Nervous diseases : their description and treatment / by Allan McLane Hamilton.

  • Allan McLane Hamilton
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nervous diseases : their description and treatment / by Allan McLane Hamilton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/540 (page 21)
    MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION. parafRne process is to be em])loyed, the tissue is to be carefully dried and l)laced in a small i>aper mould whicdi is afterwards filled with melted paraf- tine, which should not be too hot,' and care should be taken to exclude air- bubbles—when cool and solid the upper part of the paper may be torn away, and the specimen is ready for cutting. A flat razor is the best instrument of which I know for ordinary work. Its blade should be dipped in a saucer containing alcohol placed conveniently by, and the face of the section should be moistened from time to time. The individual holding the mould firmly between the thumb, forefinger, and second finger of the left hand, cuts away a portion of mould and tissue so that a level surface is left exposed; then, with moistened razor, he jilants the blade, and slowly ruts a thin slice of parafRne and tissue together; this is removed by a (.•amel's hair brush which has been dipped in alcoliol, and next dropped into a small vessel containing dilute alcoliol, and then placed in the stain- ing fluid, which may be the following :— R. Carmine (pure), gr. xx, Liq. ammonia?, q. s. ut dissolve, Glyceriua?, AqujB, aa §ij.—M. After being allowed to soak for several hours or days, the sections are removed and dropped into water slightly acidulated with acetic acid. They are now to be placed in absolute alcohol for a short time, and afterwards placed in oil of cloves until they become transparent. A perfectly clean slide is procured, upon which one of them is placed and a drop (not too large) of Canada balsam is next applied. It is then covered by a thin glass cover, care being taken to exclude air-bubbles. Various preparations are used to stain nervous tissues; for instance, a solution of chloride of gold will stain the nerve fibres, and render them more distinct; hajmatoxylin and osmic acid are also used, and the black anilin process of Herbert Major^ produces the most beautiful results. These manipulations, however, are out of jilace here, and I would refer the reader to any one of the excellent text- books that have appeared during the past few years for more explicit direc- tions. It is often necessary to make sections in all possible directions and posi- tions, and to do this properly tlie microscopist must not only have practice but patience and care. It is advisable to procure at least two objectives, one for coarse appearances, and the other for minute changes, and I would -uggest that these should be an inch and a quarter inch. • I have rfcf-ntly ufcd m(!t;illio bottle caps, which may be easily procured. Wlicii the p;iraflin<! is cool the metal may be stripped off. ^ West Hiding Reports, vol. v.