64 PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



Cut tie soap into small slices as tMn as possible, put tlieni into 

 a pot over a gentle fire witli very little water, stirring it often 

 with a wooden spoon; wlien dissolved, add the salts of tartar 

 and powdered chalk ; take it off the fire, add the arsenic, and 

 stir the whole gently; lastly, put in the camphor, which must 

 first be poimded in a mortar with a little spirits of wine. When 

 the whole is properly mixed together it will have the consistence 

 of paste. It may be preserved in tin or earthenware pots, well 

 closed and cautiously labelled. When wanted for use it must be 

 diluted with a little cold water to the consistence of clear broth; 

 the pot may be covered with a lid of pasteboard, having a hole 

 for the passage of the brush, by which the liquor is applied. 

 (There appears in this foraiula to be an error in giving 12oz. of 

 salts of tartar, which should, I think, be reduced to 2oz, ; also 

 the proportion of arsenic and soap is clearly excessive with 

 regard to the quantity of the lime or chalk.) 



Swainson appears to have used a composition somewhat 

 different from the preceding. He describes it as follows : 



No. 2. — Sivainson's Arsenical Soap. 



Arsenic, loz. 

 White soap, loz. 

 Carbonate of potash, Idrm. 



Distilled water, Gdrma. 

 Camphor, 2drms. 



This mixture should be kept in small tin boxes ; when it is to be 

 used moisten a camel-hair pencil with any kind of spirituous 

 liquor, and with it make a lather from the soap, which is to be 

 applied to the inner surface of all parts of the skin, and also to 

 such bones as may not be removed. 



The next formula is of my own arrangement; I have used it, 

 and have found it quite equal to any of the other arsenical pre- 

 parations, which is not saying much for any of them. 



No. 3. — Browne's Arsenical Soap. 



Arsenic, lib. I Soft soap, 21b, 



Whiting (or powdered chalk), 31b. j Camphor or tincture of niuak, 2oz. 



Place the arsenic in an old saucepan (which is not to be used for 

 any other purpose whatever) ; put the whiting over it, next pour 

 sufficient water over it to make it into a thick paste, then add 

 the soft soap, stir the whole well together, add a little water, 

 and place on the fire to boil, adding from time to time water 



