-qo METHODS IN THE ART OF TAXIDERMY. 



03 



used in this case, since alcohol or water will harden the buck-skin and 

 destroy the decoration. Satisfactory results might be obtained by 

 judicious spraying, but there would be doubt as to the completeness of 

 the poisoning. It would be better to rub into the kid surface a pow- 

 der made of precipitated chalk and white arsenic. The fur side should 

 then be well rubbed, care being taken to allow the powder to penetrate 

 into the roots of the hair. By all meaps protect the hands with gloves. 

 Powdered soap would also be a good medium for the arsenic. Great 

 care should be taken in applying this poison and in handling a speci- 

 men poisoned in this way. Such specimens should be at once closed 

 up tightly and put on exhibition. 



" Corrosive sublimate has been much used for poisoning and is a 

 valuable agent. Several specimens in the Museum, which were 

 poisoned years ago with this substance, were so filled with it that they 

 are dusty. They are made of fur-skin, and are stiff and unpresenta- 

 ble for exhibition. I do not know what was the condition of the arti- 

 cles when they were acquired ; they are, however, undeniably moth- 

 proof. I have found numerous adult moths destroyed in the act of 

 laying their eggs. A careful use of corrosive sublimate is very efifect- 

 ive, if it is not brought in contact with skins, as it coagulates albumen. 

 It is also volatile, and Dr. G. H. Beyer, U. S. Navy, has proposed to 

 take advantage of this property in preventing the growth of fungi on 

 materia-medica specimens in jars. One objection to corrosive subli- 

 mate is that it crystallizes out very easily; this might be obviated by 

 adding a little naphtha to the alcoholic solution. 



"Naphthaline is used by Mr. J. B. Smith, of the Museum, and by 

 other entomologists, to preserve insect collections from Acart^ Psoci^ 

 Dermestes^ Antherni^ and other museum pests. It destroys the two 

 former, but only tends to repel the others. It also acts as an antisep- 

 tic, destroying schizomycetes, moulds, bacteria, etc. The salt is per- 

 fectly neutral, is not poisonous to man, and is cheap. It is customary 

 in this department to put a small packet or cones in cases containing 

 mounted costumes. 



" Vaseline may be called perfect grease, since it does not become 

 rancid or corrosive. It is especially useful to protect iron and steel 

 from rust, and no doubt would preserve woodwork from extraneous 

 attack. It Js also good to soften leather which has become hard. In 

 the case of clubs, spears, and implements of hard wood, like those of 

 Polynesia, a fine polish may be obtained by using vaseline. I regard 

 vaseline as a good vehicle in which to apply white arsenic to skins, as 



