106 ANATOMICAL TECESOLOGY. 



allowed to play upon tliem. Use a nail or tooth bnisli to remove 

 the flesh, and if it is necessary employ the scissors, forceps, and a 

 dull but smooth-edged knife to clean some parts ; the nippers aid 

 in tearing off ligaments and tendons. After all the soft parts are 

 removed, rinse the bones well with clean water, and place them on 

 white paper in a dry room. Do not fail to accompany each bone 

 by its proper label (§ 244 D). 



The vertebrae, ribs, etc., should be kept on a string after cleaning, or -when dry they 

 may be numbered. The skeleton of each animal should be kept in a separate box and 

 properly labeled. 



§ 248. Liquid Soap Process. — The cleaning is done in this pro- 

 cess by heating the bones in a dilution of the following mixture : 

 Rain (or distilled) water, 2000 cc. ; strong ammonia, 150 cc. ; nitrate 

 of potash (saltpetre), 12 grams ; hard soap, 75 grams. 



Prepare the bones by removing the skin and most of the soft 

 parts, as directed for macerating (§ 247). 



Place the bone, or — if several are to be prepared from the same 

 animal — ^those that cannot be mistaken for one another, in a vessel 

 containing water, 4 parts, and liquid soap, 1 part. 



Prepare enough of this mixture to completely immerse the bones. 

 Boil in this forty minutes ; then pour off the liquid and add a 

 similar amount prepared in the same way. Boil again for half an 

 hour ; and usually the muscles may be removed by the hands, a 

 smooth stick, or a scalpel handle. 



As it would take too long for the bones to cool spontaneously before working npon 

 them, they may be placed directly in cold water. 



After removing all the muscles that come off readily, replace the 

 bones in the dish and continue the boiling until the soft parts may 

 be readily removed with a nail brush. 



When removing the soft parts, it is necessary to be careful not 

 to lose small bones. 



After all the soft parts are removed, it is usually best to boil the 

 bones for half an hour in a mixture of equal parts of the liquid soap 

 and water to remove the last remnants of grease. 



Finally rinse the bones weU with clean water and lay them upon 

 white paper to dry. 



This is by far the best method of preparing bones : (1) The 

 liquid soap saponifies the fat and aids in softening connective tissue. 

 (2) The bones come out white and free from grease. (3) It requires 



