EXAMINATION OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS 187 



of fine scissors. Cauterize the surface of the ventricle with a red-hot rod, 

 pass a pipette through the sterilized area and aspirate the blood. 



6. To collect material from an hepatized or congested area of the lung, 

 cauterize the surface of the latter and pass a pipette or the bent end of a 

 stout platinum wire into the affected part : or the latter may be exposed by 

 taking hold of the lung with two pairs of sterile forceps and tearing it. 



7. When the examination of the thorax is completed, open the abdomen. 

 To collect the peritoneal fluid lift up the muscular wall with a pair of 



forceps, make a small slit with a sterile scalpel, introduce a pipette through 

 the opening and aspirate the fluid from the flanks. The pipette should 

 be held parallel to the abdominal wall so as to avoid damaging the 

 intestine. 



Complete the incision of the abdominal wall along the' middle line and 

 throw the flaps outwards. 



8. Note carefully the appearances presented by the internal organs. In 

 taking material from the liver, spleen, kidneys or lymphatic glands, first 

 cauterize the surface, then pass a stout wire bent in the form of a hook 

 through the centre of the cauterized area deeply into the organ, twist it round 

 and round and on withdrawing it sow the material at once on a suitable 

 culture medium. For making films, simply tear off a small piece of the organ 

 with a pair of forceps (Chap. XIII.). 



To examine the intestinal contents, cauterize the surface, pass a pipette 

 through the cauterized area and aspirate some of the contents. Urine may 

 be collected from the bladder in a similar manner, a ligature being first tied 

 round the urethra. 



9. Bone marrow. To examine the bone marrow expose one of the long 

 bones, divide it across with a pair of strong sterile scissors and collect the 

 medulla in a pipette or platinum loop. 



If the bone be divided with non-sterilized scissors the cut end must be 

 cauterized with a heated iron rod before aspirating the medulla. 



10. Examination of the central nervous system. Lay the body on its 

 ventral surface and fasten the feet firmly to the tray [or board] as before. 



Make an incision through the skin from the root of the nose to the sacrum 

 along the line of the spinous processes of the vertebrae, and reflect the skin ; 

 detach the scapulae at their humeral articulations and turn them on one 

 side ; then dissect away the masses of muscle from the vertebral laminae 

 with a strong bistoury, taking care in so doing not to penetrate the abdominal 

 cavity in the lumbar region. With a pair of curved Liston's forceps (fig. 145) 



FIG. 145. Curved Liston's forceps. 



open the skull along an horizontal line passing through the superciliary ridges ; 

 free these ridges on each side by an oblique incision ; then raise the frontal 

 bone with an elevator and detach it with the Liston's forceps. This will 

 expose the brain. Having reached the occipital foramen raise the spinous 

 processes with the elevator and cut through the laminae of the bodies of the 

 vertebrae with the forceps alternately on the right and left sides. This if 

 properly done (a certain amount of skill and patience is required to avoid 



