GOATSKINS 101 



liming, in which bacterial action is needed. Flint-dry skins 

 are left longer in the first soak, which should be of water 

 only. They are then given a fresh soak liquor containing 

 0-2 per cent, of sodium sulphide. Sometimes a ro per cent, 

 solution of borax is used instead ; it softens excellently, is 

 antiseptic, and avoids the plumping effect, but is rather 

 expensive. The goods are next drummed well, and re- 

 soaked and worked as for salted skins. In either case the 

 soaking takes about a week. 



The liming of goatskins presents some points of contrast 

 with the methods used for other skins. These differences 

 are due to the exceedingly tight and compact nature of the 

 skin fibres. This compactness of texture makes it quite 

 necessary to dissolve the interfibrillar substance to a greater 

 extent than usual, and also to plump the fibres and split 

 them into the constituent fibrils. These effects are essential 

 to obtain a rapid and complete tannage and a soft leather. 

 Too much bacterial action should be avoided, however, or 

 the brightness and soundness of the grain may be impaired, 

 which would be a fatal defect in such a leather. Hence the 

 liming is long rather than mellow, and sharp limes rather 

 similar to those required for sole leather are often used. 

 Another result of the tight texture of goatskin is that 

 depilation is not easily effected. This feature is rather 

 intensified by the deepness of the hair-root. Hence it is 

 usual to employ sulphides to assist the depilation. In one 

 method two rounds of five pits are used. The skins are 

 given about two days in each pit, so that the liming laM- 

 approximately three weeks. In the first round, which 

 ists of rather mellow limes, arsenic sulphide is used to 

 assist depilation. Up to 6 per cent, on the weight of lime 



;dded during slaking. This is a comparatively large 

 amount of arsenic sulphide and the deflation is consider- 

 ably hastened; the skins indeed are nnhaired alter passing 

 through this round, i.e. after about 10 days' liming. In the 

 next round the object is plumping, and caustic soda (or 

 carbonate) is added to the lime liquors in quantities com- 

 ble to those suggested for sole leather (Part I .. Section V., 



