94 MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



rabbits. A small vein which is near the posterior margin of the 

 ear of the rabbit is easily reached from the dorsal surface; 

 the ear having been shaved and washed with alcohol, the 

 hypodermic needle is introduced directly into this vein. In 

 making a hypodermic injection, the needle and syringe should 

 of course be sterilized before and after each operation. 



Autopsies upon animals should be held as soon as possible 

 after death. During the interval the body should be kept in the 

 ice-box. The autopsy room should be furn,ished with screens 

 to keep out flies, so that they may not light on the infected 

 animal. The animal should be extended on its back upon a 

 board. The legs may be fastened with pins or tacks. The 

 animal should be handled with forceps as far as possible, and 

 after beginning the autopsy the fingers should not touch it. If 

 the fingers come in contact with infectious matter, disinfect them 

 at once. Have a basin of bichloride of mercury solution i-iooo 

 ready for this purpose. Knives, scissors, platinum wires and 

 forceps should be sterilized in the flame before and after each 

 manipulation. Be prepared to make smear preparations on 

 cover-glasses, and to inoculate tubes of gelatin, agar and other 

 media as desired. Moisten the hairs over the thorax and 

 abdomen with bichloride of mercury solution i-iooo, to prevent 

 them from being carried into the air. Make an incision, passing 

 through the skin from the sternum to the pubis along the thorax 

 and abdomen, and diagonal incisions extending down the fore 

 and hind legs. Dissect away the skin from the thorax, abdo- 

 men and upper parts of the legs. With a knife heated in the 

 flame, sear a broad line extending down the middle of the ab- 

 domen. Through this burned surface make an incision through 

 the muscles of the abdomen. In a similar manner make a 

 transverse incision across the middle of the abdomen through 

 a burned surface. Cultures should be made from the peritoneal 

 cavity, and smears upon cover-glasses prepared, which are after- 

 ward to. be stained. With a hot knife, scorch a small area on 



