CHAPTER X. 



EXAMINATION OP MORBID STRUCTURES, ETC. 



FOR the purpose of making a microscopic analysis of abnor- 

 mal or other fluids, certain chemicals will be required ; as liquor 

 potassae, ammonia, ether, and alcohol, acetic, nitric, hydrochloric 

 and sulphuric acids; together with a few test-tubes and watch- 

 glasses. 



In the case of solids, the various kinds of scalpels, dissecting 

 needles, and Valentin's knife, will be useful. 



If the subject for examination be fluid, as blood, pus, mucus, 

 &c., a very small quantity should be put on a clean slide, and 

 covered with a piece of thin glass. A fishing-tube (page 49) 

 will be of service for this purpose. 



If there be sediment in the fluid, it should be allowed to sub- 

 side, when it can be transferred by the fishing-tube to the 

 slide. A small quantity of any reagent which may be de- 

 sired, may be brought in contact with one of the sides of the 

 thin glass cover, when it will gradually insinuate itself between 

 the glasses, and act slowly on what is contained there. In 

 other cases, the cover may be lifted up, and the reagent 

 added. 



In the case of blood, the fluids that require to be added are 

 generally, ordinary water ; serum ; and sugar or salt, dissolved 

 in water ; but in the case of pus and mucus, which approach 

 each other so nearly in many of their characters, it becomes of 

 importance to have some test whereby they may be distinguished 



