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POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION. 



Demonstration of post-mortem on guinea-pig that 

 died aftor subcutaneous inoculation with the anthrax 

 bacillus. 



The animal is placed on a board ; the feet are extended 

 and tacked or nailed down. The hair over the abdomen 

 and thorax is moistened thoroughly with a cloth soaked 

 in mercuric chloride. With a pair of sterilized forceps the 

 skin over the lower part of the abdomen is raised and a 

 slight transverse nick is made with sterilized scissors. 

 Into the opening thus made the lower blade of the scis- 

 sors is introduced and an incision is made along the median 

 line to the neck. While making the incision the skin is 

 kept raised by means of the forceps to. avoid cutting 

 through the abdominal or thoracic walls. At each end of 

 this incision lateral cuts are made in the direction of the 

 extremities, and the two flaps of skin, thus prepared, are 

 carefully reflected, thus exposing the entire abdominal 

 and thoracic walls. The condition of the subcutaneous 

 tissue, of the abdominal walls, of the blood-vessels and 

 the presence or absence of oedema, gas, etc., should be 

 noted. 



The scissors and forceps are sterilized, and when cool 

 a similar incision is made into the abdominal wall and 

 extended through the cartilages of the ribs to the neck. 

 Special care must be taken to prevent cutting into the 

 intestines or internal organs. Lateral cuts are made as 

 before, and after nicking the. ribs on the inside of the thorax 

 close to the vertebral column, the entire abdominal and 

 thoracic walls can be reflected, thus exposing to view all 

 the internal organs. The condition of the abdominal and 

 thoracic cavities should be observed ; also the appearance 

 of the peritoneum, liver, spleen, kidneys, heart, lungs, etc. 



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