> Could someone elaborate on Byne's disease?  I've never haerd of this.

From: Sturm. 2006. Chapter 5. ARCHIVAL AND CURATORIAL METHODS. In: The
Mollusks: A Guide to Their Study, Collection, and Preservation. Sturm,
Pearce, and Valdes eds. Universal Publishers.

5.2.1 Acid, temperature, and humidity.

The first three dangers, acid, temperature, and humidity (often measured
as relative humidity, RH) all contribute to a condition called Bynesian
Decay
(also called Bynes Disease) (Tennent and Baird 1985, Shelton 1996). The
calcium carbonate of the shell decomposes in this condition. Bynesian
Decay was thought to be due, in part, to a process initiated by bacteria,
but is now known to be a chemical process. Bynes originally investigated
this process and published papers on it between the years 1899 to 1907.
Since it is a chemical process and not a bacterial one, I advocate the
term decay as opposed to the older designation as a disease. This
condition can affect collections large and small. Sometimes a few shells
are affected, occasionally whole collections. Once the decay has started,
the part of a specimen that has been affected cannot be restored. However,
further deterioration can be halted.

For Bynesian Decay to occur, acid must be present in the microenvironment
of the shell. The acids most commonly involved are formic and acetic
acids. These acids are produced by the wood used in cabinets, cardboard
trays and boxes, and labels, as well as from the adhesives used in the
construction
of cabinets and in the repair of specimens. Along with the acidic fumes,
temperature is also a concern.

The higher the temperature the faster acids can react with the calcium
carbonate of the specimens and change it into calcium acetate-formate
salts.
Thus, at lower temperatures, Bynesian Decay will progress more slowly.
Lastly, the humidity must be high enough to provide moisture for the acids
to dissolve and precipitate out onto the specimens to cause the decay.


This and a lot of other good info can be found in the book. How to make a
glass-bottomed bucket is in there, however, someone already answered that
question.

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

Assistant Professor - Family Medicine
Fellow-American Academy of Family Practice
Fellow-Academy of Wilderness Medicine

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