John,

You wrote:

> I got a collection of cowries which were in a basement for years.
> They are cloudy, hazy.  How can I clean them without damaging them?

I suspect that these specimens are being affected by Bynesian Decay (Bynes
Disease). Check the Conch-L archives for Bynes Disease and you will find a
wealth of information regarding this condition. If you have further
questions, contact me directly.

Regards,
Charlie
.................................................
Research Associate - Section of Mollusks
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Assistant Professor - Family Medicine

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