Recipe for fake blood, flesh and skin

Object

Recipe

Production date

1950s to 1960s

Object number

2008.403

Physical Description

These recipes for creating fake wounds were used by Voluntary Aid Detachment 39, which fell under the Division of Hackney and Stoke Newington in the London Branch of the British Red Cross. They were most likely used for casualty scenarios in first aid training. One recipe recommends that a blood substitute can be made by a mixture of three food colourings, liquid detergent and custard powder. This liquid may then be mixed with breadcrumbs and polycell (polyfiller) to simulate false flesh. Solidified blood can be created by mixing equal parts of vaseline and greasepaint.

Material

Paper

Dimension

height (Whole): 200mm
width (whole): 127mm

On display?

Inscription

Hackney L/39

Liquid blood

1 level teaspoon amaranta
1 level teaspoon gerenine
2 level teaspoons tartrazine
4 level teaspoons custard powder
2 level teaspoons liquid detergent
32 ozs. water (just over 1½ pints)

Bring the water to boil. Add colourings. Blend custard powder to smooth paste. When mixture is boiling add custard powder and stir well until it thickens. When cool add liquid detergent.

Dyes can be obtained from:-
Smithsons (chemist)
West Pier, Brighton

False flesh

Bread crumbs mixed with polycell, add either Bisto or blood to water for colouring.

Skin

Nylon stockings stuck to real skin with collodion or copydex.

Solid blood

Equal parts of greasepaint and vaseline together.

Congealed blood

Liquid blood with Dr. Wernets toothpowder stirred in.