CHAPTER XVI 



Care of Instruments 



THE following instruments are placed on our tray to be used in obtain- 

 ing specimens: 



1. Bard-Parker scalpels (curved blade) 



2. Heavy duty cuticle clipper, to remove infected nail tissue 



3. Scissors (sharp, pointed, curved) 



4. Forceps 



5. Syringe (tuberculin) with 20 gage needle, to aspirate pus 



6. Safety razor of standard make, to shave scalps when indicated 



If sterilization is effected by boiling, the cutting edges of the instruments 

 soon become dulled. In order that this may be prevented, the instruments 

 after use are immersed in a 10 per cent solution of cresol for at least half 

 an hour. They are then washed in water and placed in a 70 per cent con- 

 centration of alcohol (saturated with sodium bicarbonate), where they are 

 left until used. There is no rusting in either solution, and the instruments 

 can be left in either for an indefinite period. The syringe and the needle are 

 sterilized by placing in boiling water for 10 minutes. 



It is well to have from four to six scalpels available so that examination 

 of patients will not be retarded because of the time necessary for steriliza- 

 tion. The sharpest blade, which may be identified by placing a piece of 

 adhesive plaster on the handle, should be used when working on nails. 



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