They carry out research to determine source of 19th - century book 's cover . They say they are confident it 's of human origin . Arsene Houssaye 's ` ` Des destinees de l'ame '' was bound in skin by a doctor . ` ` A book about the human condition has to have a human covering , '' a doctor says .
Scientists carry out tests to determine source of 19th-century book 's binding . They say they are confident it 's of human origin . Arsene Houssaye 's `` Des destinees de l'ame '' was bound in skin by a doctor . `` A book about the human soul deserved to have a human covering , '' a note says .