Leather

Abstract

Leather is derived from the hides of skins of animals. It is a remarkably durable, strong and versatile material, which in its various forms has been made into objects ranging from African shields and drums to European saddles and kinky underwear. From as early as 2700 BC until fairly recently leather was also in the forefront of information technology with its use (as skins, vellum and parchment), for writing on, and its important role in bookbinding. (Uses of leather; Figure 1). The skins usually used are derived from cattle, goats, pigs and sheep as byproducts of the meat industry, though theoretically any skin can be used from ostrich to sharkskin or snakeskin. Closer to home, in the medical school pathology