THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Jan. 1, 1865. 



2bb FURS AND THEIR PREPARATIONS. 



When the skins are leathered they are taken out and pulled through a 

 rope ; they are then pickled over-night in -water and sawdust, and in 

 the morning are ready for the flesher. When fleshed they are hung 

 up to dry, then greased again, and leathered once more ; they are then 

 taken out and the fur combed, well beaten and drawn over the knife, 

 or "pared" as we call it. The skins are again put into the tub, with 

 plenty of fresh, clean sawdust, and worked into the sawdust until the 

 far is perfectly freed from grease. It may be necessary to change it two 

 or three times. The fur is then taken out and well beaten and corned, 

 and it is then ready for the cutter. This is the way all fine furs are 

 dressed, from the musk-rat to the Russian sable. Buffalo and bear skins 

 are dressed in a somewhat different style, but still under the same 

 general processes. 



The cutting up of the skins requires much judgment to avoid waste. 

 The refuse cuttings if not cut to waste are available for making articles 

 of the less costly description. And it has been remarked that many a 

 lady on having her furs fresh lined under her own superintendence, has 

 viewed with surprise approaching to dismay the elaborate patchwork 

 which the skins present on their inner side. 



Skins to be used in felting undergo a longer treatment. And by 

 means of ingenious machines the fur and hair is not only separated from 

 the skin, but the hairs are separated from the fur ; and even the fur 

 itself is assorted into quantities of like specific gravity. 



The use of fur in an economical and sanitary point of view is a sub- 

 ject on which there would probably be a great diversity of opinion. It 

 is remarkable that in some countries the custom regarding clothing 

 differs materially from ours. We dress warmer when we go out than 

 when we sit in the house ; the Turks, who seldom have fires in their 

 apartments, use warmer clothing than when they go out, considering 

 the exercise of moving about as a source of warmth. The Chinese are 

 said to practise the same custom. 



A very large business is carried on in several parts of this country 

 with sheep-skins in manufacturing leather called " linings." The skins 

 are not subjected to solutions such as oak and hemlock bark, sumach, 

 or catechu, which contain tannin, but are converted into leather with 

 solutions of alum and salt. Most of these skins are dyed red, bronze, 

 marone, purple, and other colours. A very difficult process in their 

 treatment is the separating of the wool from the membranous tissues. 

 It has to be pulled off, and this cannot be effected without treating the 

 skin in such a manner as to cause the hairs to become loose at the 

 roots. To effect this without injuring the wool and the skin has been 

 a desideratum. After sprinkling some dry slaked lime in the inside of 

 a skin, then folding it up and allowing it thus to remain for several 

 hours, the wool can be pulled somewhat freely. This is a mode very 

 generally pursued ; but the skins have to be carefully watched, especially 

 in warm weather, or they may be injured by the action of the lime. A 



