XXIII, 2. Ilubor: Metliod of picii.irini;- large Nuiubers of Seetions. ]H7 



On a i-ai)id Metliod of ])repariiig largo Nuinbers 



ol" Sectioiis. 



By 

 Prof. G. Carl Huber, 



University of Micliigan. Aiiii Arboi-, Mirli. 



Witli two wuod-cuts. 



The preparation of sections used in tlie teacliing- of large 

 laboratoiy clas>ses in histology and enibryology forms, so far as the 

 consumption of tiine is coneerncd , an ever increasing- jjart of tlie 

 necessary work of the staff of such laboratories. Any luethod, 

 therefore, that will lessen the nuniber of necessary manipulations of 

 the several staining procedures in general use , without invalidating 

 the resnlts desired, it would seem, deserves consideration. The mere 

 cutting of Karge numbers of sections is very time consuming. The 

 introduction of paraftin embedding and the consequent development 

 of serial sectioning, especially with modern perfected automatic micro- 

 tomes has minimized the time element in section cutting, but has 

 necessitated the devehjpment of varions methods by means of wliich 

 paraffin sections may be fixed to slides or coverglasses in order that 

 they may be manipulated without injury during the processes of staining 

 and monnting. Certain of tliese methods are eminently satisfactory 

 in the preparation of embryological series and of serial sections of 

 tissues or Organs destined for special study, but are very time con- 

 suming when used for the ])reparation of hirge numbers of Single 

 sections as is necessary for class work. The difticulties met with in 

 staining paraffin sections liave in part been obviated by staining 

 tissues en mass before embedding and sectioning in paraffin. Mass 

 staining has, however, a limited application and as a general rule 

 is unsatisfactory. For these reasons celloidin sections are still largely 

 used in the preparation of class material, necessitating a repeated 

 manipulation of each section during the staining and Clearing of the 

 sections and a consumption of nuich time while cutting the sections. 



