Thank you for the responses so far... 

No plans on being too up close and personal with these items - but they are
intermingling in a closet with other textiles and come out on display during
the winter months - mainly on mannequins or on a bed.
Kim

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Elizabeth Walton
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 12:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Arsenic in furs

It is possible, if you wear nitrile gloves and don't put your face in them
and inhale deeply the furs you should be fine. :)  Oh and try to resist the
urge to lick them. :D

On 12/16/11, John E Simmons <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Arsenic was commonly used in preparing taxidermy mounts (usually as 
> arsenical soap that was rubbed inside the skin) and study skins of 
> animals (usually as arsenic powder that was dusted inside the skin).
>
> It is unlikely that arsenic was used in the preservation of skins that 
> were worn as clothing because the methods of application.
>
> It is possible that arsenic powder could have been used for pest 
> control when the objects were not being worn, however.
>
> --John
>
> John E. Simmons
> Museologica
> 128 E. Burnside Street
> Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823-2010
> [log in to unmask]
> 303-681-5708
> www.museologica.com
> and
> Adjunct Curator of Collections
> Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery Penn State University 
> University Park, Pennsylvania and Lecturer in Art Juniata College 
> Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
>
> On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 10:55 AM, Upham Mansion
> <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
>> Dear Fellow Listers,****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> I am trying to determine (before spending funds on a test kit) if the 
>> fur coats, stoles and muffs we have in our collection may contain 
>> arsenic.****
>>
>> I've looked online, read the NPS information CCI information and the 
>> Museum Listserve archives and have learned that a form of arsenical 
>> soap was used in the preservation process for taxidermy (mainly to 
>> prevent insect infestation) but my question is-  is there a 
>> possibility that our furs (some dating back to the early 1900s) 
>> contain arsenic?****
>>
>> Thank you!****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Kim Krueger****
>>
>> Coordinator****
>>
>> North Wood County Historical Society****
>>
>> 212 W. 3rd****
>>
>> PO Box 142****
>>
>> Marshfield, WI 54449****
>>
>> 715.387.3322****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
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>
>
>
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>
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