76 PEACTICAL TAXIDERMY. 



The eyeball is placed, immediately after excision, unopened, in 

 Mtiller's Flaid for about three weeks, light being carefully excluded. It 

 is then frozen solid by immersion for a few minutes in a mixture of 

 finely powdered ice and salt, and immediately divided into lateral 

 halves by means of a sharp-edged table-knife. The portion to be 

 mounted is then placed in chloral solution for some weeks, in order to 

 remove the yellow colour ; light being still excluded, and the fluid 

 being changed until it is no longer discoloured by the bichromate. The 

 specimen nexb lies for twenty-four hours or longer in the weaker 

 glycerine solution, and is then transferred for a similar period to the 

 fetronger glycerine solution, after which it may be mounted in the jelly 

 without danger of shrinking. A specimen-jar being two-thirda filled with 

 melted jelly, the half-eye is placed in it, the concavity upwards. When 

 every interstice is filled, it is turned over (care being taken to avoid the 

 inclusion of an air-bubble), and held in a central position in contact 

 with the bottom of the jar. When cold and firmly coagulated, the 

 jelly 18 coated over with white varnish. A few days later, when the sur- 

 face of the varnish is firm, this again is thinly coated with a film of jelly, 

 and thereby preserved from the ultimate danger of cracking. The jar is 

 fixed with glue into a suitable wooden stand. The gelatine which 

 yields the strongest and most colourless jelly is that manufactured by 

 Coignet and Co., of Paris, obtainable in packets, and known as the 

 "gold-label" variety. The specimen-jars, admirable both as to mate- 

 rial and workmanship, have been made expressly for me by Messrs. F. 

 and C. Osier, of Broad Street, Birmingham, from whom they may bo 

 obtained in any number. — Priestley Smith, Birmingham. 



Glycerine retards fermentation and decomposition to a re- 

 markable degree. It combines readily witli alcoliol or water. 



Boracic acid in small quantities mixed witli a solution of 

 saltpetre, i.e., 1 to 50, is stated to be of service in the pre- 

 servation of flesh. 



Previously salted meat cannot be preserved this way ; salting 

 evidently removes the phosphates. Action of boracic acid 

 would, no doubt, set up acid phosphates, which are the prime 

 causes of the preservation. 



A preparation of borax has been brought out by Mr. 

 Hobottom, of Bii-mingham, who claims for it that it preserves 

 all animal and vegetable tissue, as well as being useful for 

 tanning skins. I shall refer to this preparation further on. 



Carbolic acid (pure) will be found a valuable ally of the 



