98 OF ARTIFICIAL SKELETONS. 



sent ill considerable quantity, the process may be much acce- 

 lerated by drilling holes with a gimlet or other instrument, in 

 the opposite ends of the bones, and injecting by means of a 

 syringe, a tepid solution of pearl-ash, the pot-ash combining 

 with the oleaginous matter, forming a kind of soap, which be- 

 ing soluble in water, is easily removed. Chloride of lime is 

 also employed for the same purpose. 



The relative proportion of earthy and animal matter varies 

 according to the nature of the bone, and the purposes it is in- 

 tended to serve. The bones of quadrupeds and birds contain 

 a much greater proportion of earthy matter than those of rep- 

 tiles and fishes, and hence are more easily cleaned. Here it 

 may be remarked, that the colour of bones varies in different 

 animals. In some common fowl it approaches to a dark yel- 

 lowish brown. Food exercises considerable influence on the 

 colour, as is demonstrated in animals which feed on madder. 



When the bones are perfect and dry, they are connected by 

 means of wire and screws, &c. This is the most difficult part 

 of the operation, as it requires considerable skill to reassemble 

 the bones, so that they may be placed in their natural order 

 and position. The operation is begun at one of the extremi- 

 ties, by making holes in the apophysis, or round ball of the 

 bone, plate L, fig. 1, a & i. This is effected by means of a 

 wimble or a lathe, or with a gimlet, although this instrument 

 has hardly sufficient power for perforating so hard a substance 

 as bone. The bones are then attached to each other in their 

 natural order, with nealed iron-wire,* or brass-wire, by means 

 of the perforations which have been made. The ends of the 

 wire should be twisted, and not too firmly, but sufficient to 

 allow a little play between the articulation ; this mode to be 

 pursued till the whole wires are put together. They are then 

 ready for placing on a board, and are kept erect by means 

 of one or two perpendicular bars of iron, commensurate to 

 the weight of the skeleton. In the larger species of birds, 

 one support is necessary ; it is passed through the breast-bone, 

 and attached under the spine, as represented in the skeleton 

 of the Goshawk ( Falco palumbarius), plate I v fig. 1. The po 



* See Receipts. 



