12 THE NATURALIST'S GUffiE. 



Arsenic is the best substance that can be used in preserv- 

 ing skins, and the only one necessary. Other preparations 

 are no better, and often much tvorse. Strange as it may ap- 

 pear to some, I would say avoid especially all the so-called 

 arsenical soaps ; they are at best but filthy prei^arations ; 

 beside, it is a fact to which I can bear painful testimony, 

 that they are — especially when applied to a greasy skin — 

 poisonous in the extreme. I have been so badly poisoned, 

 while working upon the skins of some fat water-birds that 

 had been preserved with arsenical soap, as to be made 

 seriously ill, the poison having worked into the system 

 through some small wounds or scratches on my hands. 

 Had pure arsenic been used in preparing the skins the 

 effect would not have been as had, although gi'ease and 

 arsenicf are generally a blood poison in some degree ; but 

 when combined with "soap," the effect — at least, as far as 

 my experience goes — is much more injurious. 



Arsenic alone will sometimes poison slightly the wound 

 with which it comes in contact, but no more than com- 

 mon salt. There will be a slight festering and nothing 

 more; but, on the contrary, when combined with fat, a 

 poison is generated that must be carefully guarded against. 

 It sometimes works under the nails of the fingers and 

 thinnbs, while one is at work skinning (especially if the 

 birds are fat). Rubber cots should be put upon the fingers 

 or thumbs the instant the slightest wound is detected, 

 whereby much pain may be avoided at a small cost. The 

 cots alluded to can be procured of almost any druggist for 

 ten cents each. 



Arsenic, however, cannot be used with too great care, 

 as it is a deadh' poison. In no case should it be left in 

 the way of children. I have a drawer, wide, long, and 

 shallow, in the bench at which I work upon birds, where 

 my arsenic is kept safeK, and it is always accessible. But 

 there is probably not so much danger attending the use 



