AUTOPSIES ON ANIMALS 141 



ently 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 

 (1 to 20) or in corrosive sublimate (1 to' 1000) before it is tied 

 out. This not only to a certain extent disinfects the skin, but, 

 what is more important, prevents hairs which might be affected 

 with pathogenic 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 freshly-drawn-out capillary tubes stored in 

 a sterile cylindrical 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 the point sealed off ; or a 

 larger quantity, if desired, is taken in a sterile pipette. If 

 peritoneal fluid be not wanted, then an incision may be made 

 from the episternum to the pubes, and the thorax and abdomen 

 opened in the usual way. The organs ought to be removed with 

 another set of instruments, and it is convenient to place them 

 pending examination in deep Petri's capsules (sterile). It is 

 generally advisable to make cultures and film preparations from 

 the heart's blood. To do this, open the pericardium, sear the 

 front of the right ventricle with a cautery, make an incision in 

 the middle of the part seared, and remove some of the blood 

 with a capillary tube for future examination ; or, introducing a 

 platinum eyelet, inoculate tubes and make cover-glass prepara- 

 tions at once. To examine any organ, sear the surface with a 

 cautery, cut into it, and inoculate tubes and make film prepara- 

 tions with a platinum loop. For removing small parts of organs 

 for making inoculations on tubes, a small platinum spud is very 



