The Micboscope. 31 



CORRESPONDENCE AND QUERIES. 



Detroit, Nov. 1887. 

 To the Editors of the Microscope : 



In attempting to follow the method of preparing, cutting and 

 mounting pathological specimens described in Dr. James E. Reeves' 

 book, I had a very serious run of failures, but have at last reached 

 what I consider grand success. I now have no difficulty in cuttino- 

 sections of tumor ^^Vu ^^^^^ ^^ thickness; have just cut twenty-five 

 of such without a miss, and I presume I could cut one or two hundred 

 without a bi-eak — (this specimen was ready for cutting in three davs 

 after its removal from the patient). 



Only about one-half or one-third of these very thin sections 

 come from under the section-llattener in condition to mount. For 

 use in place of balsam, Berry Bros.' oil finish, which is more elastic 

 than their hard fini^ h, and di'ies quickly. 



In cutting sections g^yV „- inch in thickness (two clicks of the 

 large B. & L. microtome) every one comes out straight enough for 

 mounting. 



Thinking that it may benefit others, I will point out the causes 

 of my early failures. 



The chief trouble came from using the best paraffin that could 

 be found in this city. 



After trying many samples, and being uncertain as to whether 

 the trouble was want of skill or inferior material, I found that no 

 paraffin sufficiently hard for this purpose is used in drug stores here, 

 hence it is not kept in our wholesale stores. 



I finally obtained from the Standard Oil Co., at Cleveland, a 

 specimen of their hardest refined paraffin, which filled the want, and 

 enabled me to cut the thin sections mentioned. 



A slightly softer paraffin may be necessary in very cold weather. 



The next difficulty was in finding a cloudiness in the mounted 

 specimens, and this, too, after a liberal use of absolute alcohol on the 

 sections. Dr. Reeves told us that the cloudiness did not come from 

 water, as supposed, but from the paraffin, through insufficient time in 

 the spirits-of-turpentine bath. Since this correction I have had no 

 trouble with either cutting or mounting. 



I am delighted with the method. 



R. N. Reynolds. 



