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previous heading ( Skeletal remains ). Cracking and splitting are difficult 
to prevent, but a thorough soaking in a thin celluloid solution will be of 
great value. If a specimen is cracked throughout a great part of its length, 
it is often advisable to complete the fracture intentionally and then cement 
the two pieces with celluloid. 
Bone artifacts are sometimes marred by heavy deposits of grease or 
fat. This may be removed by soaking the specimen for about 24 hours in 
benzine, followed by very complete drying and then washing in water. 
In case it is necessary to bleach the specimen a bath of dilute ammonia 
and hydrogen peroxide in equal parts should be used, again followed by 
thorough washing and a celluloid bath. 
Bone, especially when fresh and carrying small particles of muscle or 
other tissue, is frequently attacked by insects and should be kept under 
careful observation. 
Buckskin 
Buckskin seldom requires treatment, unless it is very dry and brittle, 
a condition which is sometimes the result of allowing it to get wet and 
then drying it without taking any precaution to retain its softness. In 
cases where it is so brittle that there is danger in handling it, an improve- 
ment will be effected by painting it with hot vaseline in small quantities. 
Two or three applications at intervals of a week or so are better than 
attempting to make the buckskin absorb all the vaseline it will in one dose. 
After the first application, it is generally possible to handle the specimen 
freely, and the second and third coats should be rubbed in well and the 
skin “worked” between the hands to restore its pliability. This method 
will darken the leather to a certain extent and can not be used when there 
is any trace of native paint on the specimen. 
Buckskin is attacked by moths and beetles, and clothing made of this 
material should be hung on racks in a moth-proof room, rather than folded 
or rolled and stored in drawers. 
Feathers 
All specimens which include feathers must be handled with special 
care, as they become very brittle with age. They may be strengthened 
with a fine spray of very dilute celluloid solution delivered from an atom- 
izer, but in small quantities only, to prevent matting. They are very sub- 
ject to attack by insects and must be watched carefully. Occasionally 
feathers that have been kept long under poor storage conditions become 
bent; they may be straightened by holding them in a jet of hot water- 
vapour from a kettle and shaking them gently, when they will return to 
their original shape. Grease and oil stains on feathers may be taken out 
by dipping the feather for a short time in benzine and then drying it in a 
current of air, such as that from an electric fan. Several applications may 
be necessary, but care should be taken not to rub the feathers. 
Fur 
Fur is one of the most perishable materials encountered and requires 
careful handling and constant inspection. If specimens show that they 
have been attacked by moths in the past they should be fumigated. After 
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