FKEE-HAND SECTION CUTTING. ll 



adapted to the work is concave on one side (the upper side as seen 

 in Fig. 3) and nearly flat on the other, although this is largely a mat- 

 ter of personal preference. 



Fig. 3 indicates the proper position of the hands in commencing 

 the cut. I have made the sketch from a photograph of my esteemed 

 colleague, Dr. Wesley M. Carpenter. The student should be seated 

 at a table of such height as to afford a convenient rest for the 

 forearms. A small piece of tissue is held between the thumb and 

 forefinger of the left hand, so that it projects slightly above both. 

 (In the cut, a cube of tissue, too small to handle in this way, has been 

 cemented to a cork with paraffin in the manner hereafter described, 

 and the cork held as just mentioned.) The hand carrying the tissue 

 is held over the saucer of alcohol. The razor, held lightly in the 

 right hand, as seen in the figure, is, previous to making every cut, 

 dipped flatwise into the alcohol, so as to wet it thoroughly; and is 

 then lifted horizontally, carrying several drops, perhaps half a drachm 

 of the fluid on the concave, upper surface. The alcohol serves to 

 prevent the section from adhering to the knife, and to moisten the 

 tissue. If allowed to become dry, the latter would be ruined by 

 alterations of structure. 



Now as to the manner of moving the knife. Resting the under 

 surface upon the forefinger for steadiness, bring the edge of the blade 

 nearest the heel to the margin of the tissue furthest from you. 

 Then, entering the edge just below the upper surface of the tissue, 

 with a light but steady hold draw the knife toward the right, at the 

 same time advancing the edge toward the body. This passes the 

 knife through the tissue diagonally, and leaves the upper surface of 

 the latter perfectly flat or level. Remove the piece which has been 

 cut and repeat the operation. Do not attempt to cut large or very 

 thin sections at first. A minute fragment, if thin, is valuable. 



As the razor is drawn through the tissue, the section floats in the 

 alcohol; depress the point of the knife and the section will slide into 

 the saucer of spirit, and thus prevent its injury. If it does not leave 

 the knife readily, brush it along with a camel's hair pencil which has 

 been well wetted with the alcohol. 



Proceed in the above manner until the tissue is exhausted, when 

 you will have a great number of sections, large and small, thick and 

 thin. Selecting the thinnest, lift them c tref ully with a needle, one 

 at a time, into a small, wide-mouthed bottle of alcohol ; cork and 

 label for future use. 



When the work is finished, and before the spirit has evaporated 

 from your fingers it is impossible to avoid wetting the skin more or 



