Composition of trabecular and cortical bone

A technique was devised for obtaining marrow‐free trabecular bone so that the trabecular and cortical bone composition of dog, steer, monkey and man could be studied. Vertebral body was cut in the frontal plane into slices 2 mm thick with an electric band saw. The cortical bone encrircling each slice was trimmed off with a cleaver, leaving intact a lacy slice of trabecular bone. The marrow substance was washed away by fine and powerful jets of tap water obtained from an adjustable nozzle. Marrow washing was discontinued when no trace of red color was visible on holding the slice in front of a strong light source.