PREPARING SKELETONS. 81 



The fat in bones bears a close resemblance to the fixed oils. 

 In the bones of whales it exists fluid like oil. In the long bones 

 of oxen, horses and other large quadrupeds, it is semi-fluid, con- 

 stituting the marrow. When, therefore, this is present in con- 

 siderable quantity, the process may be much accelerated by drill- 

 ing holes with a gimlet or other instrument in the opposite ends 

 of the bones, and injecting, by means of a syringe, a tepid solu- 

 tion of pearl-ash, the potash combining with the oleaginous matter, 

 forming a kind of soap, which, being soluable in water, is easily 

 removed. Chloride of lime is also employed for the same purpose. 



The relative portion of earthy and animal matter varies accord- 

 ing to the nature of the bone, and the purposes it is intended to 

 serve. The bones of quadrupeds and birds contain a much 

 greater proportion of earthy matter than those of reptiles and 

 fishes, and hence are more easily cleaned. Here it may be re- 

 marked, that the color of bones varies in different animals. In 

 some common fowl it approaches to a dark yellowish brown. 

 Food exercises considerable influence on the color, as is demon- 

 strated in animals which feed on madder. 



When the bones are perfect and dry, they are connected by 

 means of wire and screws, &c. This is the most difficult part of 

 the operation, as it requires considerable skill to reassemble the 

 bones, so that they may be placed in their natural order and 

 position. The operation is begun at one end of the extremities, 

 by making holes in the apophysis, or round ball of the bone. 

 This is effected by means of a wimble or lathe, or with a gimlet, 

 although this instrument has hardly sufficient power for perfora- 

 ting so hard a substance as bone. The bones are then attached 

 to each other in their natural order, with nealed iron wire, or 

 brass wire, by means of the perforations which have been made. 

 The ends of the wire should be twisted, and not too firmly, but 

 sufficient to allow a little play between the articulation ; this 

 mode to be pursued till the whole wires are put together. They 

 arc then ready for placing on a board, and are kept erect by 

 means of one or two perpendicular bars of iron, commensurate 

 to the weight of the skeleton. In the larger species of birds, one 

 support is necessary ; it is passed through the breast-bone and 

 attached under the spine, as represented k in the skeleton of the 

 Goshawk. The position of this support must be varied accord- 

 ing to the attitude in which the skeleton is to he placed. 



