Like all the above-mentioned components, starch is a nutrient
source for the development of microorganisms. In historic
objects, it is present in meal plasters used to size the
paper, to mend all sorts of historic objects, in paint binders,
etc. Starch paste was commonly used as sti2ening material
for fabrics. Nowadays, because of their susceptibility to
microorganisms, such organic glues have been replaced by
modi;ed or synthetic glues.