CHAPTER VI 

 FREEHAND SECTIONS 



Sections which may be cut without imbedding, whether they are 

 really cut freehand or with the aid of a microtome, will be considered 

 here. The chapter will also deal with other small or thin objects 

 which may be treated like freehand sections. 



The beginner is advised to start with the freehand section, because 

 the processes are rapid, and it is comparatively easy to find the causes 

 of imperfections and failures. In the paraffin method, where the 

 processes are more complicated, it is often difficult, or even impossible, 

 to determine the exact cause of a failure. 



As a matter of fact, real freehand sections, cut by holding the 

 object in one hand and the knife in the other, are becoming less and 

 less frequent in well-equipped laboratories. However, the laboratory 

 is no place for one who is awkward with the hands ; a certain amount 

 of manual dexterity must be acquired if there is to be any success in 

 morphological studies which demand critical preparations. Although 

 we know the student will turn at once to the microtome, we venture a 

 few remarks in regard to real freehand sections. 



A sharp razor is a necessity. For cutting sections of twigs, roots, 

 rhizomes, and similar objects, a razor like the one shown in Fig. 7, A, 

 should be used; while for sections of soft tissues, like young aspara- 

 gus stems, young ovaries of plants, most leaves, and such things, the 

 type of razor shown in Fig. 7, B, is much better. In cutting, brace 

 the forearms against the sides, hold the object firmly in the left hand, 

 and cut with a long, oblique stroke from left to right. The edge of the 

 razor and the direction of the stroke should be toward the body, 

 not away from it as in whittling. If the material is fresh, the object 

 and the razor should be kept wet with water, the razor being dipped 

 in water for every stroke. For hard objects, like twigs of oak or 

 maple, the razor will need sharpening after cutting a dozen sections. 

 It is a waste of time to put off sharpening until the razor has become 



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