMIRALTY. 
 
 Admiralty ; March 4, 1828. 
 
 Sir: Jn the absence of Captain Spencer, I am commanded by 
 his Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your letter of the 3dinst. on the subject of the Dry Rot, 
 which has been sent to Sir By am Martin, at the Navy Office. 
 
 I am, sir, your most obedient servant, 
 
 John Miller. 
 
 To J. H. Kxyan, Esq. 
 
 Navy Office; March 6, 1828. 
 
 Sir: His Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral has sent 
 me your letter of the 3d, and I have to acquaint you, that any 
 proposition on the subject of preserving timber, which you may 
 address to the Commissioners of the Navy, or to me, shall receive 
 due consideration. 
 
 I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
 
 T. B. Martin. 
 
 To Mr. Howard Kyan. 
 
 In compliance with these instructions from the Comptroller 
 of the Navy, Mr. Kyan prepared a piece of English oak, 
 which was, on the 9th of June, 1828, submitted to trial in 
 the pit, subject to foul air and fungus mould, for trying and 
 proving the durability of timber, at his Majesty’s Dock-yard 
 at Woolwich. In the month of March, 1830, application 
 
40 
 
 was made to the Navy Board for an Inspection and Report 
 thereon, which was as follows: 
 
 Navy Office; March 6, 1830. 
 
 Sir: I have received and laid before the Commissioners of 
 the Navy your letter of the 3 d inst., requesting an order to 
 inspect the piece of timber prepared by you in 1828, for the pre¬ 
 vention of the Dry Rot; and am commanded to acquaint you 
 that they do not consider it should be examined under three 
 years at least, as no inference can be drawn of the effects of your 
 process under that period. 
 
 I am, sir, your humble servant, 
 
 G. Smith. 
 
 To Mr. J. H. Kyan. 
 
 At the expiration of three years an Inspection was granted, 
 and a Report obtained, of which the following is a copy: 
 
 Navy Office; July 9, 1831. 
 
 Sir: I am commanded by the Commissioners of the Navy to 
 acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th inst., and to 
 acquaint you that the piece of oak timber prepared with your 
 solution for preventing the Dry Rot, has been examined by the 
 officers of Woolwich-yard, and reported to be SOUND. I am 
 to add that, with a view to ascertain further the merits of your 
 solution, the Board will give you an opportunity of preparing , 
 at your own expense, some pieces of timber, to be put in that 
 part of a ship most liable to decay. 
 
 I am, sir, your humble servant, 
 
 G. Smith. 
 
 To Mr. Kyan. 
 
 In December, 1831, the following Report, from the Sur¬ 
 veyor of the Navy, was made to the Lords of the Admiralty : 
 
 “ Mr. Kyan, about three years and a half since, prepared a 
 piece of Oak as a preventive to the Dry Rot: this specimen was 
 
41 
 
 put into a Capstan-hole at Woolwich Yard , which place is sub¬ 
 ject to the Fungus Rot. After having been there for THREE 
 YEARS, it was found to be SOUND. This circumstance in¬ 
 duced the Navy Board to request Mr. Kyan, in July last , to 
 prepare some other pieces, to be put in such situations in a ship 
 as are the most subject to decay; to be placed in competition 
 with similar pieces of timber treated according to the present 
 practice in the King's Yards. As this gentleman has not ex¬ 
 plained the nature of his composition, I can give no opinion 
 thereon. 
 
 “ R. Sepping. 
 
 “ December 20, 183]. 
 
 “ To the Right Hon. Sir James Graham, Bart." 
 
 It will be observed, by the preceding letter of Sir R. 
 Sepping, and by reference to the one of Mr. Smith, of 
 March, 1830, that this piece of Timber, at this period, 
 (December, 1831,) had been undergoing the proof of the 
 Fungus Pit for a period of three years, viz. from June, 1828, 
 to July, 1831. 
 
