XXVII, 2. Wilson: Improved methods of utilising organised structures. 227 



Improved methods of utilising organised structures 



as directing marks for plastic reconstruction, and 



other notes on microscopical technique. 



By 



J. T. Wilson, F. R. S., 



Professor of Anatomy, University of Sydney, Australia. 



With 2 figures. 



I. 



Nearly ten years ago I described a new system of obtaining 

 directing marks in microscopical sections for the purposes of plastic 

 reconstruction (1). The principle underlying that method has secured 

 a certain amount of recognition by other workers. In particular 

 Dr. L. Neumayer has done me the honour of adopting and of 

 describing in this Zeitschrift (2) my method of nerve-strand embed- 

 ding, though without any reference to my original description. 



It is true that Neumayer has introduced some modification of 

 the method, but not of such a character as to affect the essential 

 procedure. More recently, in his article in Merkel and Bonnet's 

 Ergebnisse (3), Neumayer in effect acknowledges the identity of bis 

 procedure with that earlier described by me. Neumayer's modifica- 

 tion of the method is, however, based upon a perfectly sound criti- 

 cism of the original scheme. In point of fact I very soon gave up 

 the method as originally recommended in favour of a mucli modified 

 procedure, which it is the purpose of this paper to describe. I adopted 

 this newer method eight years ago. 



I still build up an embedding chamber on a base plate, but, 

 instead of using the usual Naples embedding bars, I employ a spe- 

 cially constructed, though quite simple, embedding apparatus. The 

 dimensions — both absolute and relative — of the component parts 

 may be varied at pleasure. 



15* 



