S8 



which can be squeezed out of the pores along with 

 it ; so that nothing shall remain but the firm fibre, 

 which will bear handling in the usual manner in 

 weak ouze. They are, after this washing, to be 

 dried in the shade, but not near a fire ; then cut 

 up into small pieces to fit the miniature tan-pits, 

 and weighed in lots corresponding with the infu- 

 sions ; each lot containing bulk sufficient to fill up 

 the quantity of ouze, and (like a sponge) present 

 an absorbent surface on every side. 



" This dry skin, as every tanner knows, is in 

 a very unfit state to absorb astringent matter, and 

 become leather. It is, therefore, previous to im- 

 mersion in the ouze, to be worked with the hands 

 for about five minutes in water just blood-warm 

 (98° Fahr.,) and induced by this treatment to sof- 

 ten and swell to its former dimensions, in which 

 state it will be capable of fully exerting its absor- 

 bent powers ; and if care be taken to give the ouze 

 an over dose of it, the action will be completed in 

 a few hours. 



As each ouze is exhausted, its lots of skins should 

 be taken up, dried in the shade as before, and the 

 increase of weight in each lot separately ascertain- 

 ed. This additional weight can consist only of the 

 useful tanning matter, so that the increase of each 

 lot will directly show the true comparative value 

 of the astringent in whose infusion it was steeped. 



The skin most proper for this purpose is the 

 strongest and freshest that can be procured, shaved 

 down or split to the thinnest substance it can be 

 safely reduced to. The large fresh currier's shav- 

 ings from the strong hides intended for chaises or 

 1 