 In July, 1831, it was taken out of the pit, and left exposed 
 to atmospheric air, under the custody of the Government 
 Officers, until September, 1832, being a period of fifteen 
 months. It was then replaced in the pit, in order to try 
 if the alteration of circumstances had diminished the effect 
 of Mr. Kvan’s process. At the same time were placed in 
 the pit several pieces of Canvass and Calico, both prepared 
 and unprepared. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 19th of February, 1833, the Fungus Pit 
 was opened, in the presence of Professor Faraday, J. G. 
 Lockhart, Esq., William Farrell, Esq., Architect, of 
 Dublin, and several other scientific gentlemen; when the 
 Cube of Wood, and all the other Prepared Timber, Canvass, 
 and Calico, were found to be perfectly sound, and the Unpre¬ 
 pared in rapid progress to decomposition .—(See Quarterly 
 Review for April, No. 97, p. 132.) 
 
On Friday, the 19th of July, 1833, a further inspection 
 of the pit took place, in the presence of Captain Warren, 
 c. u., Resident Superintendent of his Majesty’s Dock Yard, 
 at Woolwich, and several other gentlemen, consisting of 
 Members of Parliament, Merchants, &c. 
 
 The piece of Timber which had been for upwards of fve 
 years under trial of the Admiralty was examined, and found 
 to be perfectly sound in every respect. It was then split 
 through the centre into two pieces, one of which pieces was 
 again divided into two pieces, and a Certificate (of which a 
 copy is subjoined) was attached to one piece, signed and 
 sealed by Captain Warren and the gentlemen present; 
 and this piece may be seen at No. 2, Lime Street square, 
 London. 
 
 “ Memorandum ,— That on the 19/ h July, 1833, we, the 
 undersigned, were present at the opening of the Well or Pit, 
 “ called the Fungus Pit, in his Majesty's Dock Yard, at 
 “ Woolwich, in the county of Kent, and did see this Block of 
 “ Timber taken out of the same. And we hereby certify, that 
 “ it then formed part of a large Block, and that the same was 
 “ immediately sawn through, and divided into three pieces, in 
 “ our presence; and that it was found to be in a sound and 
 “ healthy state, and perfectly free from insects, and from any 
 “ appearance or symptom of Dry Rot or Decay. 
 
 “ Timothy Abraham Curtis, (l.s.) 
 “ Thomas Starling Benson, (l.s.) 
 “ Francis Harvey, (l.s.) 
 
 “ Thomas Wright Nelson, (l.s.) 
 
 “ Samuel Warren, (l.s.) 
 
 (Captain R.N ., C.B. Superintendent 
 of Woolwich Dock Yard.) 
 
 “ John Story Penleaze, (l.s.) 
 
 (M.P. for Southampton.) 
 
 “ J. O. D. Jephson, (l.s.) 
 
 (M.P. for Mallow.)" 
 
43 
 
 ADDITIONAL LETTERS AND TESTIMONIALS. 
 
 Dear Sir, Dublin , 33 , Dawson Street ; April 8, 1834. 
 
 I am favoured with your letter of the 30th ult., requesting I 
 would state to you the opinion I had formed respecting the 
 Timber prepared according to Kyan’s Patent for the preven¬ 
 tion of Dry Rot. 
 
 From the dreadful ravages the Dry Rot has occasioned in 
 buildings that have come under my professional practice, I 
 have long felt most anxious on the subject; it was therefore 
 with great satisfaction that I attended the examination which 
 took place at Woolwich, of the prepared and unprepared 
 blocks of oak that were deposited in the fungus hole of the 
 Dock Yard. 
 
 The blocks that had undergone the Solution were, in my 
 opinion , in a perfect state, while those that had not under¬ 
 gone the process were in an advanced state of decay. I had 
 the curiosity to cut thin pieces from each of the blocks; I 
 found the fibre of what I took off the prepared—quite sound, 
 and that taken off the unprepared—short and brittle. 
 
