Dissection of Common Rat. 189 



may be obtained of {a) the (Esophagus, from the point where it 

 perforates the Diaphragm up to its arrival on the anterior 

 concave margin of the stomach ; and of {h) the white line of 

 the Pneumogastric nerve closely adherent to the dorsal segment 

 of the circumference of the (Esophagus. 



To the right of the (Esophagus will be seen the anterior 

 abdominal portion of the Yena Cava, after it has left its 

 hiding-place in the Liver notch, and at the point where it 

 receives the many large branches of the hepatic veins, these 

 veins being in greater numbers here than in Man, on account 

 of the less degree of concentration of the lobes of the Liver. 

 And, lastly, to the left of the (Esophagus, and nearer to the 

 back- bone, after a little careful dissection, will be seen the 

 Aorta. 



Removal of Stomach, Spleen, Pancreas and Intestines. 

 Let a double ligature be now placed around the (Esophagus, 

 near to its entrance into the Stomach ; and a second double 

 ligature round the rectum about an inch from the anus ; and 

 let the intestinal tube be cut through with the scissors be- 

 tween the ligatures at these two points ; and the detached 

 piece be taken away by cutting through the vessels and other 

 connections which would retain it in the abdominal cavity ; 

 leaving the bile-duct about an inch long from the liver. The 

 right Kidney is thus exposed a very little further forward in 

 the body than the left. The smooth external surface of the 

 Kidneys should be noted, as characteristic of the class Mam- 

 malia. 



The more minute examination of the Intestines should be 

 now proceeded with, in two portions ; by cutting through 

 the small intestine beyond the entrance of the Bile and Pan- 

 creatic ducts. 



First note the form of the Stomach \ the pyloric portion 

 being more glandular and highly vascular than the cardiac ; 

 the (Esophagus entering the middle of the upper curvature ; 



