PACKING INSTRUMENTS FOR TRANSPORTATION. 75 



purchased. The ordinary case never has room for all the neces- 

 sary instruments, and is a less convenient receptacle for them 

 while in use than a shallow tray like the cover of a note box ; 

 see 110. 



If the student is unable to resist the temptation to possess a 

 regular dissecting case, he is advised to obtain one of the more 

 costly, as likely to contain better instruments. The case commonly 

 selected by the special students at Cornell University is sold by 

 Messrs. Codman & Shurtleff at $9, and contains the following 

 instruments : three assorted scalpels, coarse and fine forceps, coarse 

 and fine curved scissors ; arthrotome, and blow pipe. Similar cases 

 may probably be had elsewhere. The additional instruments must 

 be purchased separately. 



182. Packing Instruments for Transportation. All scalpels 

 and delicate pointed instruments generally should be packed as 

 follows : thrust the point into a bit of cork, then wrap well in a 

 piece of thin paper, such as is supplied in packages under the name 

 of "star mills," "diamond," etc. The paper should project well 

 beyond the blade, and be twisted or bent over so as to keep the 

 cork in place. Thus wrapped, the most delicate instruments may 

 be sent by mail in pasteboard or light wooden boxes, or otherwise 

 transported. Since no written communication is permitted upon 

 such a package without payment of letter rates, the consignee 

 should be notified at the same time. Whether for mailing or any 

 other kind of transportation, the heavier instruments, or such as 

 need no special protection, should *be packed separately from the 

 more delicate. Small cigar boxes answer a good purpose, but the 

 most suitable boxes for instruments are made by the Swift Manu- 

 facturing Co. of New York, and others ; they are long and narrow, 

 and provided with lids. 



POLISHING INSTRUMENTS. 



183. A. Instruments that have become tarnished may be re- 

 polished by rubbing with a piece of chamois or cloth on which has 

 been put oil and rouge. Perhaps the best way to apply the polish- 

 ing material is to wrap the cloth around the end of the index for 

 small instruments, or roll the cloth or chamois into a bundle for 

 large instruments. In both cases the surface to be polished is 

 rubbed as in scouring household knives, taking care to avoid con- 

 tact with the edge of the instrument. 



