Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: 02 Jul 2024

The Long-Term Efficacy of Conventional Treatments for Bynesian Decay

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Page Range: 1 – 11
DOI: 10.14351/0831-4985-36.1.1
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Abstract

The efficacy of the conventional method for treating Bynesian decay (formerly known as Byne’s disease) is assessed via a review of the outcomes of two remediation projects after 10 and 22 years. The design and implementation of a large-scale triage plan for an incoming collection is described, and the limitations of diagnostic methods for this form of decay are discussed. Examples of arrested and ongoing decay are illustrated.

Keywords: Bynesian decay; museum collections; remediation; shell collections; triage
Copyright: © 2022 Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections 2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1.

The washing tub. The rubber feed pipe is weighted with a perforated brick and the overflow discharges directly into a sink.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

A sample of the reference pictures taken of each lot before treatment commenced. The picture simply records the specimen and its label together, rather than its condition in detail.

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

Shells in the tub for treatment, positioned with the aperture upwards.

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

The main drying area, with shells in racks.

Figure 5.
Figure 5.

Larger shells drying in an old bottle rack.

Figure 6.
Figure 6.

Medium-sized shells drying in a former merchandizing display for pens.

Figure 7.
Figure 7.

Smaller lots drying in jars of silicate desiccant.

Figure 8.
Figure 8.

A lot of four specimens from the second collection, with decay halted by treatment. The largest retains some of its original surface, emphasizing the extent of damage to the others.

Figure 9.
Figure 9.

A specimen from the second collection, with decay halted by treatment. The characteristic pale areas of erosion are easily visible.

Figure 10.
Figure 10.

Two specimens from a control lot in the second collection, with decay untreated. These have been stored in a sealed environment, but deterioration has continued.

Figure 11.
Figure 11.

A specimen from the first collection, treated in 2001. Scarring is visible but decay has not progressed.

Figure 12.
Figure 12.

Another treated and stable specimen from the first collection, with visible scarring.

Contributor Notes

Associate Editor.—Scott Rufolo

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