136 WITH BOAT AND GUN IN THE YANGTZE VALLEY. 



Browne's non-poisonous preservative soap. To be used for birds, and small mammals 

 up to squirrel size : — 



Whiting or chalk 



Chloride of lime 



Soft soap 



Tincture of musk 



Boil together the whiting and soap in about a pint of water; then stir in the 

 chloride of lime (previously finely powdered) while the mixture is hot; if this point is not 

 attended to the mixture will not work smoothly; when nearly cool stir in the tincture of 

 musk. Caution: do not hold the mouth over the mixture while hot as chlorine is then 

 rapidly evolved. 



Browne's non-poisonous preservative powder (to be used similarly) : — 



Pure tannin i oz. 



Camphor I oz, 



Red pepper I oz. 



Burnt alum 8 oz. 



Browne's preservative for larger mammals: — 



Burnt alum I lb. 



Saltpetre i lb. 



I have myself for many years used both the powders to cure birds and mammals 

 respectively and can testify to their excellence. For those who prefer to use soap the above 

 mentioned will probably prove as good in its way as the powder. 



The experience of all who have tried these goes to prove that they are as fully effective 

 as the dangerous poisonous compounds. Arsenic is no doubt an excellent preservative and 

 is still largely used, but corrosive sublimate is not only dangerous but useless, for skins 

 dressed with it become brittle and eventually break to pieces. When no proper preservative 

 is obtainable some fairly effective substitute can generally be found. Wood-ashes and 

 powdered charcoal are capital things; pepper will be found useful; plaster of Paris, chalk, 

 sawdust or any clean dry powder can be used; the important thing is to thoroughly absorb 

 all the moisture in the skin. 



Never use salt under any circumstances, as instead of drying the skin it causes it to be 

 always damp and sweating. 



