Table 1 (continued) 



Fig. 48. Object breaks away from 

 wax or is shattered by knife. 



Fig. 49. Ribbon splits. 



Possible Causes 



1. If object appears "chalky" and shatters 

 under knife blade, it is not impregnated 



2. If object shatters under knife but is not 

 chalky, it is too hard for wax sectioning 



3. If object pulls away from wax but does 

 not shatter, the wrong dehydrant, clearing 

 agent, or wax has been used 



Possible Causes 



1. Nick in blade of knife 



2. Grit in object 



Remedies 



1. Throw block away and start again. If ob- 

 ject is irreplaceable, try dissolving wax, 

 redehydrating, reclearing, and reembedding 



2. Spray section between each cut with 

 celloidin 



3. Reembed in suitable medium, preferably 

 a wax-rubber-resin mixture. Avoid xylene 

 in clearing muscular structures 



Remedies 



1. Try another portion of knife-edge 



2. Examine cut edge of block. If face is 

 grooved to top, grit has probably been 

 pushed out. Try another portion of knife- 

 edge. If grit still in place, dissect out with 

 needles. If much grit, throw block away 



