PREPARING SKELETONS. 77 



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of the naturalist, and should never be resorted to except where 

 the species is very common, in which case it is well enough to do 

 so with one or two specimens to show the structure of the shells. 

 After the operation of polishing and washing with acids, a little 

 Florence oil should be rubbed over to bring out the colors and 

 destroy the influence of the acid. 



CHAPTER VII. 

 PREPARING SKELETONS. 



CLEANING AND PREPARING BONES IN GENERAL. 



As much of the fleshy parts should be removed from bones 

 intended for preparation as possible with the scalpel, but it is not 

 required that they should be separated from each other more than 

 is necessary for placing them in a vessel for the purpose of ma- 

 ceration. The bones are to be entirely covered with water which 

 should be changed every day for about a week, or as long as it 

 becomes discolored with blood, after which, allow them to remain 

 in water without changing till putrefaction has thoroughly de- 

 stroyed all the remaining flesh ; this will require from three to 

 six months, according to the season of the year or temperature of 

 the atmosphere, but in warmer climates putrefaction will take 

 place more rapidly. In tropical climates, fourteen day will be 

 sufficient to disengage the flesh completely from the bones. 



The large cylindrical bones of the thighs and arms should have 

 holes bored in their extremities of the size of a goose quill to give 

 the water access to their cavities and a free exit to the medullary 

 substance. 



As the water will gradually diminish in quantity, from evapora- 

 tion, more should be added from time to time, so that none of the 

 bones, or any part of them, may remain uncovered, as by expo- 

 sure to the atmosphere they will become of a dirty color and have 

 a disagreeable appearance. To be free from such stains is con- 

 sidered a great beauty in skeletons. 



