PRINTS, method of cleaning. The following method of cleaning prints, is recommended as safe and efficacious.
"Provide a certain quantity of the common muriatic acid, for example three ounces, in a glass bottle, with a ground stopper, of such a capacity that it may be only half full. Half an ounce of minium must then be added; immediately after which the stopper is to be put in, and the bottle set in a cold and dark place. The heat, which soon becomes perceptible, shows the beginning of the new combination. The minium abandons the greatest part of its oxygen with which the fluid remains impregnated, at the same time that it acquires a fine golden yellow, and emits the detestable smell of oxygenated muriatic acid. It contains a small portion of muriat of lead; but this is not at all noxious in the subsequent process. It is also necessary to be observed, that the bottle must be strong, and the stopper not too firmly fixed, otherwise the active elastic vapour might burst it. The method of using this prepared acid is as follows:
"Provide a sufficiently large plate of glass, upon which one or more prints may be separately spread out. Near the edges let there be raised a border of soft white wax half an inch high, adhering well to the glass and flat at top. In this kind of trough the print is to be placed in a bath of fresh urine, or water containing a small quantity of ox-gall, and kept in this situation for three or four hours. The fluid is then to be decanted off, and pure warm water poured on, which must be changed every three or four hours until it passes limpid and clear. The impurities are sometimes of a resinous nature, and resist the action of pure water. When this is the case, the washed print must be left to dry, and alcohol is then to be poured on and left for a time. After the print is thus cleaned, and all the moisture drained off, the muriatic acid prepared with minium is to be poured on in sufficient quantity to cover the print; immediately after which another plate of glass is
to be laid in contact with the rim of wax, in order to prevent the inconvenient exhalation of the oxygenated acid. In this situation the yellowest print will be seen to recover its original whiteness in a very short time. One or two hours are sufficient to produce the desired effect; but the print will receive no injury if it be left in the acid for a whole night. Nothing more is necessary to complete the work, than to decant off the remaining acid, and wash away every trace of acidity, by repeated affusions of pure water. The print being then left to dry (in the sun if possible) will be found white, clear, firm, and in no respect damaged, either in the texture of the paper, or the tone and appearance of the impression."
It is farther recommended to those who shall adopt the whole process for clearing prints, to make the first trial with a print of little value, and in this way he will discover what portion of water should be employed in diluting the acid to prevent the corrosive action of the latter on the paper. Nichol. Journ. ii. 265. 410.