PREPARATION OF SPECIMENS. 3 
for about five minutes, dehydrated in absolute alcohol, 
and mounted in Canada balsam (benzol-solution). 
Young or foetal bones may be treated as follows: 
(Busch’s method). Place in a mixture of bichromate 
of potash I per cent, and I-10 per cent of chromic 
acid ; decalcify in I or 2 per cent solution of nitric 
acid, to which a small quantity of chromic acid (1-10 
per cent), or chromate of potash (1 per cent), has been 
added. 
2.— Sections of non-decalcified bone may be 
obtained by the following method (Ranvier). When 
the flesh has been removed, the bone should be cut 
into lengths, and allowed to macerate in water, which 
is being constantly changed. When all the soft parts 
are destroyed, the bone should be dried; and the 
sections cut with a fine saw. The section should then 
be taken, and rubbed down on moistened pumice- 
stone. Both sides of the section should be rubbed 
smooth and then polished on a moistened Turkey 
hone. Spongy bone should be soaked in gum or 
copal solution, and allowed to dry, before rubbing 
down. 
