Arsenic was very common in old taxidermy. It was considered very effective against infestation. Back in my Registrar days at Milwaukee Pub. Museum, my practice was to use surgical gloves when handling very old or questionable taxidermy just to be safe. Chances are that if it was made before the turn of the century, it was probably arsenic treated. Some Native American skins, hides, etc. might also be treated. It depends in part on the practices of the institution or the individual doing the collecting, although such practices are difficult to document. It might be worth the trouble to have suspected pieces analyzed. Almost any conservator trained in chemistry can do that, as arsenic leaves long term tell-tale signs. Henry B. Crawford Curator of History Museum of Texas Tech University Box 43191 Lubbock, TX 79409-3191 806/742-2442 FAX 742-1136 [log in to unmask]