6o FIELD ORNITHOLOGY part i 



not, however, lead you to exaggerate the risk, and will add that 

 I think it often overrated. I have probably skinned birds as 

 " gamey " as any one has, and repeatedly, without being conscious 

 of any ill effects. I am sure that no poison, ordinarily generated 

 by decomposition of a body healthy at death, can compare in viru- 

 lence with that commonly resulting after death by many diseases. 

 I also believe that the gaseous products, however offensive to the 

 smell, are innocuous as a rule. The danger practically narrows 

 down to the absorption of fluids through an abraded surface ; the 

 poison is rarely taken in by natural pores of healthy skin, if it 

 remain in contact but a short time. Cuts and scratches may be 

 closed with a film of collodion, or covered with isinglass or court- 

 plaster, or protected by rubber cots on the fingers. The hands 

 should, of course, be washed with particular care immediately after 

 the operation, and the nails scrupulously dressed. Having never 

 been poisoned, I cannot give the symptoms from personal experience ; 

 but I will quote from Mr. Maynard : — 



" In a few days numerous pimples, which are exceedingly pain- 

 ful, appear upon the skin of the face and other parts of the person, 

 and, upon those parts where there is chafing or rubbing, become 

 large and deep sores. There is a general languor, and, if badly 

 poisoned, complete prostration results ; the slightest scratch becomes 

 a festering sore. Once poisoned in this manner (and I speak from 

 experience), one is never afterward able to skin any animal -that 

 has become in the least putrid, without experiencing some of the 

 symptoms above described. Even birds that you handled before 

 with impunity you cannot now skin without great care. The best 

 remedy in this case is, as the Hibernian would say, not to get 

 poisoned . . . bathe the parts frequently in cold water; and, if 

 chafed, sprinkle the parts after bathing with wheat flour. These 

 remedies, if persisted in, will effect a cure, if not too bad ; then, 

 medical advice should be procured without delay." 



My advice would be, to avoid all mechanical irritation of the 

 inflamed parts ; touch the parts that have ulcerated with a stick of 

 lunar caustic ; take a dose of salts ; use syrup of the iodide of iron, 

 or tincture of the chloride of iron, say thirty drops of either, in a 

 wineglass of water, thrice daily ; rest at first, exercise gradually as 

 you can bear it; and skin no birds till you have completely 

 recovered. 



How to mount Birds. — As some may not improbably procure 

 this volume with a reasonable expectation of being taught to mount 

 birds, I append the required instructions, although I only profess to 

 treat of the preparation of skins for the cabinet. As a rule, the 

 purposes of science are best subserved by not mounting specimens ; 

 for display, the only end attained, is not required. I would- 



