12 PRACTICAL MICROSCOPY. 



less wash them thoroughly, and wipe dry. This saves the roughen- 

 ing of the hands which is apt to result when alcohol has been allowed 

 to dry upon them repeatedly. 



SECTION-CUTTING WITH THE STIRLING MICROTOME. 



Of the numerous mechanical aids to section-cutting, I shall men- 

 tion only two or three. One of the earlier and better known instru- 

 ments is seen in Fig. 4. The Stirling microtome consists essentially 

 of a short brass tube, into which the tissue is fixed, either by pressure 



FIG. 4. STIRLING'S MICROTOME. 



or by imbedding in wax. A screw enters below which, acting on a 

 plug, raises the contents of the tube. As the material to be cut is 

 raised from time to time by the screw, it appears above the plate 

 which surrounds the top of the tube. This plate steadies and guides 

 the razor ; and it is evident that more uniform sections may be cut 

 with this little apparatus than would be possible with nothing to sup- 

 port the knife, or to regulate thickness, beyond the unaided skill of 

 the operator. 



Much depends upon the manner in which the material is fixed in 

 the tube or well of the microtome. If the tissue be of a solid 

 character, like liver, kidney, spleen, many tumors, etc., it may be 