 It is but a very short time since, on speaking in favour of 
 the process, that I again examined the specimens : the pre¬ 
 pared one preserves all its toughness , while the unprepared 
 has nearly mouldered into powder. 
 
 1 am, dear Sir, yours truly, 
 
 William Farrell, Architect. 
 
 6 
 
44 
 
 Sir, Dorset Street, Salisbury Square ; June 5, 1834. 
 
 Having made trial of “Kyan’s Patent,” as regards its 
 efficacy in seasoning the material to which it is applied, I 
 have much pleasure in stating its complete success in both 
 the experiments I have made; the particulars of which are 
 as follows: 
 
 No. 1 . Hispaniola Mahogany. 
 
 Cut out of the Log . March 9,1833. 
 
 Sent to be saturated . April 12, 1833. 
 
 Used in a Wrythed Handrail. June 21, 1833. 
 
 No. II. Hispaniola Mahogany. 
 
 Cut out of the Log . March 25, 1833. 
 
 Sent to be saturated . June 4,1833. 
 
 Used in a Clampt Flap and Frame ... August 30, 1833. 
 
 In neither of the above instances has there been the least 
 shrinking of the wood since it has been used, nor has the 
 colour of the Mahogany been at all injured by the process. 
 
 I am, 8lc. George Ward. 
 
 Sir, Westminster New Bridewell; February 17, 1834. 
 
 I acknowledge the receipt of yours on the 15th instant, 
 and beg leave to say that you may find me at the Westminster 
 New Bridewell any hour of the day on Thursday next, when 
 I shall be glad to show you the pieces of timber with your 
 own stamp on them, and the duplicate pieces that have not 
 been prepared in your solution, which will afford a very 
 satisfactory result to any person. 
 
 The method I adopted to obtain these results was, first of 
 all to select a piece of defective oak, viz. a piece that had 
 sap on one edge and heart of oak on the other, to obtain a 
 result so much the quicker. 
 
45 
 
 If you examine your order book, you will find that, on the 
 14th of September, 1832, you received some Tie-beams from 
 me to prepare for the New Prison ; with them I sent five 
 small pieces, to be prepared also, for my own satisfaction. 
 These pieces I received September 28, 1832, as prepared by 
 you. On the 30th of September, 1832, I placed the aforesaid 
 five pieces that had been prepared, also the five duplicate 
 pieces that had not been prepared, in a Dry Rot Pit; and to 
 the 30th of November, 1833, I took the aforesaid pieces out, 
 and left them in a dry office until the 14th of February, 1834, 
 when 1 examined them, and obtained the most satisfactory 
 result. The whole of the pieces that had been prepared were as 
 good as when first put in the Hot Pit , both as to spine and 
 sap ; the duplicate pieces that were not prepared are so rot¬ 
 ten in the sappy parts , that you can run a penknife through 
 them; the spiny parts will of course take a longer time to give 
 any Result. I have sent two pieces of oak to the architect of 
 the New Prison; two pieces to my friend, Mr. Nowell, Mason 
 to his Majesty William the Fourth; and have also exhibited 
 two other pieces, and explained the result, to my friend, Mr. 
 Armstrong, Builder. This I have done with pleasure to 
 myself, and I am glad it is to your satisfaction. 
 
 I am, Sir, yours most respectfully, 
 
 W. Butler, 
 
 Resident Clerk of Works, IVestminster New Bridewell. 
 
 In July, 1832, Messrs. Harris and Warner, Hat Makers, 
 Southwark Bridge Road, replaced the floors of a warehouse 
 on their premises; and, in order to try the effects of Mr. 
 Kyan’s Process, part was Timber prepared by him. The 
 result is proved by the following certificates: 
 
 JVo. 1. 
 
 Southwark; February 5, 1831. 
 
