AGf~ICULTURAL RESEARCH, PUSA.

ANIMAL INOCULATION 189
be taken, otherwise the infection rnay be disseminated,
with danger to the operator and other workers.
Details will be given of the procedure in conducting
an autopsy in the usual manner, and also the method
used when dealing with highly infectious organisms.
As the primary reason for the autopsy is to recover
organisms previously injected into the animal in
addition to observing the lesions, the examination
must be conducted with strict aseptic precautions:
Materials required:
A suitable animal board, on which the carcase can
be fixed in the supine position.
Instrumenis.-Thl'ee scalpels; scissors, ordinary
size, four pairs; mouse-toothed forceps, four pairs;
small bone forceps if the skull is to be opened; a
searing iron-a 4 oz. soldering bolt is excellent for
the purpose; sterile capillary pipettes; sterilc Petri
dishes; stcrile test-tubes, and tubes of media.
The knives are sterilised in strong lysol, and the
metal instruments by boiling in a sterilising bath-e.g.
an enamelled" fish-kettle." When ready for use, the
tray of instruments is lifted out of the steriliseI' and
laid on a spread towel which has previously been
soaked in 1 : 1000 solution of perchloride of mercury.
It is our practice, where cultures have to be made,
first to immerse the animal completely in weak lysol
solution (3 per cent.) for ten minutes. This not only
destroys most of the surface organisms, but prevents
the dust in the fur from getting into the air and COlltaminating
other materials. The animal is now fixed
to the board, and towels moistened with antiseptic
are placed over the head and lower extremities.
The instruments are removed from the steriliseI'. A
long median incision through the skin of the abdomen
and chest is now made, and the skin widely dissected,
exposing the abdominal and chest muscles. With
another set of instruments the peritoneal cavity is
opened, and the abdominal wall is reflected to each
SIde. With fresh instruments remove the spleen and