MAMMALS SET UP BY MEANS OF MANNIKINS 117 



The method employed by M. Dufresne, of the Jardin des 

 Plantes, Paris, to mount an elephant which died at the men- 

 agerie in 1803, was described in his work,'^ and the following 

 translation of the original, rendered by Bowdich,^ has since 

 been copied by many industrious authors. 



The corpse of the elephant having been extended upon the ground, 

 facilitated our taking and writing all its dimensions : the thickness was 

 taken by a sort of rule, which M. Lassaigne, cabinet-maker of the 

 museum, invented at the time. This instrument resembled the rule 

 used by shoemakers, on a large scale. The curves of the back, the 

 belly, etc., were taken by bars of lead, | in. thick. This metal, not 

 having any elasticity, accommodated or bent itself to the curves we 

 wished to measure and preserved the measurements until wanted. M. 

 Desmoulins drew the animal on one of the sides of the wall according 

 to all these measurements, in the workshop where the model was to be 

 constructed in its natural size. This done, we proceeded to the skin- 

 ning of the elephant, which we were only able to place upon its back by 

 means of four-corded pulleys, fastened to the platform. In this position 

 we made an incision in the form of a double cross : the middle line went 

 from the mouth to the anus, the two others were directed from each 

 left foot to the opposite right foot ; the tail and trunk were opened 

 underneath longitudinally. We scooped out the soles of the feet 

 within an inch of their edge, that the nails might remain in the skin : 

 to effect this, we were obliged to employ the chisel and mallet. This 

 operation was very difificult. 



After four days' labour of several persons, we separated the skin 

 from the body: it then weighed 576 lbs. ; we extended it on the ground 

 to take away the cutaneous muscles which adhered to its interior, 

 particularly to the head. In this state the skin was placed in a large 

 tub ; we spread a considerable quantity of pounded alum in all its 

 folds ; we then boiled some water with such quantities of alum that 

 some pieces still remained at the bottom of the boiler, that is, we 

 more than saturated the water : this water was poured upon the 

 skin, and we continued to do so, until the skin was covered with it 

 6 in. deep. 



» See Bibliography. ' Pp. 41.45, fourth ed. (See Bibliography.) 



