posteriorly, if the latter cut was not made before its removal from the body. If it is desired to make sections of both cord and dura for microscopic study the dura may be left uncut or attached to the cord after it has been opened in the median line. It then helps to hold the pieces of cord together after the latter has been cut. Otherwise the dura may be removed from the cord by cutting the nerve-roots and denticulate ligaments on both sides. The cord is now examined by making transverse cuts through it with a clean knife which is dipped into clean water before each cut. The cord is allowed to hang over the index-finger of the left hand while the knife is drawn across it, severing it down to the underlying pin which is left uncut to hold the pieces together. The cuts are usually begun in the cervical region and are made at the level of the spinal nerves. When the dura is left attached to the cord it may be laid back and the cord cut within it, or if it has not been opened, the cuts may be made through it and the cord at the same time, if a very sharp knife is used. Areas of softening should not be cut, but should be preserved intact for examination after fixation and hardening. If the segments of cord are left attached to the dura or pin the cord and membranes may be fixed and hardened _en masse_ so as to permit future orientation. =Examination of Cord Anteriorly.= After the complete examination of the neck, thoracic and abdominal organs the spinal column is divested of all remaining tissues, including the psoas muscles. A block is then placed beneath the lumbar vertebræ. With the belly of the cartilage-knife held transversely across the spinal axis the intervertebral disks on both sides of the next-to-the-last lumbar vertebra are cut down to the level of the canal. If the lumbar vertebræ are sufficiently elevated by the block placed beneath the abdomen, the cutting of the disks allows the neighboring vertebræ to spring away, so that the body of the vertebra thus separated can be cut out by the bone-forceps or chisel. The spinal canal is thereby exposed; so that the Brunetti chisels may now be used in cutting the pedicles and stripping off the vertebral bodies. As this stripping progresses upward the block is moved toward the head so that the cutting is always down hill. The chisels are driven through the pedicles of five or six vertebræ at a time; the handle is forced down until the long chisel-blade is nearly parallel with the vertebræ. At the same time the cutting-edge must be sent forward at a uniform level, just high enough to expose the canal. If the cut is too high the chisel will enter the body of the vertebra, if too low the probe-point will be pushed into the cord. When the cervical vertebræ are being cut the head of the cadaver must be steadied by an assistant. As the sections of vertebræ are loosened the intervertebral disks are cut with the cartilage-knife and the pieces of bone pulled away with the bone-nippers.