SKELETONS. 1 7 



ton is to be a natural one, not to injure the ligaments. 

 The partially cleaned skeleton is then returned to the mac- 

 erating tub, and on succeeding days is subjected to the 

 cleansing operation until all the flesh is removed. It may 

 be well, as a final step, to use a stiff nail brush to remove 

 the last traces of flesh. 



The skull is treated in the same manner, and the brain 

 is broken up and removed with a stick, through the occipital 

 foramen. It is sometimes desirable to open the skuU by 

 sawing off the top, and thus to remove the brain more care- 

 fully, preserving the tentorium and falx cerebri uninjured. 



Under no circumstances should the bones be boiled as 

 that operation greases them and gives the skeleton an un- 

 sightly appearance. If the water is left too long without 

 changing, the bones are apt to become discolored. 



■ When finally cleansed, the skeleton (if a natural one) has 

 a wire passed down the spinal canal, its end projecting from 

 the neck and then, being supported in the desired position by 

 strings or wires attached to a suitable framework, is left to 

 dry. When dry, the skull is fastened to its place on the 

 wire projecting from the neck, by means of copper or brass 

 wire, the lower jaw is articulated to the skull, and held in a 

 proper position by spiral springs. The body is then sup- 

 ported on a couple of upright standards, arising from a hori- 

 zontal base, and after being duly and fully labelled, the 

 specimen is complete. 



It would be impossible, without occupying much more 

 space than is allowed, to describe the method of articulating 

 an artificial skeleton, while on the other hand it can be 

 2 



