58 
should be taken that the skins are marked or labelled so that in mammal 
specimens the skull goes with the right skin, and that the birds are properly 
sexed. If several bodies are on hand at once, there is a very great danger 
of mixing them up. A certain amount of bookkeeping is necessary if the 
specimens are to be of scientific value, and too much should not be left to 
memory. 
Dry powder (arsenic, alum, borax, saltpetre) may be dusted on and 
will stick to a moist skin, but if the skin has become dry it should be 
moistened by sponging with a wet rag or bunch of cotton. A small dry 
spot may be softened by dabbling on a little water with the finger and 
rubbing it in. The powder may be dusted on with the point of scalpel, 
with a small brush, a rabbit’s foot, or a bit of cotton on a stick. Rub an 
extra amount into scalp, feet, and base of tail, and shake the surplus back 
info the poison can. If the animal is fairly large and the skin does not 
dry quickly, the soles of the feet should be slit, the flesh removed, and a 
little preservative put in. The slit may be closed by a stitch or two. 
After finishing the work, if poison is used, the hands should be 
thoroughly washed and the nails cleaned with a soft stick. Medical 
students often rub the finger-nails full of vaseline or cosmoline before 
beginning a poison-pickled or malodorous dissection, and subsequently wash 
the hands with hot water and green soap. 
Filling the Skin 
Before turning the skin right side out, the leg bones should be wrapped 
with cotton, both to shape the skin and to prevent the bones from adhering 
when drying. A small, flat sheet of cotton is peeled off the roll, and one 
end wrapped tightly around the stump of bones, the thicker end forming 
the upper part of the legs and later lying alongside the body filler 
(Figure 18d). If the upper bones of the leg have been cut away, a leg 
(a) Ro/t a Square of cot/on .^£ 2 % (b) turn a// ends ofcothtyjh -djfi. J 
to the shape of a cone d£ - ■ inward to the centres. — 
J.-j£ with forceps ''3rsT\ 
./.r 
'if-. 
,'zj' . (c) ■Shape the cot/bn to the desired 
~ form using thesxuit 
Jr--' os a guide 
' r hi' 
V. 
Figure 16, Making artificial head for a small mammal skin. 
wire should be wrapped with cotton batting. The wrapping should not 
reach to the tip, but begin at the position of heel or wrist. The end of the 
wire is pushed into the foot, preferably on the top of the foot or along its 
side. 
Turn the skin right side out. The first step is to fill the skin of the 
head. Peel off a small square of fine-fibred cotton and roll it into the 
shape of a cone (Figure 16). Twist and squeeze it hard by pushing it 
