PRESERVATIVE SOAPS, POWDERS, ETC. 65 



sufficient to render tlie wliole mass of tlie consistence of gruel. 

 Wlien it boils up it is sufficiently well done ; take it off the 

 fire, and place outside in the open air to cool, as the fumes, if 

 given off in a close room, are highly prejudicial to health. 

 When nearly cold, stir in the camphor, previously pounded to 

 a fine powder by the addition of a few drops of any spirit — 

 spirits of wine, gin, rum, turpentine, &c. If musk is used it is 

 sufficient to stir it in the mass, or loz. of pure carbolic acid 

 (previously melted) may be substituted for either the camphor 

 or musk. The reason for stirring in the camphor, musk, or 

 carbolic acid, when the arsenical paste is nearly cold, is twofold 

 — first, to prevent the inhaling of the metallic fumes, which 

 readily attack the lungs; and secondly, to prevent the said 

 fumes or heated air carrying off with it the volatile essences of 

 those drugs. The quantities given are sufficient to fill two six- 

 pound Australian meat tins, which form capital receptacles for 

 arsenical paste, and should be soldered up, only to be opened as 

 required for use. As this quantity is, however, perhaps too 

 much for the amateur, the proportions may be decreased, and 

 what is not in actual use had better be soldered up in the tins 

 just referred to, and which may be found very useful, besides, 

 for such purposes as paint pots, &c. Carefully label this 

 preparation " Poison," and place it out of the reach of children. 



I have given the foregoing formulae, not because I have the 

 slightest faith in any of them, but simply for the benefit, or 

 otherwise, of those persons who elect to use arsenical prepara- 

 tions in defiance of the teachings of common sense, and in 

 deference to the prevailing notion that arsenic is the only poison 

 extant which has extraordinary preservative powers. This I 

 flatly deny, after an experience of more than five and twenty 

 years. Let us dissect the evidence as to the claim of arsenic to 

 be considered as the antiseptic and preservative agent 'par 

 excellence. Its advocates claim for it — First, that it dries and 

 preserves all flesh from decay better than anything else 

 known ; secondly, that if the skin is well painted with arsenical 

 soap no moth or maggot will be found to touch it. This, then, 

 is all that is wanted — immunity from decay and protection 

 from insects. Now I maintain that arsenical mixtures are 

 not only most dangerous, but quite useless also for the purpose. 



