While talking to the owner of a Revolutionary War era- house, he mentioned a product he used to reinforce the plaster & lathe walls. It was a polyester fabric that he adhered to the walls, then painted over.  I think he called it NuWall or something similar.

Anyway, he said it makes the usually brittle old plaster much tougher. Is anyone familiar with the product? Any info on cost, ease of use, and performance would be welcome!