The Puering, Bating & Drenching of Skins

"The Puering, Bating & Drenching of Skins" by Joseph Turney Wood is a deep exploration of early 20th-century leather tanning, focusing on the crucial processes of puering and bating that turn raw hides into quality leather. Acting as both a handbook for leather workers and a reference for scientists, the book opens with the author's personal journey in leather manufacturing, sharing how experience led to years of research and note taking. Wood goes into the details of puering, a technique used to get rid of lime from skins after they've been limed, getting them ready for tanning. The author stresses the need to understand the science behind these processes, including the chemical and bacterial reactions in bating. The book also suggests a move toward more scientific methods to make leather production more efficient and better, hinting at the development of artificial bates to replace traditional practices.