INTRODUCTION. xix 



reception ; if the latter is too large the points will always be 

 liable to cross. 



The bone-forceps should have straight blades, and the 

 handle should be sufficiently wide apart to admit of their 

 being conveniently worked without obstruction by the fingers. 

 They are used for cutting through bones ; for instance, those 

 of the skull in the removal of the brain. 



The seeker is useful both as a probe and for clearing away 

 the connective tissue from blood-vessels, nerves, &c., without 

 danger of cutting them. 



All the instruments should be of the best steel ; it is false 

 economy to buy inferior ones, as they lose their edge very 

 quickly and require constant sharpening. 



A useful addition to the above is a common butcher's 

 knife for rough work, e.g. for cutting through the skin of the 

 skate, the asperities of which completely spoil a scalpel. For 

 fine dissection spring scissors are very useful, but are by no 

 means indispensable. 



Directions for injecting blood-vessels are given on pp. 

 48, III, 162, 218, and 298; to these I may add that a 

 very convenient fluid injection for fine vessels is made by 

 straining through muslin a strong solution of gum-arabic in 

 water coloured with precipitated Prussian blue or carmine : 

 after injection the subject is placed in alcohol, which 

 coagulates the gum. This has the double advantage over 

 gelatine (p. 162) that it is used cold and that it keeps better 

 in alcohol. 



Injecting syringes provided with brass cannulae of various 



