126 



ELEMENTAEY OPERATIONS. 



even drawing knives, take their place. Drawing knives, however, 

 are better adapted to excise the homy, or other similar hard struc- 

 tures, than to cut upon soft tissues. 



FiQ. 147.— straight Bistoury. 



Via. 148.— Convex Bistoury. 



Fio. 149.— Concave Bistoury. 



Fig. 150.— Blunt Bistoury. 



Fig. 161.— Bistoury OaohS (Castrating Knife for Females). 



In form, the bistoury is either straight, convex or concave, 

 and usually is pointed, but the use of blunt or guarded instru- 

 ments is often indicated. The Mstoury cache is also employed in 

 some special operations. A bistoury is generally mounted with 

 a single blade, though sometimes several blades are mounted 

 together on one handle, and can be closed upon it in the 

 manner of an ordinary pocket knife. But when strict antiseptic 



