Abstract
The board for holding rats, shown in the accompanying illustration, will be found convenient for x-ray exposures, photographs or for an operating board. It was designed to obviate the danger to the workers of exposure to x-rays. We calculated that the number of exposures necessary was in excess of the dosage compatible with safety. With the present device, one person can do the work for which 3 were formerly required. The animal is placed in the holder outside the x-ray room and while the exposure is made, a second animal is made ready. Thus no worker is exposed to x-rays.
The apparatus shown was made from sheet aluminum. It can be made of steel or covered with lead as desired. The clips are battery clips with the teeth flattened to the plane of the clip and guarded with rubber tubing. The spring of the clip should not be strong enough to hurt the animal's paw. A test on the finger will determine whether the jaws should be bent or the spring altered. The clips are fastened to the frame with coiled spring wire. This permits the animal to be held firmly but is still elastic. Under such conditions the animals are restrained but not immobilized. They do not feel frightened and remain quiet and docile upon the board.
Mr. B. Dan, Supervisor of Equipment of the Institute of Pathology, Western Reserve University, has given suggestions for some mechanical features and his help is gratefully acknowledged.
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