DISSECTION WOUNDS. The practical study of anatomy is attended with certain dangers, which, however, during the last quarter of a century have been much lessened. The atmosphere of the dissecting-room, now comparatively pure by the application of proper ventilation and other sanitary measures, was, less than a generation ago, too com monly loaded with noxious emanations, which more or less poisoned the blood of those who continuously inhaled it, and consequently produced nausea, sickness, diarrhea, a bad taste in the mouth, and other symptoms. D. W., which are always attended with a certain amount of risk, were rendered more dangerous by the low state of the system, induced by the depressing influence of the surrounding air. Now, probably in consequence partly of the purer air, and partly of the general and extensive use of antiseptic injections into the vessels of the subjects to be dissected, it rarely happens that severe symptoms follow a cut or puncture. We may incidentally remark that a puncture in making a post-mortem examination, when the body is comparatively fresh, is much more likely to be followed by serious consequences than a wound in the dissect ing-room in which the bodies have been lying for some weeks.
In the great majority of cases, punctures or cuts in the dissecting-room are followed by no unpleasant results; it being an established rule,• that every puncture should be carefully sucked as soon as it is observed, and then freely touched with nitrate of silver. When, however, the poison has been absorbed, and is going to act, the patient begins to have a feeling of general illness in less than 24 hours. Ife is low-spirited, faint, and chilly, and often complains of nausea. Then come rigors, intense headache, rapid and sharp (but weak) pulse, a coated tongue, vomiting (sometimes), and great restlessness.
The first local symptom is intense pain in the shoulder of the wounded side, which is followed by fullness of the neck and armpit, extending in the form of a doughy swelling down the side of the trunk, and assuming a pinkish tint.
The general symptoms increase in severity, the breathing becoming difficult, the pulse very rapid and weaker, the tongue dry, brown, and often tremulous when pro truded, and the skin' more or less yellow. The case may terminate fatally at or before this stage; or abscesses may continue to form, from which the patient may more slowly sink; or if he survive, the arm may remain stiff and useless, or some of the fingers may be destroyed by gangrene. In the article POISONS we have noticed the rapidity with which death occasionally ensues in these cases. The essential points of treatment are briefly summed up as follows by Dr. Druitt in his excellent remarks on this subject in The Surgeon's Vademecum: " The indications clearly are to eliminate the poison from the blood; to support the strength; and to relieve pain, and promote the discharge of pus or sloughs.°' The treatment, both general and local, is, however, so similar to that of pymmia, that it is sufficient to refer our readers to that article.
As a precautionary measure in post-mortem examinations, the surgeon, especially if he be out of health, or if the patient have died from a disease of an erysipelatous charac ter, sliould thoroughly anoint his hands with lard. Very thin india-rubber gloves have been recommended as a safeguard to dissectors; but they have not been found to answer; probably from the constraint to which they subject the action of the fingers.