 “ Memorandum—That this piece of Deal Board (JVo. I,) to 
 “ which the Certificate is attached, formed part of the Flooring 
 
4 G 
 
 “ 0 / « House on our premises, in Southwark, subject to Dry Rot, 
 “ so much so that it became necessary to replace the floors every 
 “ three years. In the month of July, 1832, it teas laid down, 
 “ and next to it a piece of Prepared, of Mr. Kyan’s, No. 2. The 
 “ effect of each is exhibitel by the annexed pieces, and taken up 
 “ in January, 1834, in our presence. 
 
 “ Given under our hand, 
 
 (Signed) “ Harris and Warner. 
 
 “ Charles Brown.” 
 
 cYo. 2. 
 
 “Southwark; February 5, 1834. 
 
 “Memorandum—That the piece of Deal Board (No. 2,) 
 “ to which this Certificate is attached, for med part of a Flooring- 
 “ boardprepared by Mr. Kyan’s Process, and laid down in a House 
 “ on our property, in Southwark, in the month of July, 1832, 
 “ and taken up in the month of January, 1834, in our presence, 
 “ ivhen it was found to be in a sound and healthy state, free 
 “from insects and worms, and from any appearance or symptom 
 il of Dry Rot or Decay. 
 
 “ Given under our hand, 
 
 (Signed) “ Harris and Warner, 
 “ Charles Brown.” 
 
 My dear Sir, 8 , Wellington street ; July, 1833 . 
 
 I was greatly disappointed to have missed the pleasure of 
 shewing you the progress of your experiment. I have already 
 stated to you that our vaults are unusually subject to Dry Rot 
 and the growth of Fungus, which does us no little mischief, 
 and could be checked only by letting in currents of air, which 
 would cause an alteration of temperature highly injurious to 
 our Wine. 
 
 As I had some years ago observed an instance of very rapid 
 decay of some Cord left by neglect in the vaults, I considered 
 they afforded a fair opportunity of verifying the truth of your 
 expectations, of the effect of your Specific on vegetable Matter, 
 and was led, by the striking facts stated by Mr Fa r a day, to 
 
47 
 
 solicit your permission and assistance in trying the following 
 experiments, under my own immediate care and inspection. 
 
 On February 23, 1833, I suspended a four-pound weight 
 from each of three pieces of Cord, two yards in length, in 
 three different places in our vaults. I placed a piece similar 
 on some Fungus in another part of the same vault, coiled up. 
 Close to each of these, under exactly similar circumstances, I 
 placed portions of Cord, cut from the same roll, and immediately 
 adjoining,(so that there could be no variation in texture,) which 
 had been previously dipped in your Solution. On the 8th o 
 March, I could perceive Fungus growing on each of the 
 Unprepared Cord; by the 15th, it had become very thick; 27th 
 of June, the Cord in vault 5 broke; 4th of July, the Cord 
 in vault 7 broke ; 15th of June, I found the Cord placed on the 
 Fungus and coiled up, eaten by wood-lice. 
 
 The other piece of Cord now remains entire, but covered 
 with Fungus. All the Prepared Cords are as clear as when 
 they were first put down. I have replaced the broken cord, 
 July 17, 1833. On the 2d of March, I placed four pieces of 
 Calico and four pieces of Canvass prepared, and an equal 
 number unprepared; the Prepared is quite clear and un¬ 
 touched, whilst the Unprepared is in various states of decay. 
 
 L I have cut off' portions of the Cord ; that marked No. 5, is 
 
 from 5 vault; that No. 7, from 7 vault; No. 4, from 4 vault, 
 which is where the wood-lice have been: also corresponding 
 pieces of the Prepared. 
 
 As the experiment ought to be carried much further, I mean 
 to keep a Memorandum of the decay of each piece of Cord, 
 and supply its place until the prepared Cord itself observes 
 symptoms of decav ; and shall always consider the experiment 
 as open to you or your friends for inspection : with every wish 
 that you may have the benefit of this valuable discovery, and 
 
 lender it useful to the public, 
 
 (Signed) W. P. Richards. 
 
