145 
inlays which are present be not lost. The alcohol will dissolve the resin 
with which the inlays are usually held in place. As soon as an inlay 
appears loose, it should be taken out carefully, the cavity cleaned, and the 
inlay replaced with celluloid cement. 
Horn is slightly subject to insect pests, especially when fresh or greasy. 
A thorough soaking in a thin celluloid solution will strengthen the specimen 
and will also be of assistance in repelling insects. 
Ivory 
Ivory is fairly resistant to many of the ordinary influences that affect 
specimens, but it is subject to cracking and warping. Objects in good 
condition may be cleaned with a brush, but it is not advisable to use water, 
as ivory will sometimes split when wetted. Much dry cleaning can be 
done with an ordinary typewriter eraser, if the dirt or stain resists ordinary 
brushing. Some Eskimo objects will be crusted with dry oil and grease 
which can generally be removed with wood alcohol or benzine, after the 
greater part has been chipped off mechanically or scraped off with a spatula. 
Pieces which are in bad condition should be soaked in a thin celluloid 
solution, and a good deal of loose dirt can be removed from them while in the 
bath. Dice, pendants, and other objects made from the teeth of animals 
should always be well soaked in celluloid, as they will inevitably split if 
not treated. 
Warping of ivory specimens is very common and somewhat difficult 
to prevent. Valuable pieces may justify special treatment as follows: 
the specimen is soaked in phosphoric acid until somewhat transparent. 
It is then removed, washed, and dried, when it will be soft and flexible. 
While in this condition it may be restored to its original form by bending 
and then allowed to dry completely in a current of air, when it will return 
to its original hardness. Experimental work with unimportant pieces 
should be done before attempting this treatment, particularly to determine 
to what degree the phosphoric acid should be diluted. 
In Eskimo archaeological collections pieces made from darkly patinated, 
“fossil” ivory are common. In many cases these will be found to have 
become pulverized in a shallow layer immediately under the patinated 
surface. Any attempt to clean such specimens results in the loss of the 
outer skin and the destruction of the appearance and, to some extent, the 
form of the specimens. They should be soaked in the celluloid solution 
and dried thoroughly. Ivory specimens stained with grease may be 
bleached with hydrogen peroxide, after which they should be thoroughly 
washed and dried. 
Leather 
Leather is handled in much the same way as fur. Exceptionally dry 
and brittle pieces should be soaked in a bath of warmed vaseline or lano- 
line that is worked in by rubbing and the surplus wiped off after the speci- 
men has cooled. In a recent case in the British Museum, a roll of leather 
with an inscription on it was so dry and hard that all efforts to unroll it 
had been abandoned. Eventually it was decided to soak it in a thin cellu- 
loid solution. While still wet it was successfully extended and was laid 
on a backing and allowed to dry in that position, all without damage to the 
inscription. 
12931 — 9 } 
