[17] COLLEOTINO ANTHROPOLOGICAL INFORMATION HRDLICKA. 



The marks of the autopsy may be obliterated by making several 

 opposite holes in the two parts of the skull with a drill; wire or tie 

 the parts together, and sew the scalp with a small, continuous stitch, 

 combing the hair over all. In that manner the signs left are less than 

 those after some scalp wounds or operations. 



Whenever possible all work connected with removingi the brain may 

 be obviated by sending the entire head. In winter, a head can be sent 

 as it is, after being covered by cotton saturated with ten per cent 

 formalin; in hot weather it is necessary to make in addition an injec- 

 tion of ten per cent formalin through the. carotids. 



In an emergency a specimen may be sent in alcohol or strong liquor, 



EMBRYOLOGICAL MATERIAL. 



The great value of embryological and infant material for ph3^sical 

 anthropology has not yet received the attention deserved. It is this 

 material alone from which may be learned racial differences or simi- 

 larities in the early phases of human development, and it is this mate- 

 rial alone which can give instructive developmental series of brains, 

 bones of the skull and skeleton, teeth, etc., for Museum exhibits. 

 There are undoubtedly many physicians who would be glad to furnish 

 to the Museum this sort of material if made acquainted with its needs. 

 A good start has already been made in the National Museum in this 

 direction. 



SUGGESTIONS TO COLLECTORS. 



Embryos, fetuses, and other products, of both sexes and all ages, 

 are desired. The fresher the product the better; but even if decom- 

 position is advancing the body is still of undiminished value for the 

 skeleton. The smaller specimens of this nature can be sent directly 

 to the Museum; but in cases of premature birth or stillbirth, or an 

 older body, it may be necessary to secure a permission to send the 

 specimen from the local board of health. In the District of Colum- 

 bia, in the case of a premature or stillbirth, it is by law necessary to 

 fill out the regular return of a stillbirth, to specify as the "place of 

 burial"" the National Museum, and to make the following addition on 

 the back of the certificate: 



I hereby authorize [name of the curator] to dispose of tlie witliin-described 

 remains as he sees proper, only in accordance, however, with the laws of the District 

 of Columbia. 



(Signature of father or, in his absence, of mother.) 



The specimen and return are then sent through the regular channel, 

 the body, if the permission of the board of health be granted, being 

 delivered by the agent of the Board to the Museum. 



