68 TAXIDERMY AND MODELLING 



There are now in the museum hundreds of specimens more 

 than there were in 1884 ; the old ones have been treated by a 

 bichloride of mercury spray (see p. 36), and the new ones have 

 been preserved by the non-poisonous but efficient formula No. 

 S 7 ; and during the past ten years perhaps not more than 

 twenty specimens have suffered destruction from museum pests, 

 and no camphor, albo- carbon, or other supposed deterrent 

 has been used in the cases or drawers. 



Since that time it has come to the knowledge of the 

 writer that three men (and perhaps many others) have died 

 from preventible causes connected with arsenic. In one case, 

 coming under his own observation, the man was warned and 

 advised to use the non-poisonous preservative ; but he said he 

 " had always been used to cure with arsenic — especially dry — 

 and believed in it " ! Yet that man's specimens were quite as 

 much eaten up as any other stuffer's ; and, although the stuffers 

 never own it, they know it to their cost and to that of their 

 customers ; but so great is the Anglo-Saxon spirit in the midst 

 of defeat, that they stick to the ways of their fathers rather 

 than be guided by " new-fangled " (i.e. scientific) principles. 



The following useless and dangerous arsenical preparations 

 are given, not because there is any need to do so, but in the hope 

 that those foolish enough to use them may live to see the error 

 of their ways. The inventor of the first was one Bdcceur, 

 whose formula now following has been copied by every writer 

 upon taxidermy : — 



53. — "B^coeur's Arsenical Soap (Swainson, Taxidermy, 1840, p. 28, 



and others) 



Camphor . . . . . . 5 oz. 



Powdered arsenic . . . . . 2 lb. 



White soap . . . . . 2 „ 



Salt of tartar . . . . . 1 2 oz. 



Lime in powder (or powdered chalk) . . ' 4 „ 



