After the examination of the periosteum and external surface of the cranium the skull-cap is removed by sawing in such a way that a space large enough for the convenient and safe removal of the brain is afforded. This may be done in several ways. A circular incision may be made through the skull around its entire circumference just above the level of the folded-over flaps of scalp. The left hand should be protected by a folded towel. The head is held firmly in the left hand and turned slightly toward the left. The saw-cut is then begun anteriorly about ½ cm. above the supraorbital margins, and continued around to the right, while the head is turned more and more to the left. The ear should be held down out of the way by an assistant. The saw-cut is continued then at the same level to the posterior median line just below the level of the occipital protuberance. The saw is then removed and the head turned as far as possible to the right; the saw-cut is then continued around the left side from the posterior median line until the beginning of the cut in front is reached and the circular incision is complete. [Illustration: FIG. 26.—Author’s method of removing skull-cap.] Another method of sawing the skull-cap is to saw in two planes, forming an angle just behind and below the ear (angular method). The anterior cut is made above the hair-line of the forehead and carried down at the sides to meet just below and behind the ear the posterior semicircular cut made at this level. A modification of this method is to make the anterior and posterior cuts join at a sharper angle in front of the ears. Both of these methods have for their object the prevention of disfigurement of the forehead. When the circular method is used a depression or ridge is often seen in the forehead, after the restoration of the body, due to the slipping of the skull-cap after it has been replaced. Such an accident may happen even when the bones are wired together, unless great care has been taken in wiring.