XIX. POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS OF 

 EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS. 



THE post-mortem examination should be carried out 

 as soon as possible after the- death of the animal, for it 

 must be remembered that even in cold weather the 

 tissues are rapidly invaded by numerous bacteria 

 derived from the alimentary tract or the cavities of 

 the body, and from external sources. 



The following outlines refer to a complete and ex- 

 haustive necropsy, and in routine work the examination 

 will rarely need to be carried out in its entirety. 



NOTE. Throughout the autopsy the searing irons must be 

 freely employed, and it must be recollected that one instrument 

 is only to be employed to seize or cut one structure. This done, 

 it must be regarded as contaminated and a fresh instrument taken 

 for the next step. 



Apparatus Required : 



Water steriliser. 



f Scalpels. 



o i Scissors. 



Surgical instruments: < ~ 



Forceps. 



I Bone forceps. 



Spear-headed platinum spatula (Fig. 199). 

 Searing irons (Fig. 198). 

 Tubes of media bouillon and sloped agar. 



Surface plates in petri dishes (of agar or one of its derivatives). 

 Platinum loop. 

 Aluminium "spreader." 

 Grease pencil. 



Sterile capillary pipettes (Fig. 13, a). 

 Sterile glass capsules, large and small. 

 Cover-slips or slides. 



Bottles of fixing fluid (vide page 114) for pieces of tissue intended 

 for sectioning. 



396 



