MOUNTING A LA11GE DISARTICULATED SKELETON". 297 



twisted together. The holes should be somewhat larger than 

 the brass wires which are to pass through them. 



It is necessary to mark the place for starting the drill into 

 the posterior surface of each vertebra by fitting two articulating 

 surfaces together, and passing the drill through the holes al- 

 ready made. The points at which the drill should come out on 

 the anterior surface of a vertebra should be marked with a lead 

 pencil. The beginner will find some difficulty in making the 

 drill come through at precisely the right spot. The greatest 

 difficulty will be experienced in getting these holes through the 

 cervical vertebrae. 



When the axis is reached, bore the holes so that they will 

 come out underneath, about half way between each extremity of 

 the vertebra, and about three-fourths of an inch apart. 



It is just as well to now bore the holes through which the 

 wires which fasten the axis and atlas together are to pass, 

 though these need not be actually united until the remainder 

 of the spinal column has been articulated. The wires uniting 

 the atlas and axis are smaller than those passing through the 

 spinal column. The holes for these wires are made by boring 

 two of them through each of the two surfaces by which the axis 

 articulates with the atlas. These holes should come out under- 

 neath the axis. Then, placing the axis and atlas together, 

 mark on the atlas the places through which the holes are to 

 pass by running the drill through each of the holes already 

 made. 



The next thing to be done is to cut pieces of artificial carti- 

 lage, called "buffle,"' to fit the posterior articulating surface of 

 the body of each vertebra, and each piece should be fastened to 

 the vertebra to which it belongs by a small wire nail through 

 its centre. The holes in each vertebra should be continued 

 straight on through the false cartilage. Now cut a brass wire 

 three times the length of the spinal column, double it, pull it 

 straight, pass the two ends through the sacrum, and so on for 

 ward through all the vertebrae. 



When the vertebrae have all been strung on the two wires and 

 tightened up, it will be seen that the spinal column assumes a 

 curve approximating very nearly to the natural one. Mark 

 this curve with chalk on a table or a board. 



