PART I. THE HEAD AND SPINE. CHAPTER I. THE OPERATION. In opening the head for a post-mortem examination, let a thick block be placed beneath the occiput, when, after having carefully parted and turned aside the hair, an incision may be made through the scalp, over the top of the head, from ear to ear. The back of the scalpel being placed next the head, the point may be pushed in advance, thus dividing the tissues without danger of injuring the edge of the instrument by bringing it in contact with the bone. From the loose connection of the tendon of the occipitofrontalis muscle to the periosteum, by the use of the handle of the scalpel, the flaps of the scalp may readily be turned aside, the anterior over the face, the posterior on the back of the neck. The _skull clamp_ may now be applied, which will be of great service in steadying the head while using the saw. Instead of dividing the skull in a circular manner, as is usually done in the dissecting-room, it will be better to start the saw above the frontal eminences and run obliquely down towards the mastoid process, meeting this line by another commencing at the occipital protuberance and carried horizontally forwards, thus giving a wedged form to the portion removed. The advantage of this method consists in our being better able to hold the parts in position as they are replaced, as in the old method, from the readiness with which the parts move upon one another, the calvarium is liable to slide forwards or backwards from its position, thus producing an unsightly ridge across the forehead, which will more or less plainly show through the integument. With young children, a strong pair of scissors may be used instead of the saw in dividing the calvarium. In using the saw, care should be observed not to injure the dura mater; hence it will be better not to attempt to divide both tables with that instrument, but rather depend upon the chisel or rachitome for breaking away the inner table. To avoid the sound which would attend the use of the iron hammer, which, if heard by members of the family, might excite unpleasant feelings, a billet of wood or wooden mallet may be used; or, these not being at hand, the head of the iron hammer may be muffled with a towel, so as materially to deaden the sounds. The inner table having been divided, the calvarium may be pried off with the chisel, or torn away with the hook on the handle of the hammer. This, from the close adhesion of the dura mater to the bones, will generally require considerable force.