CHAPTER XIV. 



Post-mortem examination of animals Bacteriological examina- 

 tion of the tissues Disposal of tissues and disinfection of instru- 

 ments after the examination. 



FOR the purpose of examining bacteriological ly the 

 tissues of dead animals, certain rigid precautions must 

 be observed in order to avoid error. 



The autopsy should be made as soon as possible after 

 death. If delay cannot be avoided, the animal should 

 be kept on ice until the examination can be made, other- 

 wise decomposition sets in, and the saprophytic bacteria 

 which will now be present may interfere with the accu- 

 racy of the results. 



When the autopsy is to be made, the animal is 

 first inspected externally, and all visible lesions noted. 

 It is then to be fixed upon its back upon a board with 

 nails or tacks. The four legs aud the end of the nose, 

 through which the tacks are driven, are to be moderately 

 extended. The surfaces of the thorax and abdomen are 

 then to be moistened to prevent the fine hairs, dust, etc., 

 from floating about in the air and interfering with the 

 work. An incision is then made through the skin from 

 the chin to the genitalia. This is only a skin incision, and 

 does not reach deeper than the muscles. It is best done 

 by first making a small incision with a scalpel, just large 

 enough to permit of the introduction of one blade of a 

 blunt-pointed scissors. It is then completed with the 

 scissors. The whole of the skin is then carefully dissected 



