CHAPTER XIV 



AUTOPSY 

 Post-mortem Technic 



The udder, together with the supramammary lymph- 

 glands, is dissected from the abdominal wall and divided into 

 its two lateral halves with a knife. 



The halves are placed in a certain definite position on a 

 table or other suitable surface in order to facilitate observa- 

 tion of the teats and lesions and remembrance of their 

 topography. Each half is placed upon its median surface, 



bringing the lateral or exter- ^ 



nal side uppermost, teats y y y 



proximal of the autopsist \y — ^^ 



and abdominal margin distal, no. 29— Position of halves of the udder 



TTy\ ,y 1} i i? J.1, ** autopsy, t. = left. U. = right 



Thus the tore quarter 01 the 



left half is at the left and the fore quarter of the right half 



is naturally at the right ( Fig. 29 ) . 



External Examination. — The normal udder-half 

 lies limp, collapsed and flattened out upon the table. The 

 half is somewhat thin and its inferior margin fairly sharp. 

 The consistency of the udder is soft and elastic. 



One looks for wounds and other lesions and observes 

 their position, size, number, consistency, degree and dis- 

 tribution. If milk is present a little should be milked into 

 the hand from each quarter. If the milk from any quarter 

 is altered a sample should be collected from each diseased 

 quarter. 



Lymph-glands. — These are examined in situ. Their 

 size under physiological conditions is not constant, though 

 the diameter is usually 6 to 9 cm. Their size is commonly 

 indicated by the terms very greatly, moderately, slightly 

 or not at all enlarged. 



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