66 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



my system was filled might have been affected by these gases causing 

 it to develop itself, but I do not think that the gas itself is especially 

 injurious, as I have never been poisoned since I discontinued the use 

 of arsenic. 



The Rev. Mr. Housman ^ also gives, his opinion, based on 

 experience, of the uselessness of arsenic. 



One has but to observe the cracked nails, soreness of the 

 mucous membrane of the nose and lips, ulcers, feverish coughs and 

 colds, chronic bronchitis, and partial or complete paralysis of the 

 good old-fashioned " stuffer " vs^ho " always cures with arsenic," 

 to be convinced of the harmful properties of the drug, to which, 

 indeed, except when used medicinally, any doctor will testify. 



Whilst being made, and whilst cooling, the arsenical pre- 

 parations are always liable to give off injurious fumes, and 

 when dry they are always ready to give off poisonous dust at the 

 slightest provocation ; and as to arsenic being a finer preserva- 

 tive against the attacks of insects than anything known, how 

 comes it that there is not a " stuffer " from the highest to the 

 lowest in England, the Continent, or America who can truth- 

 fully say that his arsenical paste ever has kept, or ever will 

 keep, the larvae of moths or beetles from tearing his work to 

 pieces if not looked at from time to time, or if put away in 

 some dark corner? If arsenic be so efficient a preservative, 

 why this anxiety to protect the already supposed-to-be com- 

 pletely protected specimens by fumes of camphor, carbolic acid, 

 creosote, albo^rcarbon, and various nostrums ? 



The real truth — and it would be well that all museum 

 curators and others should know it — is, that an absolutely 

 " uncured " specimen would be more likely to escape if well 

 dried and put in full light, than would an arsenically treated 

 specimen if put in some dark corner or in a cupboard and 

 neglected. That is the whole gist of the matter— efficient 

 '^ The Story of our Mttseum, etc., p. 37. 



