Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-04-24
SKELETON MARKET.
UNCLE SAM is THE cHAMPloN BONE
COLLECTOR OF THE WORLD.

ket Value Of Skeletons.
Funk island--tl.jb is, part of it
as beCa Reproduced FOR exhibition at
tho Nai4-nal museum at Washington
1t was Oh that lonely rock, 80 miles off
the coast of Newfoundland, that the
now extinct great aux had its principal
roost. Fifty years ago the last individual
OF thespecies perished. 1t is represented
now by skeleton, worth $500, stand
ing by heap of bird remains such as
chiefly compose the surface soil of Funk
island, while alongside is au egg of the
fowl, valued at 81, 500, together with
Jhe inner skin of another egg. The Ma
tional museum possesses nearly all Of
the great aux bones in existence. They
are tie most costly bones in the world
Tho finest collection of skeletons III
the world is also stored at the National
museum. They run upward from the
lowest fishes, through the reptiles and
birds, to man. Human bones are much
cheaper than those Of many other ami
mails One can buy nicely articulated
skeleton of man for $40 or of woman
lOA POO-DOA lllsthtS bOul6 III
the prioe-whereas the skeleton of
gorilla costs $500, of whale $3.50, of
an elephant $400, of lion $40, of a
horse $40, of a cat $12 and of python
$40.
The bone, of a human being are near
ly one quarter water during the life Of
the individual. They are chiefly com
,,pco1 of nj, 20 - limo h,,+
good deal of animal matter and other
elements. In the skeleton of man are
nearly four pounds of the metal cal
cium, which is many times more valu-
able than gold, being worth $500 an
ounce. Thus in the osseous framework Of
the average tramp may be found ma
terial with market value of about
$18, 900, if it could be separated.
1t is only i'll bones that phosphate of
lime is found in anything like a pure
state. Everybody knows the value Of
that material as fertilizer, but it is
only recently that human skeletons
have been imported into this country TO
grow crops with. Not long ago ship
ment was made from Mexico to the
OlllAjNl OItAlCS VI ~ Cull VI
bones, said to have been obtained from
ancient mounds in southern Mexico,
but more probably gathered from vari-
Gus old and abandoned cemeteries. As
these remains were fragments of unas.
sorted Skeletons it was estimated that
so, 600 individuals were represented in
the lot.
This would not be considereda a novel
ty in Europe. Years ago English farm
ers used human bones TO some extent to
eertilize their land. The battlefield of
Waterloo was for time the base of sup
)lies, and this was supplemented by
cargoes of Ilummics from Egypt ground
to fine powder.
In ancient Egyptian tombs are found
great numbers of copper boxes, opening
at one end by slide, which contain
mummies e cats, hawks, ibises and
now and then snakes and small croco-
diles Mummies are a recognized COM
mercial article in that country today.
For long time locomotives were run
between Cairo and 5uez with no other
fuel Corpses of royal persOnages 5000
years old and upward fetch high prices.
A year ago the Austrian bark Villa
was deserted by her crew. Later she
was picked up as derelict off Cape
Eatteras. Her cargo was found to con-
sist in large part Of bones, and Of these
one fourth were human. The rest was
composed mainly of the bones of horses
aud cattle. In one corner Of her hold I
was n great heap of human skulls. Mo-.
body knows to this day why tho crow
deserted the vessel in midOcean. She
was worth $40, 900, including her
freight. The bones had been collected
In deserts and cemeteries OF Egypt. The
preparation of human skeletons for mar
ket A. quite m industry, The chief cen
ter for this branch Of commercial actiy-
ity Is Paris, where three concerns are
engaged in the business on considerable
scale. They obtain tho requisite supplies
of raw material in the shape OF bodies
from public institutions, most OF them
being those Of paupers and criminals.
In the United States the existing laws
would not permit the establishment Of
a factory for bleaching and preparing
human hholtibNhi illN hhiJ nHiN W
skeleton produced here is Of the family
type, which h kept IN tho closet
10 supply tho demand In this country
about !, 800 skolotOus are Imported ali
nually. This reckoning does not include
minor parts, such as skulls aud ihiRl
bones These are IN great request Wy he'
orot societies, baing absolutely indis'
pensable for initatory ceremonies ono
may purchase Uranium ANA or''ssboiloS
for only slO But II you want some,
thing really fancy IN tho way of . skull
you must pay ti0. u Ia worth ne
money, however, being beautifully die
ariieulatad, 50 thai oaoh particular bone
may ho studied separately, including
even tho litlls bones ~ tho eaT
You can huy yeIy good skeleton
complete foF go, A plain skull oosls
only a. ~ students ~ obstetrics
thsre i . spaoial demand fer tho pelylH,
which eomes AZ o. rlula organlsed 20
defy lnperstliious belleis Affect ihs use
Of skulls foT drinking egps. ANA yeuhf
,asn Who Ans sludylua f0T ihe Heliral