64 ANATOMICAL TECHNOLOGY. 



hair broom a bunch of the bristles, and select the longer and more 

 perfect ones. Cut off the split end so as to leave each bristle 5-7 

 mm. long. Melt red sealing wax in the flame of a lamp, and dip 

 into it the larger ends of several bristles at once ; lay them down 

 separately and dip more until each has a bit of the wax. Then take 

 them one by one, hold them near the flame, and turn them between 

 the fingers so that the wax assumes the form of a small tapering 

 bead. These bristles are often useful in probing for slender holes 

 and canals, especially in the brain and other soft parts. 



§ 137. Blocks. — These are of wood, well oiled, and with the 

 edges rounded. They are used for supporting the parts under 

 dissection, but a folded wet towel may sometimes serve the same 

 purpose. 



§ 138. Flexible Blow Pipe— Fig. 19.— This is the whole or 

 part of the ordinary metallic blow pipe, with the addition of a 

 piece of rubber tubing 30-40 cm. long. The blow pipe may be 

 filed in two, and the pieces used for finer and coarser work respec- 

 tively. 



Unlike the short, straight and stifi" blow pipe, this may be bent 

 in any direction, and the object inflated may be held at a con- 

 venient distance from the eye. Since inflation is temporary injection, 

 the advantage of witnessing the effects during the operation are 

 obvious. 



A. The idea of attaching a flexible tube to the metal blow pipe was first suggested to 

 us by Mr. C. F. Clark, a student, in 1874. 



B. A blow pipe of any size may be made by drawing a bit of glass tube to a point, as 

 in making a canula, and attaching the rubber tube. 



§ 139. Cats. — The price of cats varies from five to twenty-five 

 cents. The owners of superfluous animals, especially of such as 

 are too old for usefulness or comfort, are sometimes glad to have 

 them painlessly killed. 



The isolated student can usually obtain a cat when it is needed, but a laboratory must 

 keep several on hand. Contrary to general expectation, cats rarely quarrel in captivity, 

 and the fiercest of them generally become approachable within a few days. But the fleas 

 which probably infest all to some extent, seem to multiply more rapidly when several 

 cats are confined together, and some persons — though comparatively few — are annoyed by 

 them ; hence certain precautions should be observed. 



If possible, the cats should be kept in a separate building. If they are confined in 

 part of a building otherwise occupied, the room should be isolated by double doors, etc. 

 The walls should be thoroughly plastered, or made of closely matched boards. 



At least one window should be reached by the sun, and a raised platform should be so 

 placed that the cats can sun themselves on it. The windows should be covered with 



