3 CONCLUSION

THESE FINDINGS offer sound and provocative indications that the often-observed water-marks are sources as well as consequences of damage to cellulose: browning is not simply unsightly but evidences oxidation. In the treatment of aged or soiled cellulosic materials, the presence of degradation products and soil must not be discounted, but it is equally clear that they are not solely responsible for the observed staining and embrittlement of areas once wetted. Furthermore, improper drying will cause damage to cellulosic materials. The browning of the last-to-dry page edges or trapunto design is a problem that is both cosmetic and chemical. The various reactions involved—the degradation of cellulose, the interaction of water and cellulose, and the chemistry of browning—have been considered separately by various authors.7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17