DISSECTION OF THE SPINAL CORD. 



31 



the sides of the backbone. This can be done rapidly by mak- 

 ing long, deep cuts with the cartilage knife along the sides 

 of the backbone, in the planes indicated in the accompany- 

 ing figure. 



Between the skull and the first vertebra is a space cov- 

 ered by a thin membrane, through which the Spinal Cord 

 may be seen. Carefully cut through this membrane, and in- 

 sert the point of one blade of a pair of bone forceps at one 



Fig. 10. Diagram for Dissecting Spinal Cord. 



1. Cut along 1 2 with cartilage knife. 



2. Cut along 3 2 with cartilage knife. 



3. Cut along 4 with bone forceps. 



side of the spinal cord. Cut through this side of the arch of 

 the vertebra ; repeat this on the other side, and so on, through 

 the whole length of the spinal column, removing the dorsal 

 parts of the vertebrae, held together in one strip by the con- 

 nective tissue. The bony cavity in which the spinal cord lies 

 is the Neural Cavity. 



The work may be more easily done if the rabbit is sup- 

 ported on the edge of a brick, or, better, on the edge of a 



