During puering, the lime soaps in the skin are decomposed, and the fat set free--in an estimation of the fat, 0·151 per cent. on the wet skin was found before puering, and 2·48 per cent. after puering. The fat thus set free can be removed to a great extent by scudding; but in modern practice this is not pushed to extremes, as the grain is liable to be damaged by excessive scudding. The fat is afterwards removed from the dry leather by means of benzine or other solvent, employed in a suitable apparatus. [Illustration: Fig 6.--Sir John Turney’s Scudding Machine for Sheep Grains.] *Scudding.*--When the goods are “down,” they are ready for scudding. This operation in the case of grains is performed either by hand over the beam, or by means of a special scudding machine. The scudding machine figured (Fig. 6) was invented by Sir John Turney in 1880,[17] and is the only type of machine which will safely scud split skins. It will readily be understood that the usual type of scudding machine, in which a spiral knife is used, would tear the delicate structure of the grain. The Turney scudding machine works with hard, circular brushes, which revolve against a wooden roller carrying the skin. At the same time a continuous stream of water, at a temperature of 110° F., is sprayed upon the skins from a perforated pipe. [17] The original Turney scudding machine, was invented in 1871, and patented in that year. The specifications are numbered 1351, and 3310, 1871. It was also patented in America. Specification No. 131,480, dated September 17, 1872. Improvements in apparatus for cleaning and scouring hides and skins. After scudding, the skins are washed in cold water for about ten minutes. This checks the action of the puer, and also washes away any loose dirt. They are then ready to pass on to the drench (Chapter IX.), or to the pickling process, or direct to the tan liquor, according to the kind of leather required. *The Bating of Hides for Harness or Dressing Purposes.*--The hides intended for harness leather, or for dressing purposes, are usually bated with hen or pigeon manure. The exact process varies in different tanyards, being dependent upon the condition of the pelt prior to bating, as to whether it is bated directly after fleshing or receives a preliminary deliming. The process is also dependent upon the amount of bating action required for the specific purpose prior to tanning, but the following three methods are in actual use, and may be taken as typical methods:--