6. Withdraw the needle, and at the same moment close the puncture with a wad of cotton wool, to prevent the escape of any of the inoculum. The injected fluid, unless large in amount, will be absorbed within a very short time. 7. Label, etc. (b) _Solid Inoculum.--(Anæsthetic, none; or Ethyl chloride spray.)_ Steps 1-4. As for cutaneous inoculation. 5. Raise a small fold of skin in a pair of forceps, and make a small incision through the skin with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors or with the point of a scalpel. 6. Insert a probe through the opening and push it steadily onward in the subcutaneous tissue, and by lateral movements separate the skin from the underlying muscles to form a funnel-shaped pocket with its apex toward the point of entrance. 7. By means of a pair of fine-pointed forceps introduce a small piece of the inoculum into this pocket and deposit it as far as possible from the point of entrance. [Illustration: FIG. 181.--Glass tube syringe for subcutaneous "solid" inoculation.] Or, improvise a syringe by sliding a piece of glass rod (to serve as a piston) into the lumen of a slightly shorter length of glass tubing and secure in position by a band of rubber tubing. Sterilise by boiling. Withdraw the rod a few millimetres and deposit the piece of tissue within the orifice of the tube, by means of sterile forceps. Now pass the tube into the depths of the "pocket," push on the glass rod till it projects beyond the end of the tube, and withdraw the apparatus, leaving the tissue behind in the wound. 8. Close the wound in the skin with Michel's clips and a dressing of gauze sealed with collodion (or Tinct. benzoin). 9. Label, etc. ~3. Intramuscular.~-- (a) _Fluid Inoculum.--(Anæsthetic, none.)_ Steps 1-4. As for cutaneous inoculation. 5. Steady the skin over the selected muscle or muscles with the slightly separated left forefinger and thumb. 6. Thrust the needle of the injecting syringe boldly into the muscular tissue and inject the inoculum slowly. 7. Label, etc. (b) _Solid Inoculum.--(Anæsthetic, A. C. E.)_ 1. Secure the animal to the operation table and anæsthetise. 2. Shave and disinfect the skin at the seat of operation. 3. Surround the field of operation by strips of gauze wrung out in 2 per cent. lysol solution. 4. Incise skin, aponeurosis, and muscle in turn. 5. Deposit the inoculum in the depths of the incision. 6. Close the wound in the muscle with buried sutures and the cutaneous wound with either continuous or interrupted sutures or with Michel's steel clips. 7. Apply a sealed dressing of gauze and collodion. 8. Remove the animal from the operating table. 9. Label, etc. ~4. Intraperitoneal.~-- (a) _Fluid Inoculum.--(Anæsthetic, none.)_ Steps 1-4. As for cutaneous inoculation. Shave a fairly broad transverse area, stretching from flank to flank.