Southern Medical and Surgical Journal - Georgia Regents University

1867] Miscellaneous. 523terebinthina Canadensis) as a vehicle, and sulphuric etheras a solvent. The carbolic acid mixes readily with theether and Canada balsam; and the coloring matter iswell suspended. Tallow and wax may also be dissolvedin the Canada turpentine by the aid of heat.When an organ thus injected is exposed to the air, theether evaporates rapidly, and the Canada balsam graduallydries to a hard material, enclosing the coloring matter,and filling up the blood-vessels.The method employed by Dr. Joseph Jones, isalso ofgreat value in the preservation or embalming of bodiesfor transportation to a great distance, or for any otherpurpose. "\Yhen the colored fluid is properly injected, ittends to impart a life-like appearance to the skin.It is well known that carbolic acid arrests fermentationand putrefaction, and destroys the lower forms of vegetableand animal life.As far as the experiments in the University of Nashvillehave extended, carbolic acid appears to be the bestof all antiseptics for the injection of bodies designed fordissection, and must supercede, in the dissecting room,the chloride of zinc, which discolors the structures, andinjures the knives; and the poisonous arsenious, andarsenic acids, which endanger theof those who dissect habitually.health, if not the life,Dr. T. B. Buchanan, Curator of the Museum and Prosectorto the Chairs of Anatomy and Surgery in theUniversity of Nashville, is also conducting a series ofexperiments upon the preservation of organs and tissues,in water impregnated with carbolic acid.Such a mixturewould be infinitely cheaper than alcohol, and such experimentshave a high practical value. Up to the presenttime, the results obtained by Dr. Buchanan have beenmost satisfactory.—Nashville Jour, of Med. and Surg.