86 



ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF 



When the preparation becomes flexible, 

 immerse in warm water ; then give it sev- 

 eral washings in cold water to remove the 

 acid ; dry, and immerse in a glass vessel of 

 oil of turpentine ; it will assume a beautiful 

 transparency, exhibiting the blood-vessels. 



METHOD OF CLEANING AND SEPARATING THE 

 BONES OF CRANIUM. 



Take the head of a young colt, remove 

 the skin and muscles, and wash out the 

 brain, previously breaking it down with a 

 stick or probe ; macerate and cleanse it as 

 before directed ; then fill the cranial cavity 

 with dry corn from the husk, immerse it in 

 water, and the corn as it swells forces open 

 the suturuses, so that they can be readily 

 separated by the hand. Wash, dry, and 

 bleach the bones, and then cover them with 

 colorless varnish. 



A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF MR. SWAN's NEW 

 METHOD OF MAKING DRIED ANATOMICAL 

 PREPARATIONS.* 



The new method has been adopted by 

 Usher Parsons, M. D., Professor of Anat- 

 omy and Physiology, from whose work the 

 following selections are made : 



DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING DRIED PREPARATIONS. 



The part of a limb, chosen for injection, 

 must be as free from fat as possible. A solu- 

 tion of two ounces of oxy muriate of mercury 

 in half a pint of rectified spirits of wine, is 

 to be injected into the arteries ; the next day 

 inject as much white spirit varnish, to which 

 one-fifth of white spirit varnish has been 

 added, and some vermilion ; the limb is 

 then to be put into hot water, where it is to 

 remain until properly heated, when the coarse 

 injection is to be thrown into the arteries 

 and veins, if required, bearing in mind the 

 course of J:he circulation ; the valves of the 

 veins can be broken down by a whalebone 

 probe, if necessary. If the veins are to be 

 injected, it is better to wash the blood out of 

 them with water before the solution of oxy- 



* Professor Chaussicr claims to be the ori^^inal dis- 

 coverer of this method. 



muriate of mercury is thrown into the arte- 

 ries. 



After the limb has been injected, it is to 

 be dissected. Every time it is left, and 

 sometimes during dissection, it is advisable 

 to cover those parts which have been ex- 

 posed, with a damp cloth. There are great 

 advantages to be derived from previously 

 injecting the limb in oxy muriate of mercury, 

 for a limb thus injected undergoes very little 

 change in many days, and, when the dissec- 

 tion is recommenced, the parts will be found 

 in the same state in which they were left, 

 and destitute of any offensive odor. 



The oxymuriate of mercury is the best 

 agent for arresting the putrefactive process. 



After the dissection is finished, the limb, 

 or part, must be immersed in a solution of 

 oxymuriate of mercury for a fortnight or 

 more. 



The solution of oxymuriate of mercury 

 must be contained in a wooden vessel, as 

 metallic vessels do not answer. 



The limb, or part, having been in the 

 solution during the above period, it should 

 be taken out, diied, varnished, and, if neces- 

 sary, painted. 



SOLUTION OF HARDENING THE BRAIN AND 

 OTHER TISSUES. 



Take of oxymuriate of mercury, one 

 ounce ; muriate of ammonia, thirty-five 

 gi-ains ; pyroligneous acid, one pint. Rub 

 the oxymuiiate of mercury and muriate of 

 ammonia together in a mortar, then add 

 half a pint pyrloigneous acid. 



OXYMURIATE OF MERCURY IS A VALUABLE 

 ANTISEPTIC. 



Dr. Parsons relates, that, when a piece of 

 flesh had been immersed in a solution of 

 oxymuriate of mercury until it was com- 

 pletely changed, and afterwards put into a 

 large vessel containing water for some days, 

 though the greater part of the oxymuriate 

 of mercury was thus washed away, it did 

 not even then appear in the least degree 

 putrid. I procured half of the head and 

 neck of a large horse, which I first injected 



