18 THE METHOD OF MAKING POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS. 



lesions, etc. The finger should be passed gently along the cord as it lies 

 on the table, so as to detect any marked softening or sclerosis. The 

 weight of the spinal cord is from 30 to 38 grams. It should now be held 

 lightly over the fingers, and smooth transverse incisions made, with a 



FIG. 7. OUTLINES OF SECTIONS OF THE SPINAL CORD AT DIFFERENT LEVELS. 

 Copies of these outlines may be used for memoranda of the situation of lesions of the spinal cord. T, 

 Second cervical; II, fifth cervical; III, eighth cervical; IF, first dorsal; V, eighth dorsal; n, third 

 lumbar ; VII, fourth sacral. 



very sharp knife or razor, about half an inch apart through its entire 

 substance between the segments, leaving these attached to the pia mater. 



The segments of the spinal cord are those parts from which the spi- 

 nal nerves arise, and it is convenient for the location and description of 

 lesions to number the segments in correspondence with the nerves which 

 arise from them and to indicate on outline diagrams of the cord (Fig. 7) 

 the exact seat of small lesions. 



The cut surfaces should be carefully examined for abnormal blood 

 contents, haemorrhages, inflammatory lesions, softening, scleroses, and 



