1671. Laurent's Antiseptic Soap

1671. Laurent's Antiseptic Soap. Place 1/2 ounce powdered soap in a bottle with

2  drachms each of arsenite of potassa, sulphate of alumina, and pulverized camphor; pour upon them 6 ounces alcohol, and allow them to stand 24 hours. When thoroughly combined, add 3 drops oil of thyme, and cork the bottle carefully.

1672. Beconi's Arsenical Soap

1672.    Beconi's Arsenical Soap. Arsenious acid, 32 ounces; carbonate of potassa, 12 ounces; camphor, 5 ounces; white soap, 32 ounces; powdered lime, 8 ounces. Reduce each to a powder, and mix. Used as a preservative for specimens of natural history against the attacks of insects.

1673. Carbolic Acid as a Preservative

1673.    Carbolic Acid as a Preservative. Reference has been made in some of the scientific journals to experiments upon carbolic acid as a means of preserving objects of natural history, and the anticipation has been indulged in by many that this powerful agent may be able to replace all the ordinary methods of taxidermy. This, however, is a very great mistake, since it can be used to a small extent only in the preparation of entire bodies of animals that are to be preserved dry - because the process of desiccation will inevitably proceed until the original form of the animal is entirely lost. For many purposes, however, carbolicacid has proved of much value as a preservative, and its uses are increasing. Thus, diluted with about 50 times its bulk of water, it forms acapital substitute for alcohol in preserving fish and other objects; and, in fact, the larger fish, such as rays, sharks, etc., can be kept much better by its aid than even by means of alcohol. Added in small quantity to very weak spirit, it very materially increases its preservative strength.

1674. Carbolic Acid as a Temporary-Preservative

1674.    Carbolic Acid as a Temporary-Preservative. Although carbolic acid cannot be used as a substitute for the usual methods in setting up birds and mammals, it can be employed to very great advantage in keeping them fresh until they can be properly skinned. An experiment of this kind was once made by Dr. Totten, of New York, who prepared a solution of 1 drachm of carbolic acid, 11/2 ounces each of glycerine and dilute alcohol, and injected it into the mouth, the rectum, and under the skin of a large cormorant. The bird was kept on board ship until it reached New York, a period of about two months after its capture, and was then sent to a taxidermist, who found it to be in perfect condition, and who was able to mount it as satisfactorily as if it had been but just killed.

1675. Von Vetter's Process for the Preservation of Anatomical Specimens

1675.     Von Vetter's Process for the Preservation of Anatomical Specimens. Add to 7 parts of glycerine at 22° Baum'e, 1 part raw brown sugar and 1/2 part nitre, till a slight deposit is formed at the bottom of the vessel. The portion required to be preserved is then immersed (dried or not dried) and left in the mixture for a time proportional to its dimensions; a hand, for example, should remain eight days in the liquid; when it is taken out it is as stiff as a piece of wood, but if it be suspended in a dry and warm place the muscles and articulation recover their suppleness.

1676. Preserving Insects

1676.     Preserving Insects. A good way to render insects durable is to perforate their bodies once or twice with a long pin dipped in a strong solution of corrosive sublimate. If you have cases full, clean the insects and cases as thoroughly as possible, paint the inside of the cases over with a brush dipped into a solution of the sublimate, and after putting a few pieces of camphor at the bottom of the case, fix the lid on, and paste a strip of paper over the crevices.