462 Hints for the Preservation [Au<3. 



VI. — Hints for the Preservation of Objects of Natural History. By 

 J. T. Pk arson, Esq. Curator As. Soc. Museum. 



Preparations of natural history have two great enemies r insects and 

 damp. The latter requires great and constant attention to prevent : the 

 former are combatted by what are called preservatives. The preserva- 

 tives in common use are preparations of Corrosive Sublimate and Arsenic. 



Of the former, a very good preparation is made by merely dissolving a 

 certain proportion in spirits of wine. For common purposes, such as the 

 preservation of the soles of the feet, or inside of the mouth of animals, a 

 scruple of corrosive sublimate may be dissolved in one ounce of the spirit; 

 but for the finer operations, where the colours of insects and feathers, &c. 

 are concerned, two grains of corrosive sublimate to an ounce of spirit, will 

 be strong enough : made of this strength, the solution dries without leaving 

 a white crust of crystals on the specimen; while it will prevent the attacks 

 of insects, and even mouldiness, if ordinary care be taken to keep the 

 specimens dry. 



Another preparation of corrosive sublimate and arsenic, together, is 

 recommended for the preservation of insects. Its composition is as fol- 

 lows: 



Take of arsenic in powder, one ounce. 



Corrosive sublimate, one ounce. 



Spirit of wine, three ounces. 



Spirit Sal Ammoniac, or Spirit Ammonia, one ounce. Mix them well 

 together, and keep them in a bottle, labelled " poison," for use. 



But of all the preparations used for the preservation of the skins of 

 animals, the arsenical soap, invented by Beccecr of Mentz, is the most 

 celebrated and most useful. It is made thus: 



Take of Arsenic in powder, 2 lbs. White soap, 2 11)3. Salts of Tartar, 12 

 oz. Lime in powder, 4 oz. Camphor, 5 oz. 



Cut the soap into thin slices, and melt it in a little water or spirit of 

 wine over the fire ; then add the salts of Tartar and the lime. Take 

 the mixture off the fire, and add the arsenic, taking care to mix it well by 

 trituration in a mortar, or other convenient vessel ; and when nearly cold, 

 mix in the camphor, previously reduced to powder by the help of spirit of 

 wine. When thus made, keep the arsenical soap in a glazed earthen pot, 

 or a wide-mouthed bottle, and when used, dilute it with water to the con 

 sistence of cream. 



The principal materials for both the above preparations may be pro- 

 cured in every bazar in India. 



Mamiualta. 



The parts of Mammalia, (or those animals which suckle their young,) 

 which are at once the most interesting to the naturalist, and the most 

 easily preserved by the unscientific contributor to a museum, are the skin, 

 and the skeleton or bones. All parts, however, are very useful, though 

 there is some difficulty, to a person not accustomed to dissection, in pre- 

 paring them. 



When an animal of but a small size has been procured, such as a 

 mouse, bat, rat, or even a squirrel, hare, or porcupine, the best mode of 

 sending it to a museum is by placing it in a glazed jar, a large, wide- 

 mouthed bottle, or a small barrel, with a large bung, filled three parts full 

 of spirit of wine, strong gin, very strong bazar arrack, or any other ardent 

 spirit, though on account of their not coloring the specimen, these are the 

 best. A small hole should be cut into the belly of the animal before it is 

 put into the vessel, to allow of the spirit entering freely into the internal 

 parts, to preserve them. When a sufficient number of specimens have been 

 placed, a wooden tally should be affixed to it, with a number cut thus 



