NON-POISONOUS PRESERVATIVES 73 



that is claimed is, that it is a more efficient drier and toughener 

 of skin, and that it is quite as efficacious as arsenic when 

 insects are considered. It is said that insects object to musk, 

 and whether this be so or not, the addition of that powerful 

 drug gives a lasting and pleasant perfume, which overpowers 

 any other odours which may cling to the skin, and is therefore 

 added for that purpose. 



57. — Non-poisonous Preservative Soap (M.B.) 



Whiting or chalk . . . ■ ^h ^^■ 



White Windsor soap (common curd soap) . ^ lb. 



Chloride of lime . . . , . . ^ 02. 



Tincture of musk . . . . • ^ u 



Boil the soap and whiting together in about a pint of 

 water 'Until the soap is dissolved. Pound the chloride of lime 

 finely and stir into the mixture whilst hot, taking care, however, 

 not to inhale the fumes ; when cool add the musk. 



Numberless people are now using this soap, and, for the 

 benefit of those who imagine that the lime " burns '' the skins, 

 it is only necessary to point to the fact that skins prepared 

 with this preservative relax in a perfect manner, by any method, 

 after the lapse of many years, whereas skins cured with arsenic 

 will often drop to pieces under the simplest methods. Nor 

 does the lime unduly corrode the wires, unless the soap is used 

 with an excess of water, which is incorrect ; the paste, to do its 

 work efficiently, should be moistened, if dry, with a little 

 methylated spirit, and applied of the consistence of thick 

 cream. If quite dried up and hard, it will be necessary some- 

 times to add a very little warm water ; but in our climate this 

 seldom happens, unless, of course, a large quantity is made and 

 stored, or exposed to the air for any length of time. Formerly 

 it was recommended to keep it in tins ; but, as even the 

 slightest damp rusts and corrodes tin, it has been found much 



