12 MAMMALIAN ANATOMY 



quickly done by a longitudinal incision into the abdominal cavity 

 through the ventral wall. The glistening membrane, the mesentery, 

 which fastens the organs to the walls of the cavity should be cut and 

 the intestine divided as far down in the pelvis as possible. In order 

 to prevent the escape of the contents of the alimentary canal when 

 thus divided, the intestine should be tied in two places close together 

 and cut between the ligatures. The muscular diaphragm which 

 separates the abdominal and thoracic cavities should be now cut 

 loose from its attachment to the ribs, and the contents of the thoracic 

 cavity cut and torn free from its walls. Finally, if the windpipe and 

 the oesophagus are divided at the root of the neck, all the viscera can 

 be now removed through the original incision in the abdominal wall. 



As much of the muscular tissue should be cut away as is possible 

 without injuring the bones. In this process the arms come off 

 easily ; the legs may be removed at the hip-joints. The skull and 

 tail should be removed from the spinal column. Before the ver- 

 tebrae are separated they should be strung on a stout wire passed 

 through the spinal canal, that their relative order may be preserved. 

 The ribs of one side should be wired together in their proper 

 sequence. When all this has been done, the roughly cleaned bones 

 may be further prepared in one of two ways, by maceration or by 

 boiling. 



Maceration. The bones are placed in plenty of clean water in a 

 glass or earthenware jar, and the flesh is allowed to decompose. The 

 water is renewed from time to time, and after a few weeks the bones 

 can be taken out, thoroughly brushed to free them from adhering 

 cartilages and ligaments, and laid out in the air to dry. 



Boiling. This is a much more satisfactory way of cleaning bones, 

 and one which can be carried to completion in a few hours, especially 

 if the Soap Solution recommended by Wilder and Gage l be used. 

 This solution is composed of water (preferably distilled), 2000 cubic 

 centimetres ; strong ammonia, 150 cubic centimetres ; potassium nitrate 

 (saltpetre), 12 grammes; hard soap, 75 grammes. The solution is not 

 used at first in its full strength, but diluted ; to one part of the solution 

 four parts of water are added. 



The bones are put in enough of this mixture to cover them com- 

 pletely. They are then boiled for half an hour, when the solution is 



1 Anatomical Technology as applied to the Domestic Cat, 3d edition, 1892, p. 106. 



