CHAPTER XIII. 



Post-mortem examination of animals Bacteriological examination of the 

 tissues Disposal of tissues and disinfection of instruments after the exami- 

 nation. 



DURING the bacteriological examination of the tis- 

 sues 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 

 now present may interfere with the accuracy of 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 and the end of the nose, 

 through which the tacks are driven, are to be moder- 

 ately extended. Plates are now to be made from the 

 site of inoculation, if this is subcutaneous. The sur- 

 faces of the thorax and abdomen are then to be moist- 

 ened to prevent the fine hairs, dust, etc., from floating 

 about in the air and interfering with the work. An in- 

 cision is then made through the skin from the chin to 

 the symphysis pubis. 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 



