ON DISSECTION. xxi 



2. Two pairs of forceps one large and one small. Both 

 pairs should be straight, and should have roughened tips to 

 secure a firmer hold. 



3. Two pairs of scissors one pair large and strong for 

 general dissection, the other pair small for finer work. The 

 latter pair should have the blades either bent at an angle 

 elbow scissors or else curved. In selecting scissors, care 

 should be taken to see that they cut quite to the points of 

 the blades. 



4. A pair of bone-forceps or very stout scissors, for 

 cutting bone and other hard substances. 



5. A pair of stout needles, firmly mounted in handles. 



6. A pair of the finest sewing-needles, mounted in wooden 

 handles. Only about a quarter of an inch of the needle 

 should project. They are used for teasing histological pre- 

 parations. 



7. A seeker, i.e. a blunt needle mounted in a handle, and 

 bent at an obtuse angle half an inch from the end. 



8. A pocket-lens, containing two or three lenses mounted 

 in a handle, and giving when combined a magnifying power 

 of at least six diameters. 



9. A razor, and some means for keeping it sharp. 



10. A blowpipe of metal or glass, with the end bent at an 

 angle. 



11. A glass tube drawn out to a point at one end, and 

 fitted with an india-rubber cap at the other : for use in wash- 

 ing dissections, and in injection. 



For the dissection of the larger animals, as the dog-fish 

 or rabbit, a deal board, about two feet long by a foot and a 

 half wide, may be used ; to this the animal should be fastened 

 by pins, or by steel awls with wooden handles. 



Smaller animals, and special parts of larger ones, should 

 be dissected under water, which supports the parts and 

 greatly facilitates the dissection. For this purpose an ordinary 

 white pie-dish with sloping sides is well adapted, the bottom 

 being fitted with a soft deal board weighted with lead, or a 

 sheet of cork cemented in with marine glue. A similar but 

 smaller dish may be used for dissecting under spirit. 



