44. HENDRY, ON THE NERVE-CELLS IN THE OX. 
5. Microscope, with one inch objective in focus, and 
illuminated to examine progress. 
Then take up one of the smaller sections of the cord, and 
with a pair of forceps lay hold of a small portion in or about 
the transverse commissure, or in one of the cornua, as being 
the parts which promise the most successful yield. This 
fragment may then be immersed for a few moments in the 
solution of caustic soda, and then transferred to the acetic 
acid, to neutralize the soda, and render the tissue somewhat 
clearer. After a minute or two transfer it to the vessel of 
water to remove the acid, &c., and then place it in the 
creosote or preservative solution. All this is but the work 
of a few minutes, and with a careful avoidance of a too pro- 
longed destructive immersion in the soda-solution, a number 
of a similar small particles of the cineritious substance may 
thus be passed through the successive stages, before they are 
placed in the preservative solution preparatory to micro- 
scopical examination. 
Any of the little portions so prepared may now be taken 
up with the forceps, and placed upon a glass slide, and 
broken up in more minute particles (size of pins’ heads), 
which are again to be teased-out with needles as finely as 
possible, aided by a drop of the solution. These particles 
should then be so arranged that, upon moderate pressure, 
they shall not run together, it being desirable that they 
should be mounted and examined separately. The fluid 
may now be withdrawn by blotting-paper, and the remainder 
of the slide wiped dry; a drop of the solution is then to be 
placed in the middle, and the thin glass cover, previously 
breathed upon, applied by means of the forceps, all air- 
bubbles being carefully excluded. Moderate pressure is 
applied with the points of the forceps, and the surplus fluid 
absorbed at the edges; the slide being every now and then 
placed under the microscope to examine progress, until the 
appearances are rendered as distinct as they can be. The 
cover is now, probably, slightly adherent, and a due supply 
of solution being inclosed, the whole is to be cleansed and 
dried without disturbing the object, and, at the end of a few 
minutes, the slide may be tranferred to the turning-plate, 
and finished off with a border of varnish. 
I have various slides in my possession prepared in this 
manner, which have kept for several weeks. ‘Their ultimate 
durability I know not, but the measures adopted have served 
for my own investigations, as well as for the exhibition to 
others of a class of objects, which I should conceive to be 
