Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04

skeleton after the Partisan method is
to remove the flesh by means of the knife
Then the bones are boiled, after which
they are scraped and bleached in the sun.
1t Is said that the French secure the daz-
cling whiteness which marks their work
IN this line by treating the bones with
ether and benZine. Finally, the bones pass
Into the finishing room," where they are
assorted. Many skeletons being cleaned at
once, the bones are more or less mixed UP,
and single skeleton as sold may consist
or fragments of a number of individuals
a female skeleton is worth several francs
more than that of a male
Wars Cheaper the Demand.
The Decentralization of skulls is performed
separately in the factory, as It is branch
requiring greater skill and nicely of manipu-
laton. With the crania OF young adults. or
children 1t is effected by the ingenious plan
Of filling the emptied skull cavity with
dried pease. which are then STEPPED in wa
ter. and in swelling compel the distinction
more delicately than would be possible in
any other way. The skeletons of infants
are treated by themselves. A distinct
branch OF the business has to do with the
preparation Of skeletons of various animals
Tor the use OF natural history students.
These are sold to schools and colleges Liz
ards, snakes, frogs, and other reptiles and
batrachians require special care on account
Of the delicacy of their bony structure.
Nd-s are APT 10 nave a depressing erect on
he market fer human bones. For some
time after the conflict between Russia and
Turkey the cheapness and abundance of the
skeleton supply injured the trade some
what. Great quantities of bones We're COL
lected on the battletieIds which marked the
history OF that memors bic struggle. Con-
querers of old did not take the trouble to
bury the people Slaughtered along their
lines of march, but left behind them hun
dreds Of thousands of bleaching skeletons
which were gathered years afterward and
piled in pyramids that were soon wasted
away by the winds and storms. After the
battle OF Morgarten the Swiss made such
pyramid of the bones of the soldiers Of
Charles the Rash left on the field.
The writer begs leave to quote an essay
list in the Saa Francisco Chronicle, who
states that In the process Of cremation the
flesh tissues disappear, and there is left a
residue composed Of pieces of bone Of var
ious sizes, which, If water is added and they
are Gried. become coarse dust, that may
be Theoretically sealed in an urn and pre-
served for an indefinite period. In Paris the
bones of the dead have been removed year
after year from The cemeteries to the cata-
combs, until the number of 81 eletons as-
sembled, more or less complete amounts 10
6.o00.OO0 Bones of saints are scattered all
over Europe. There are twenty jawbones
of John the Baptist alone, and nine OF st.
Bartholomew hands are well known. The
most extensive collection Of osSeous relics
is that of the II, coo virgins in the Church of
st. Ursula at Cologne, each separate bone
OF which is presumed TO be capable Of per-
forming a miracle. The ordinary bone boil
ing INDUSTRY, SO yehemently discoCltenanc-
ed by residents in the aeiShborhood OF fac
tories engaged in the business, has a wide
commercial Importance. The shins, thighs
AID fore-less of cattle and sheep are clean
Ell at these establishments and turned over
10 manufacturers, who make them up into
knife handles, tooth brushes, collar buttons
IVORY sleeve buttons, umbrella handles,
hair brushes and combs. Great quantities
,of the thigh bones, which furnish the best
material, are exported to Europe and
brought back 10 this country In manufac-
turet shape. The ribs and skulls are used
Tor making bone black, which Is employed
chiefly in sugar rSfineries. The marrow OF
the bones yields the bears grease" Of COM
merce.
The Preparation OF Skeletons.
Skeletons of animals reach the National
Museum in the roush-that is to say, with
part of the flesh still adhe-ing. They come
from all parts Of the world. The small
skeletons are simply soaked in water. scrap
Ell and bleachei in the sun. Those of larger
animals are soaked until the flesh is rot
ted. Then they are taken out and steeped
IN hot washing soda, after which they are
scrubDei with brushes Next, they are put
into weak solution of chloride of lime, 10
bleach AMI dcodcriZe them. Finally, they
are spread out in the sun TO whiten before
putting the zones together and setting i'm
the finished Skeletons