METHODS OF INJECTION 409 
skin of the arms, abdomen and legs for preference. The point of 
the needle should be pushed about an inch in an oblique direction 
under the skin, and the serum injected into the tissues. The skin 
of the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and forearms are also suitable 
sites. It is less painful to inject into the buttocks and abdomen 
than the arms. Always choose a part where the skin is loose 
and flabby. Never push the needle deep down into the muscles. 
Take hold of the skin with your fingers, pull it up in the form 
of aridge, and run the needle in from one end. After the injection 
carefully withdraw the needle with a rapid movement, put your 
finger on the puncture and press for a moment along the direction 
traversed by the needle. This prevents any serum escaping from 
Fic. 150.—Injecting the serum into the forearm with a serum syringe. The skin is held up, 
the needle inserted, and the serum forced in. Always inject upwards toward the root of 
the limb. 
the needle-puncture. A Io c.c. or 20 c.c. serum syringe can be 
used. A neat little syringe can be obtained to hold eighty drops, 
and it is sufficiently large to contain enough serum to inject at 
one spot. The syringe in ‘ FitzSimons’ Snake-bite Outfit”’ is 
specially designed to suit the purpose. Be careful not to use a 
small hypodermic syringe, as the aperture of the needle is so 
small that it is likely to get clogged. After using a syringe, boil 
the needle in water in which some borax has been added. The 
borax will prevent subsequent rusting of the metal. Always see 
that your syringe is scrupulously clean. 
A bottle containing 25 c.c. (cubic centimetres) should be 
injected in two or three places. Two to three teaspoonfuls of 
