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Story
October 20, 1911
Essex County Herald
Island Pond, Guildhall, Essex County, Vermont
What is this article about?
Experiments at the Cluny Museum reveal that ancient lead artifacts disintegrate due to saline impurities acting like microbes, causing the metal to 'sicken' and turn to dust over time. Fresh lead exposed to salt suffers the same fate.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Mineral Microbes.
Some interesting experiments have been made with ancient medals, vases and so forth of lead that are gradually disintegrating in the museum of Cluny. After a certain number of years they fall into dust. The cause, it is thought, lies in the presence of minute quantities of saline matter with which the objects have become impregnated during their long burial in the soil or under water. These microscopic impurities play the part of bacteria and microbes in living bodies. In other words, the lead is "sick" and unless the noxious matter can be removed will inevitably perish. Curiously enough, it is found that if traces of salt are imparted to a fresh mass of lead it is attacked and eventually falls to pieces like the objects in the museum at Cluny.
Some interesting experiments have been made with ancient medals, vases and so forth of lead that are gradually disintegrating in the museum of Cluny. After a certain number of years they fall into dust. The cause, it is thought, lies in the presence of minute quantities of saline matter with which the objects have become impregnated during their long burial in the soil or under water. These microscopic impurities play the part of bacteria and microbes in living bodies. In other words, the lead is "sick" and unless the noxious matter can be removed will inevitably perish. Curiously enough, it is found that if traces of salt are imparted to a fresh mass of lead it is attacked and eventually falls to pieces like the objects in the museum at Cluny.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Extraordinary Event
What themes does it cover?
Nature
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Mineral Microbes
Lead Disintegration
Saline Impurities
Cluny Museum
Artifact Decay
Where did it happen?
Museum Of Cluny
Story Details
Location
Museum Of Cluny
Story Details
Ancient lead artifacts in the Cluny Museum disintegrate into dust due to saline impurities from burial, acting like microbes that sicken the metal. Experiments show fresh lead exposed to salt suffers the same decay.