769 



Nachdruck verboten. 



The PreserTation of Anatomical Material for Dissection. 



By Franklin P. Mall. 

 With 1 Figure. 



The supply of anatomical material for dissection and the laws 

 regulating it in Maryland are such that it influences materially the 

 plan for our course in Anatomy at the Johns Hopkins University. 

 Not only is the material scarce but our most abundant supply is 

 obtained during the summer months when the weather is extremely 

 warm. These facts compel us to resort to rigid methods in its pre- 

 servation as well as in its dissection. At present the subjects are most 

 thoroughly dissected a record being kept of each small nerve and 

 finally the bones come together again to make skeletons for the use 

 of students in future years. 



We have tried a great variety of methods to embalm bodies and 

 find none more excellent than the carbolic acid mixture. Even the 

 formaldehyde solutions appear to be inferior to it. I prefer to use 

 enough carbolic acid to coagulate all of the muscles as this destroys 

 the odors completely and then the part under dissection will never 

 decompose. This is accomplished with about one kg. of the pure 

 acid diluted sufficiently with alcohol and glycerine. It is well to mix 

 them in thirds or in the ratio of one of acid to two of glycerine and 

 two of alcohol. Simply injecting this fluid with a syringe into a 

 large artery by no means sends the fluid to all parts of the body in 

 every case. It is necessary to inject it gradually under a constant 

 pressure. In our laboratory we have a constant pressure apparatus 

 in the embalming room which can be regulated with ease up to two 

 atmospheres. About 150 to 200 mm Hg. pressure are about suffici- 

 ent to distend all the arteries of the body thoroughly. With this 

 pressure about 4 or 6 liters of the fluid will flow gradually into the 

 femoral artery. A double cannula is employed injecting both the 

 peripheral and central ends at the same time. It is easy to tell by 

 the appearance of the skin when the body is well injected. The 

 coagulation of the skin about the neck and arms usually appears 

 first; then the face and finally that of the leg, opposite the one in 

 which the femoral has been cut. This mark indicates that the deep 

 parts have been well injected. 



The body is now allowed to remain in the room for from 12 to 

 24 hours, then the second injection is made to color the arteries 



