The Artist's Assistant, In the Study and Practice of Mechanical Sciences: Calculated for the Improvement of Genius. Illustrated with Copper-Plates (Birmingham, [ca. 1785])

no8 THE ARTIST'S ASSISTANT.

it gently, and fcparate thofe leaves which might lie
clofe to one another with a needle, pouring all the
while, to make the mould the ftronger. After this
is hardened, put it in a dry place, and keep it until
you have Tome more ready to caft, but vou mud: ie-
cure it From frbft.

If you would caff in feels, or any fmall animal, or
reptile, put them, in what pofition you will, upon
a little board, brown paper, or pafteboard, which
fir ft mull be anointed with oil, in order to make the
plaifter fluff come olF the eaiier ; about your infect
make a little co*En, and if you can .raife the infect,
fb as to be freed from the board or paper, .it will be
the better, which vou may do bv tying it with two
or three hairs, fattening them at thetop of the coffin,
and bv this means it will hang in the middle thereof;
when, this is ready, pour, as before directed, vour
plainer gentlv upon it. and after the mould is a iit^-
tle drv; it will be fit for u!e.

If vou lay your iniect. or other creature, upon,
the paper, you muft make a wall about and call your
r-lailtfir upon it ; let it Hand a little, and, when dry,
take off your wall, and cut the planter round about
the infect, and, taking the mould off the paper,
there will be an opening at the bottom of the mould
where the infect lies; turn this mould, and anoint
it about the opening and the part on the infect with
oil ; then, calling fome frefh plaifter upon that
plate, your mould will take afunder, and be very
convenient to draw out the afhes of the infect, after
it has been burned as is here directed.

Put your mould upon fome warm wood afhes,
then cover it with fmall coal, over the fmall coal
Lay charcoal, and then flmg fome lighted fmall coal

over