Chapter III: Part 3

The under jaw should be wired to the upper, or bound securely to it by a small cord or wire. Saw the skull and back corners of under jaw off, so that when the sawed surface is fastened down flat on a board, the nose will be somewhat elevated from the floor, while the back part of the skull will lie on the floor. Fasten the skull to the small boards with wire, and then stretch the skin over it. Soak only the skin of the head in water, and sew up the mouth by drawing the lower lips up under the upper in the natural way. The skin should be inside out while the lips are being sewed. If in the process of skinning you have cut the skin clear out through the lip, it must be sewed together far enough to inclose the skull and the under board, which should not extend more than two inches back of the skull. Build out the end of the nose with plaster paris to make it natural shape and draw the skin over the skull. Be very careful to have the nose and eyes all right. Tack the skin to the under side of the board which should in width correspond to the thickness of the dog's neck. The edges of the neck skin should be sutured together under the board and tacked to it. Cut the skin, which is lapped under, following the line of back end of board out to the side edges of the board. Turn this flap out and sew the underlying end to the upper skin, or to the skin of back of neck, and close to the back end of board; this brings the skin on a level of under side of board; now round off the turned out flap so as to conform with the line of the neck and fore legs; the head will now need some stuffing to round it up in proper shape. Take some cotton and put it in through the ears with a wire, placing it where needed to give the head a proper shape; arrange the skin around the eyes, nose and mouth; then let dry before lining. Put a good supply of the alcohol and corrosive sublimate on the ears, nose and lips, as soon as head is dressed. Now for the lining, procure a sufficient amount of felt to line it, say of a dark green color; then get enough to make a strip one and a half inches wide and long enough to go around the edge of hide; this should be an orange color.

Take this strip and pink one edge of it, then baste the lining on to skin letting the edges of it project about two inches out from edge of hide. Now comb the hair around the edges of hide back towards the center of same. Then take the pinked strip and lay it on the hair side of skin, the smooth edge along the edge of the hide and the pinked edge laying back on the hair; then sew the pinked strip, lining and hide together, running close to the edge of hide. Now turn the pinked strip out on to the projecting lining and sew another seam around just out side of the hide, thus sewing the lining and the pinked strip together. Now pink the out edge of lining to suit your taste; then take some yarn or zephyr and knot the lining and hide together, the same as in knotting a comfort, and the job is complete.

To make a robe sew a number of hides together and line them, simply binding the edge with a straight strip.

TO SOFTEN HIDES.

Where a hide has become hard by getting wet, or from some other cause after tanning, wet it on flesh side with water and hang up. When partly dry give it a thorough rubbing. If that fails to soften it, oil it with Neatsfoot oil and rub it in well.

TO CLEAN RUGS AND FURS.

When rugs and furs become dirty from use take hardwood sawdust, dampen it and rub well into hide. Shake out and repeat until clean.

TO KILL MOTHS IN FURS, ETC.

Sprinkle them well with arsenic shaking it well down on hide. Tie up and lay away for a few days. Then dust all the arsenic out and clean with the sawdust. In stuffed birds use the arsenic alone, but handle it with care for it is a deadly poison.

EXTRAS.

A FAMILY LINIMENT.

Alcohol 1 pint Gum Camphor ½ ounce Aqua ammonia 3 ounces Oil of Sassafras ½ ounce Laudanum ½ ounce

Mix.

Wishing to use the above for neuralgia or rheumatism, add to three ounces of the preparation 4 grains menthol (in crystals).

FIVE DAY CORN OR WART CURE.

Cannabis 5 grains Salicylic Acid 29 grains Collodion ½ ounce Caster Oil 10 drops

Directions:

Mix thoroughly, and before applying dampen the corn or wart with turpentine; then apply, being careful not to get the preparation on the sound flesh. Repeat this every night before going to bed for five successive nights. Now bind a slice of lemon on excrescence, let it remain one hour, and then wash and scrape off corn or wart. You may of course repeat as often as necessary, or until excrescence is entirely removed.

FURNITURE POLISH.

Turpentine ½ pint Yellow lubricating oil ½ pint Muriatic acid 1 ounce

Directions:

Mix and let stand two days, and then apply with a sponge after which thoroughly dry with a woolen cloth.

WHITE CEMENT.

Best white glue ½ pound Soft water 2½ pints

Directions:

Mix and heat over a slow fire until dissolved; then stir in 4 ounces dry white lead, ¼ pint alcohol, and 1 ounce aqua ammonia.

INDEX.

PAGES.

Barbers' Itch, 23

Black Heads, 21

Bleaching for the Hair, 22

Brilliantine, 20

Camphor Ice, 16

Engraving Fluid, 20

Face Whitenings, 23-32

Four Face and Hand Creams, 12-15

Glass Hone, 30

Hair Dyes, 9-10

Hair Oils and Pomades, 25-26

Menthol Salve, 17

Mugs, Brushes and Soap, 31

Quinine Hair Tonics and Sea Foam, 11-20

Shampoos, 17-19

Shower-Bath and Shampoo Can, 32

Suggestions to Beginners, 35

To Stop Blood, 29

Towels and Hair Cloths, 33

TAXIDERMY.

Article I., On Skinning and Dressing Birds 48

Article II., On Skinning and Dressing Animals 63

Article III., Fish Dressing 72

Article IV., Hunting Specimens and care of same 77

Article V. and VI., Wood and Wire Frames 79-81

Article VII., Dressing Moles, etc. 82

Article VIII., Dressing Turtles 84

Article IX., Killing and Dressing Snakes 89

Article X., Dressing Alligators 92

Article XI., On Making Footstools, etc. 94

Article XII., Polishing Horns, etc. 102

Article XIII., Tips for Horns, etc. 113

Article XIV., Recipes for Preserving Preparations, 114

Tanning Hides, etc. 117-126

Extra Formulas 127-129

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

1. Silently corrected typographical errors. 2. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.