Found this interesting, the date on the piece of paper in my old recipe book says 1911. But this guy talks about keeping his beaver castor in 90- 100 proof alcohol or moonshine. Will keep good is all it says for follow up. Ive never tried it because i try and buy in bulk , or grind it fresh as i need it. Semi dry stuff i will freeze up for the fall batch of bait i make. Just found it interesting how back in the day they would preserve stuff, i suppose to a ice house would've worked out to. Lol

Folks in that era I am sure had limits as to options of cool storage in root cellars, caves, cold springs, ice box storage, Dehydration, cold packing or some sort of alcohol pickle or salting. Moonshine and liquor I am sure was a popular method if it could be found or afforded. Money was tight back then for the common man.

Folks made do as best they could and improvised very well back then.

Oh yeah for sure bob, i like this tanning recipe to in a old book i have it calls for salt peter. Just a little before my time lol

You do know where the term salt peter came from and its supposed initial use.?

this is a very pure grade of potassium nitrate

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Spectracide-1-lb-Stump-Remover-Hg-66420-6/202097353

I believe I remember hearing that it was given to soldiers to decrease their sex drive?

I knew it was a nitrate of some sort, sodium nitrate is what i was thinking. Wasn't it used in gun powder to?

A bit of the potassium nitrate with a bit of sulfur with a bit of charcoal, and you have black powder.

Thanks paul, that could be a" bang", when i mined in Colorado we use to mess with the green hands " new hires " trim tex powder has nitro glycerin in it and causes a good head ache when rubbed in the hat band of a hard hat. Lol. I bet now days it would be a firing offence.