The New Student's Reference Work/Taxidermy

Taxidermy (tă x′ĭ-dẽr′my), the art of preparing the skins of animals for the purposes of the naturalist. In preparing small animals for stuffing, the skins are removed, the flesh clinging to them is cleaned away, and they are anointed with arsenical soap. This keeps the skin supple and prevents decay and attacks of insects. Larger skins are prepared with a powder containing arsenic, burnt alum, oak-bark and camphor. The animals are then stuffed and mounted.