GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE STRIPED MUSCLES. 185 



3. The regions of the anterior limb may be prepared at the same time, or immediately 

 afterwards. 



4. Separate the two posterior limbs by sawing the femurs through their middle, and 

 proceed to the dissection of the muscles of the posterior leg and foot. 



5. By means of another application of the saw across the middle of the loins, the 

 pelvis is completely isolated for the preparation of the coccygeal muscles, and the deep 

 muscles of the internal crural region, nearly as they are represented in figures 90 

 and 131. 



6. The animal being placed on its side, the pectoral cavity is opened by sawing 

 through the ribs near their extremities ; on the two particular portions thus obtained 

 may be studied, in one part, the triangularis of the sternum, and in the other the deep 

 muscles of the inferior cervical region, including the long muscle of the neck and 

 the anterior and lateral straight muscles of the head. 



7. Lastly, the head is disarticulated and the muscles of this region are prepared 

 The subject may afterwards serve for the study of nearly all the articulations. 

 Preservation of the muscles. The muscles may be preserved by immersing them in 



appropriate fluids, and the muscular preparations by drying them. 



A large number of liquids preserve muscles from putrefaction. We may mention 

 alcohol ; a mixture of alcohol and spirits of turpentine ; alcohol, water, and chloroform ; a 

 solution of sulphate of iron, bichloride of mercury, or arsenious acid. The best preservative 

 fluid, however, is nitric acid diluted with water, in the proportion of one of the former 

 to three of the latter. The acid hardens the muscles and softens the conjunctival 

 tissue ; this allows all the interstices to be completely cleared out, and even permits the 

 primitive muscular fasciculi which have been concealed by the white tissues to be exposed. 



Desiccation, after immersion in a bath of arsenious acid or sulphate of iron, causes 

 the muscles to become hardened and deformed. It is therefore a bad procedure. 



(A careful dissection of the muscles, with regard to their origin, insertion, action, and 

 relations, is of infinite importance to the student of human anatomy ; to the Veterinary 

 Student it is no less important, and more particularly with reference to the muscles of the 

 limbs. A correct knowledge of their situation, attachments, and functions is often the 

 only guide the Veterinary Surgeon can rely upon in the diagnosis of those apparently 

 obscure cases of lameness which are of such comparatively frequent occurenee. In the 

 words of Mr. Henry Gray, we may repeat that " an accurate knowledge of the points of 

 attachment of the muscles is of great importance in the determination of their action. 

 By a knowledge of the action of the muscles, the surgeon is able at once to explain the 

 causes of displacement in the various forms of fracture, or the causes which produce 

 distortion in the various forms of deformities, and, consequently, to adopt appropriate 

 treatment in each case. The relations also of some of the muscles, especially those in 

 immediate apposition with the larger bloodvessels, and the surface markings they pro- 

 duce, should be especially remembered, as they form most useful guides to the surgeon 

 in the application of a ligature to these vessels." ' Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical.' 



An accurate knowledge of the muscular system is also of great service to the 

 Veterinary Surgeon in estimating the value to be placed upon the external conformation 

 presented by animals intended for different kinds of labour. 



" In dissecting," says Mr. Holden, " there are four principal objects to be constantly 

 borne in mind by the student : 1st, The impression on the memory of those facts of 

 general anatomy taught in the lectures. 2nd, The study of those parts of the body 

 more especially concerned in surgical affections and operations. 3rd, The education of 

 the sense of touch, and of the hand in the use of instruments ; and 4th, The education 

 of the eye in the knowledge of the several tissues of the body, in various positions, and 

 varying circumstances. . . . The education of the eye is a gradual and tedious process, 

 but one which is pretty certain to be satisfactorily accomplished if the student do but 

 use his hands properly, and therefore a few words on the manual part of dissection may 

 not be out of place. 



" First, as to the instruments requisite for dissection. A case, containing six or eight 

 scalpels, two pairs of scissors, a pair of dissecting forceps, a set of chain-hooks, a blow- 

 pipe, and a probe, will enable the student to make all requisite dissections, supposing 

 that he is allowed the use of a saw and chisel in the dissecting-room. Great variety 

 exists in dissecting-cases, both as to form and expense, but so long as the instruments 

 themselves are strong and good, the simpler the case the better. Scalpels for dissection 

 are made of two principal shapes ; in one, the edge is bevelled to the point, the back 

 being straight; in the other, both back and edge are bevelled to a point midway 

 between the two. The latter form is preferable for most purposes. The blade should 

 not be more than an inch and a half long, and never double edged ; but the material of 

 which the handle is constructed is a matter of indifference,. 



