CHAPTER IX.. Directions for Locating and Injecting the Carotid Artery.

Directions for Locating and Injecting the Carotid Artery.

The Carotid Artery lies nearer the surface, midway between the angle of the lower jaw and the top of the collar bone being deeper under the surface at the bottom of the neck. It is, however, desirable to make the incision as low in the neck as possible in order to avoid leaving the marks of it visible. Begin the incision on either side of the neck at a point half way between the thyroid cartilage (or Adam’s apple) and the top of the collar bone cutting downward. By reference to the plate illustrating the location and course of this artery you will note the place marked for the incision. The course of the Carotid Artery is in a line drawn from the angle or bend of the collar bone where it joins the Sternum or breast bone, upwards towards the ear, and it is at the side of and almost touching the windpipe at the top of the collar bone, but recedes backwards from the windpipe and comes nearer to the surface as it passes upwards. It is contained in a sheath which incloses also the internal jugular vein which lies close to and on the outer side of the artery.

Having taken up the artery, make a slit or cut in it lengthwise about three eights of an inch in length and insert the point of the syringe towards the body (never towards the head when you are injecting into the Carotid Artery), securing the artery to the syringe point with strong thread; also tie the artery above the syringe point, that nothing may run out from that end of the slit. Now proceed to inject the Preservative and continue to slowly force it into the artery as long as you can do so with moderate pressure of the syringe bulb, but discontinue when the veins in the forehead begin to show a slight distention. Then let it remain about two hours by which time the Capillary veins will have absorbed a portion of the Preservative already injected, when you will find it easy to inject about one-third as much more into the artery.

For most cases one injection is sufficient, but to keep a body for months it is well to repeat the injection the second day or the third day, the Preservative being largely absorbed by that time. After the injection is completed tie the artery below the point of the syringe securely, remove the syringe point, and sew up the cut.