A handbook for the post-mortem room / by Alexander G. Gibson.

  • Gibson, Alexander George, 1875-1950
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A handbook for the post-mortem room / by Alexander G. Gibson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to section ; on the other hand, the methods are designed to enable the natural shape and arrangement of parts to be restored as nearly as may be so that permanent preparations may be obtained if desired. Organs and pathological tissues should never be excised or displaced until their relations to all other organs and structures concerned have been ascertained. In building up this knowledge of morbid anatomy the student should have in mind a clear distinction between fact and inference. In the earlier part of his work he must describe accurately what he sees, leaA’ing the interpretation to those more skilled. M^ith more and more practice and experience some latitude may he allowed, but if this he granted too early erroneous deductions may creep in. During his earlier period of post-mortem examinations, therefore, the student should note every feature from the gross to the most minute, this especially refers to surfaces natural and from sec- tion. Too much stress can hardly be laid upon the cultivation of ‘ microscopic eye ’ ; many things which are ordinarily recognized under the low power of the microscope can also he identified by the trained eye, and for all purposes the simpler methods should be adopted. Some opinion should be attempted of the process in action, for otherwise mere description be- comes useless ; for instance, the naked-eye features of the granulomata in themselves are useless unless they are of assistance in determining the causal irritative agent. But while for purposes of acquiring skill every organ should receive attention, for the particular purpose of the jjost-mortem in hand the items of evidence in the