SHEEPSKINS 113 



The depilation is brought about by " sweating " (or 

 " staling ") and by " painting." The immediate object of 

 both these types of method is to avoid using anything which 

 will affect the wool. The sweating process is the most 

 ancient method of unhairing and is used in America for 

 hides as well as sheepskins. It consists of a more or less 

 regulated putrefaction. The loosening of hair or wool has 

 long been accepted as evidence that putrefaction had com- 

 menced in a hide or skin, and it is the aim of the sweating 

 process to stop the action at that stage, before any damage 

 has been done to the pelt. This aim is achieved rather 

 imperfectly by suspending the goods in closed chambers 

 and regulating the temperature and humidity by means 

 of steam and water. Such chambers are known as " sweat 

 pits " or " tainting stoves." In the case of sheepskins the 

 " warm-sweat " system is generally used, and the operation 

 is carried out at 75-8o F. A satisfactory yield of wool is 

 obtained in good condition, but the pelt is very liable to 

 suffer bacterial damage and show " weak grain." The skins 

 are first cleaned by a few " soaks " in clean fresh water, 

 with intermediate help from a " burring machine " which 

 presents a rapidly revolving set of spiral blades to the wool, 

 and in the presence of a good stream of water quickly 

 removes all dirt from the wool. The skins then enter the 

 tainting stove, and the operation is commenced by a slight 

 injection of live steam. In summer, about a week is 

 sufficient to loosen the hair, but in winter up to two weeks 

 may be necessary. L,ittle control of the process is possible, 

 and all that can be done is to watch the goods carefully 

 near the end of the operation. In one variety of this 

 method of unwoolling the skins are painted on the flesh 

 side with a creamy mixture of lime and water and piled for 

 a day or two until the pelt is distinctly plumped. They are 

 then washed with fresh water to remove the excess of lime, 

 drained, and then enter the tainting stove. By this method 

 the pelts are obtained in better condition and are less liable 

 to damage by local excess of putrefaction. In unwoolling 

 the skins are placed over a beam and the true wool is pulled 



E. 8 



