The Microscope. 159 



Continue the longitudinal fissure until the cerebram is divided 

 into two halves, we will then place the three pieces of brain into 

 alcohol, and by changing the alcohol two or three times, the brain 

 will be hard enough to cut into thin sections in twenty- four hours. 



In cutting it is best to cut the sections transversely from the 

 cerebrum. 



Lay the cerebellum on its side so that the sections may be cut 

 in the opposite direction to those from the cerebrum, that is, while 

 both are verticle sections, those from the cerebrum run across the 

 head, while those from the cerebellum run in the direction from 

 back forward, and on reaching the medulla oblongata, the sections 

 of cerebellum will adhere to it, showing the medulla as the ground 

 and the cerebellum with arbor vitse standing on it like a tree. We 

 may secure the spinal cord by laying the animal on its back, and 

 with a chisel cut down close to the sides of spinal column, and con- 

 tinuing the cut the whole length of the vertebra and entirely through 

 the animal to the bench, do the same on the opposite side of the ver- 

 tebra, remove and lay the slice on its side, next place the chisel on 

 tlie spine and with a hammer tap on the chisel so as to fracture the 

 vertebra over the spinal cord, continue the tapping until the fracture 

 has been carried the whole length of the column, turn it over and 

 treat the other side in the same way. Then take hold of the two 

 sides one in each hand and pull them apart, the cord will drop out 

 with the stubs of the nerve roots attached. 



Miiller's fluid does not work well in my hands, I dislike 

 it because it gives a disagreeable tint to the specimens. I place all 

 of the specimens in ordinary alcohol and find that if the specimens 

 are cut into pieces not larger than three-quarter inch cubes, and that 

 if the alcohol be changed a few times, there will be no want of other 

 hardening, unless the cutting is done by Dr. Jas. E. Beeves' method 

 in which case the specimens will need transferring from ordinary 

 to absolute alcohol for a time. We will, on making thin sections 

 for the microscope, cut the ears and other portions of the skin in 

 the direction of the hairs so that in the mount we may see the hair 

 from its tip to root. The tongue should be cut into vertical longi- 

 tudinal sections so that it may show the hooked papilla in full size, 

 the alternate layers of muscle in the center of the tongue, the sub- 

 cutaneous band, beautifully blending with the layers at right angles 

 to it, the grand net work of capillaries, striations of the muscles, 

 etc. The transverse sections of intestines furnish not only very 

 beautiful slides but also specimens of great interest to the physician 

 and student of physiology. R. N. Reynolds. 



