As far as the obducent himself is concerned he may prepare himself
simply by removing his coat and rolling up his sleeves, or he may
wear an autopsy coat or apron. While an autopsy can without doubt
be best performed with hands bared, the danger to the operator is
sufficiently great to lead him to sacrifice the undoubtedly greater
technical skill thus gained, to his own safety, by the use of some
protective. Rubber gloves of a medium weight, reaching half way to
the elbows, are a great protection when carefully cleaned, sterilized
and cared for. The sleeves of the coat may overlap the gloves and
be fastened to these by an elastic band. When gloves are not used
the hands may be covered with carbolized vaseline, or a six per cent
solution of guttapercha in benzin. Cuts, abrasions, hang-nails, etc.,
must be protected by surgeon’s-plaster, collodion, finger-cots,
etc. When these are used it may be necessary to remove them during
the course of the autopsy, as they are easily torn or become loose.
Frequent washing in flowing water lessens the danger of infection.
Blood and other fluids from the body should never be allowed to dry
upon the skin or upon anything used in connection with the autopsy.
Gloves should be thoroughly washed and scrubbed; and, when clean,
washed in four per cent formaldehyde and dried before they are
removed from the hands. They should be then dusted inside and out
with talcum powder and put away dry. When they are again used they
should be tested for holes by filling them with water. After having
been used several times they easily tear. If the autopsy has been
performed with unprotected hands, thorough disinfection of these,
particularly of the finger-nails, should be carried out. Unpleasant
odors may be removed from the hands by the use of mustard, dilute
tincture of benzoin, turpentine, etc., and then washing with tincture
of green soap. Rubbing with cornmeal is very effective in removing
discolorations of the skin, particularly the blood-stains fixed by
formaldehyde that occur so often in the course of autopsies on bodies
injected by the undertaker.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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