135 
November 28, 1843. 
William Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
A letter from Charles M. Willich, Esq., was read, in which that 
gentleman calls the attention of the Society to M. Gannal’s method 
of preserving animal substances. 
«From the observations made by M. Gannal, and reported to the 
Académie des Sciences at a recent sitting, it appears that arsenic 
does not permanently preserve animal substances, although it pre- 
vents, for the moment, a putrid fermentation: 
“He alludes to his former communication, explaining how the 
salts of them act on the gelatin and preserve the animal matter from 
putrid fermentation by the combination of the two substances. The 
gelatin is thus rendered incapable of putrefaction ; but the other evil, 
viz. the destruction by insects, is not avoided. For the latter object 
he proposes the following preparation :— 
“] kilogramme of sulphate of alum—l] kilog. = 2} Ibs. avoird. ; 
“100 grammes of nux vomica in powder—100 grammes = 34 
OZ. av. ; 
« And 3 litres of water—3 litres = 54 imperial pints. 
«« The above to be boiled down to 2 litres, and then allowed to 
cool: the clear liquid is to be drawn off and serves for injection. The 
residue is employed in the following manner. With four tablespoons- 
ful of this residue mix the yolk of one egg; let this paste be prepared 
as wanted. It is to be used for covering the interior of the skin, and 
particularly the fleshy parts which may have been left in skinning 
the animal. The yolk of egg serves to preserve the suppleness of 
the skin, tanned by the salts of alum. 
‘‘In order to preserve the feathers of birds he proposes three 
modes :-— 
“1, The employment of nux vomica in powder. 
‘©2. An alcoholic tincture of 100 grammes of nux vomica, mace- 
rated in 1 litre of alcohol. 
«<3. An alcoholic solution of 2 grammes of strychnine in 1 litre 
of alcohol. 
_‘ Whatever mode may have been used for preserving the animal, 
the ravages of insects may be instantly arrested by covering with a 
soft brush the whole of the skin, either with the tincture or solution 
above described, as may be found best adapted. 
“‘If the feathers of birds are of Gelicate colour, the solution of 
strychnine should be employed; and for those very delicate birds, 
where soaking in either of the preparations is not possible, the nux 
vomica must be used in powder, taking care to insert it well in the 
napes of feathers. In all cases the inside of the skin may be rubbed 
with the paste. 
No. CXXIX.—-Procerpines or THE Zoot. Soc. 
