The Microscope. I'd 



ELEMENTARY DEPARTMENT. 



A COURSE IN ANIMAL HISTOLOGY. 



BY FRANK W. BROWN, M. D., 

 PROFESSOR OF HISTOLOGY AND MICROSCOPY, DETROIT COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. 



FIRST PAPER. 



TOURING the present year the writer will attempt, in a series of 

 ■'-^ papers in this department of The Microscope, to give, for the 

 benefit of those of its readers who may be desirous of entering on 

 the study of animal histology, the simplest approved methods for 

 the preparation of animal tissues for histological purposes. To this 

 will be added a short description of the tissues thus prepared, made 

 clearer through the aid of illustrations taken fi'om specimens in the 

 laboratory of this journal. The drawings will be as accurate as 

 possible, truth not being sacrificed to beauty nor to the specious 

 clearness of the diagram. It will be taken for granted that the 

 reader has mastered the lessons given in this department last year, 

 or that he has otherwise gained an elementary knowledge of micro- 

 scopical technique. No space, therefore, will be given to A-B-C tech- 

 nique, though careful descriptions will be devoted to more elaborate 

 methods, however slightly they may difFer from those supposed to 

 be known to the reader. The writer will be pleased to answer any 

 inquiries relating to the lessons, and will be thankful for any sug- 

 gestions which raajs aid him in presenting a clear idea of the sub- 

 jects under discussion. 



Preparatory. The Table. — To do systematic work requires that 

 a special table be devoted to the purpose. It should be used for 

 nothing else, and the objects collected on it should not be touched 

 or "arranged" by a servant or any one other than the worker. It 

 should have an unfinished pine top, about three feet square. This 

 will be found of convenient width and considerable depth. The 

 deeper portions can be used for the arranging of chemicals and various 

 utensils. This is better than having shelves or stands for their recep- 

 tion, especially if they are joined to the table, for in that case they 

 will add to its instability. A shallow drawer may be constructed 

 for the reception of instruments, etc. The writer prefers, however, 

 that no drawer be used, for the reason that the drawing of it out at 

 critical moments may greatly inconvenience the worker. In its place 

 he recommends a number of bell-jars of various sizes (this number 