 To John Howard Kyan, Esq. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
ANTI DRY-ROT COMPANY, 
 
 (Ryan’s Patent,) 
 
 CONSTITUTED AND EMPOWERED BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT. 
 
 The Company prepare Timber, Canvass, and Cordage, at the 
 following Stations in London : 
 
 PR.xnrcxF.AX. station. 
 
 SOUTH DOCK, WEST INDIA DOCKS. 
 
 BRANCH STATIONS. 
 
 GROSVENOR BASIN, PIMLICO. 
 
 CITY-ROAD BASIN. 
 
 SURRY CANAL DOCK, ROTHERHITHE. 
 
 The Company, for the convenience of the Shipping Interest, have Floating Tanks, 
 which can be sent to any Ship-Builder's Yard in the River Thames. 
 
 The indisputable Testimonials given by men of the first talent and experience in 
 the kingdom,as to the perfect reliance that may be placed upon KYAN’S PROCESS 
 of PREPARING TIMBER to resist the effect of DRY ROT, and other decay, are 
 so entirely satisfactory as to require no further remark. 
 
 The efficacy of the Process is sufficiently established by the Evidence contained 
 in the Report to the Lords of the Admiralty, and subsequently presented to, and 
 printed by, the House of Commons; and likewise by the adoption of it by his Ma¬ 
 jesty’s Government in Portsmouth Dock Yard. 
 
 The Process is of the utmost importance to a Maritime and Commercial 
 Country like Great Britain, for it is a certain Preventive of those destructive Ra¬ 
 vages from Dry-Rot—and consequent enormous Loss of Capital to the Ship-owner 
 —which have hitherto prevailed in Vessels of every description ; and to the Ship¬ 
 ping Interest the Process is doubly valuable, for, as is clearly proved, it prevents 
 Mildew and Decay in Canvass as well as in Timber. 
 
 By the use of this Process, British American Timber will be rendered equally 
 as valuable as Timber from the Baltic; and thus the produce of British Colonies 
 will be encouraged in preference to Timber of Foreign growth. 
 
 It is found that Timber cut down while in a state of active vegetation, with the 
 leaf growing, becomes, by the application of this Process, immediately fit for use;— 
 thus rendering every species of Domestic Timber of the same value and as available 
 as the best Foreign, for all purposes incidental to Farming and Husbandry;—and, by 
 the use of the most common Woods, economy will be combined with durability, and 
 the Agricultural and Mining Interest will derive most incalculable advantages. 
 
 Purposes for which the prepared Timber, 8fc., is available : 
 
 Public Works. Shipping. 
 
 Docks, 
 
 Bridges, 
 
 Piers and Piles, 
 
 Sleepers for Railways, 
 
 Buildings 
 
 Steam Boats, 
 
 Barges, 
 
 Boats, 
 
 Masts and Spars, &c. 
 
 in General. 
 
 Posts, Rails, Gates, Fences, Park Palings, Hop Poles, &c., &c. 
 
 For these purposes auy kind of Timber may now be used, instead of the more 
 expensive kinds. It will also supersede, in many cases, the employment of Iron, from 
 its acquired durability and greater economy. 
 
 Prepared Canvass, Calico , and Ropes, for 
 
 Sails, Hammocks, &c. 
 Tents, 
 
 Awnings and Cloth Blinds, 
 
 Rick Cloths, Tarpaulings, 
 Sacks, Bags, 
 Fishing-Nets, &c. 
 
 The Company grant Licences, for the use of the Patent Process, to 
 Ship-Builders, Timber-Merchants, &c., for the purposes of their Trade; and to 
 Noblemen, Gentlemen, &c., for their Private Estates. 
 
 Application to be made to the Secretary, 2, Lime Street Square, Leadenhall Street.