A UTOPSIES ON ANIMALS. 1 3 1 



to remain for a minute ; it is then pushed well into the 

 rectum for five minutes. If this precaution be not adopted, 

 a reflex contraction of the vessels may take place, which is 

 likely to vitiate the result by giving too low a reading. 



Autopsies on Animals dead or killed after Inoculation. 

 These should be made as soon as possible after death. 

 It is necessary to have some shallow troughs, constructed 

 either of metal or of wood covered with metal, conveniently 

 with sheet lead, and having a perforation at each corner 

 to admit a tape or strong cord. The animal is tightly 

 stretched out in the trough and tied in position. The 

 size of the trough will, therefore, have to vary with the size 

 of the outstretched body of the animal to be examined. 

 In certain cases it is well to soak the surface of the animal 

 in carbolic acid solution (i to 20), or in corrosive sublimate 

 (i to 1000) before it is tied out. This not only to a 

 certain extent disinfects the skin but, what is more im- 

 portant, prevents hairs which might be infected with patho- 

 genic products from getting into the air of the laboratory. 

 The instruments necessary are scalpels (preferably with metal 

 handles), dissecting forceps, and scissors. They are to be 

 sterilised by boiling for five minutes. This is conveniently 

 done in one of the small portable sterilisers used by 

 surgeons. Two sets at least ought to be used in an 

 autopsy, and they may be placed, after boiling, on a sterile 

 glass plate covered by a bell jar. It is also necessary to 

 have a medium-sized hatchet-shaped cautery, or other 

 similar piece of metal. It is well to have prepared a few 

 freshiy-drawn-out capillary tubes stored in a sterile cylin- 

 drical glass vessel, and also some larger sterile glass pipettes. 

 The hair of the abdomen of the animal is removed. If 

 some of the peritoneal fluid is wanted, a band should be 

 cauterised down the linea alba from the sternum to the 

 pubes, and another at right angles to the upper end of this; 

 an incision should be made in the middle of these bands, 

 and the abdominal walls thrown to each side. One or more 

 capillary tubes should then be filled with the fluid collected 

 in the flanks, the fluid being allowed to run up the tube and 



