Introduction. xiii 



strike bone ; keep the scalpel for the finer work. Be careful to 

 keep the joint of the scissors dry. Do not get blood in it while 

 dissecting, nor water when cleaning. If the joint is kept well 

 oiled, watery liquids are usually kept out. Always clean the in- 

 struments after dissecting, using no more water than is needed ; 

 often a moist cloth will be sufficient. See that they are dry 

 before you put them away. If they are to remain unused for 

 some time, rub them with an oiled rag, or slightly smear them 

 with vaseline. 



The scissors should be used much more than the beginner 

 would suppose. All small objects and especially thin mem- 

 branes are better cut with the scissors than with the scalpel, for 

 the reason that each blade of the scissors holds the object for 

 the other blade, whereas the knife tends to push out of the 

 way the object to be cut, and often leads to the cutting of under- 

 lying tissues that should be left uninjured. While cutting with 

 one hand, whether with scalpel or scissors, always use the for- 

 ceps in the other hand to steady the object, and especially to 

 hold the edge while cutting any thin membrane. This is 

 especially necessary when cutting through the wall into any cavity. 

 Hold the forceps as you would a pen, and not as a pair of 

 tongs. Delicacy and not strength is required. By holding 

 the forceps as you would a pen, you keep the wrist down in a 

 restful position, and can often let it rest on the edge of the dis- 

 secting pan ; your hand is thus less likely to be in your light. 

 Do not touch objects with a blade of a cutting instrument unless 

 you intend to cut them. If you wish to push an organ aside, 

 or turn it over, use the fingers, forceps, or the handle of the 

 scalpel. In much of the dissecting the handle of the scalpel 

 should be used, chisel-fashion, scraping and pushing, rather 

 than cutting. In fact, the handle of the scalpel should be used 

 more than the blade. Many tissues are tough and will stand 

 dragging or tearing, whereas a slight cut will cause bleeding 

 enough to interfere seriously with the work, not only making 

 the work unsightly, but obscuring the view. This is especially 



