92 MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



CHAPTER VI. 



INOCULATION OF ANIMALS. 



In the study of pathogenic bacteria, the inoculation of animals 

 is frequently indispensable. It is inexpedient where classes 

 are large for students to make such inoculations ; but, neverthe- 

 less, every student should be familiar with the subject. The 

 animals most often used are white mice, guinea-pigs, rabbits, and 

 pigeons. Larger animals are occasionally employed for special 

 purposes. White mice may be kept in a glass jar covered with 

 wire netting. They may be fed with moistened bread or oats. 

 It is important to see that they receive drinking-water. During 



Fig. 34. — Mouse-holder. 



inoculation the mouse must be kept in position by some sort of 

 mouse-holder, or may be held by an assistant, who takes the 

 skin at the back of the neck between his fingers and at the same 

 time holds the tail. The hair is cut off from the skin at the root 

 of the tail. A small V-shaped opening in the skin is made with 

 scissors, and a stiff, steriUzed, platinum wire is passed into this 

 opening, separating the skin from the muscles for some distance 

 so as to make a pocket. Into this pocket the material is in- 

 troduced by means of the platinum wire. The wound may be 

 covered with collodion. 



