80 ANATOMICAL TECHNOLOGY. 



but the closer-woven bags which are used for flour do not admit 

 sufficient air. 



160. Methods of Killing (Bernard, A, 149-182). Two things 

 are to be considered in killing animals for dissection : 



(1.) The death should be as nearly painless as possible. 



(2.) None of the organs or tissues to be examined should be 

 injured by the method employed. 



191. Drowning fulfils the above requirements fairly well. 

 Judging from the experience of human beings, death by drowning 

 is attended with very brief physical discomfort. 



Place the cat in a wire cage, or loose meshed bag, and immerse 

 it completely in water for four or five minutes. Usually a cat can- 

 not be resuscitated after it has been completely immersed for ninety 

 seconds ; after four or five minutes, spontaneous resuscitation is 

 altogether improbable. 



192. Chloroforming is preferable to drowning, since no liquid 

 is drawn into the lungs, and the hair is not filled with water. The 

 death, too, with cats, seems to be quietly going to sleep. There is 

 usually no struggling, showing that the period of intoxication by 

 the chloroform is very short. 



Place the cat in the ansesthetic box (see Fig. 29). This is easily- 

 accomplished if the cat is in a bag by placing the mouth of the bag in 

 the box, whereupon the cat will usually walk in of its own accord. 

 After the cat is in the box and the door closed and fastened, remove 

 the cork from the hole in the edge and pour 5-10 cc. of chloroform 

 upon the furled curtain. Then unfurl the curtain by means of the 

 string ; this will expose a greater surface from which the chloroform 

 can evaporate. Usually the cat will be asleep in three minutes, and 

 dead in twenty minutes. Do not remove it from the box till all 

 signs of respiration have ceased. 



If ether is used, 15-20 cc. is required for a cat. 



A. If one does not possess the anaesthetic box, cats may be chloroformed as follows : 

 Place a newspaper on the floor, and invert over it a large wash-bowl or a small tight box 

 or pail. Put the cat under the receptacle, and pour 10 cc. of chloroform on a sponge or 

 a bit of cotton, and put it under the receptacle with the cat. The box, or whatever is 

 used, must be held down, or a weight must be placed upon it, while the animal is coming 

 under the influence of the ansesthetic. 



B. Dogs moan while becoming anaesthetized, but presumably they and all other ani- 

 mals may be killed painlessly with chloroform or ether. The amount required to kill an 

 animal varies with its size, and with the size and closeness of the box. 



193. Killing Fleas. If the cat has fleas, as is usually the case, 



