The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-07-01
SKULLS and BONES.
How the Young Doctors Obtain
Subjects.

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How the Young Doctors Obtain
Subjects.
For some time past medical students
and lecturers have found it more difficult
than usual to obtain skeletons. The de-
mand so far exceeds the supply that deal
ers find it almost impossible to fill their
customers' orders. Secret societies, too,
are suffering inconvenience, for they can
not obtain the skulls and femurs or thigh
bones which they use in their initiation
ceremonies. It is strange fact. says the
New York Sun, that in this country,
where our surgeons and physicians are as
eager to advance medical knowledge a
those of any nation in the world, they
are handicapped, as far as the bones OF
the body are concerned, by the authori-
ties. While the supply of bodies for the
dissecting rooms is not ample, yet 1t Is
sufficient to keep the students busy. bur
beyond the hospital people the body must
not 90. Its final disposition must be &C.
counted for, That final disposition must
not be the skeleton bleachery. Ut course
homes and skulls will find their way to
the students rooms, and there are few
doctors who do not preserve skull as
Renaissance of the days spent among
"stiffs." The simplest operation of clean
ing covered bones is to macerate the
flesh and then subject the part to boiling.
After the flesh has been brought to con-
sistency almost equivalent to jelly it is
scraped aud picked off. The bone or
skull is then treated with solution OF
peroxide of hydrogen, which removes any
remaining grease or particles and leaves
the bone quite clean.
Ii sprinkled with water and exposed
IN the action of the sun some degree OF
wilderness may be obtained; but to obtain
really exquisitely prepared bones you
have to use those which are imported.
France and Germany take the lead, the
finest work coming from Paris, where
three houses are engaged exclusively IN
this line of business, exporting their
goods all over the world. In these two
countries no obstruction results from re-
strictions as to the supply of bodies, as
both the French and German Govern
meuts contribute in this way means Of
advancing medical science. 1t is the mu-
tual desire on the part of the practitioners
and authorities of these countries to &C
oulre perfection, as near as may be, that
leads to such emlnence in pharmacy, med
icine and surgery in their literature and
experiments. All bodies furnished to the
bleacheries must be accounted for on the
records of the hospitals, almshouses and
asylums, and when the skeleton is dis
posed of it is accompanied by a card
giving all particulars as to birthplace,
date of birth, date and cause of death,
and such other date rs will furnish
means of indentifcatlon as to the man OF
woman or child who gave animation to
the skeleton in life. A story is told by
a prominent uptown skeleton dealer ir
this city in regard to this, which goes tt
show that it is a small world, after all, il
which we live. When this dealer was il
business down town one of the men wa
at work one day unpacking lot of skele
tons which had just come in. A cry o
horror suddenly resounded through th'
room. His startled companions found
on investigation, that the skeleton lyint
before him was that of his brother, WHOM
he had not seen since he left Europe
Identification was rendered easy by means
of the accompanying tag. The startled
man lost his reason. 49,
Of late years the tag system has beer
dropped as to expectations. The skele
tons pass through the Custom -house herr
free of duty and free of examination, un
less the inspectors have reason to suspec
the smuggling of dutiable goods in thu
cases. The European process of prepare
ton is by chloride of lime and ether, pro
ducing very clear and white bones. Thu
hands and feet are artlculated by passing
catgut through them. The correct form
of a skeleton, is preserved by means of ,
steel rod run through the spinal column
and the various parts are so skillfullJ
joined together by means Of delicate
springs and catgut that every bono can b
studied. Over 1900 of these skeleton
are imported every year to supply TIL
American market and possibly three
times as many separate parts. There il
also a brisk demand for skulls and thigl
bones by secret societies. The pelvls i
also purchased very largely for the stud!
of obstetrics. A great hobby with medi
cal students is to have skulls made up q
tobacco boxes. Many of them are yer,
elaborate, and cost considerable money
Clubs organized to defy superstitious be
liefs also use them, but for horrible pur
pose. They figure in their carousals q
drinking cups.
To ill these many demands French
mAn opened up business here som