EMBEDDING MEDIA. 19 



placed one at a time on the surface of some water, they will 

 open up immediately, with the assistance if necessary of a 

 pointed glass rod (glass needle.) Glass rods (about J-inch 

 diameter for a J-inch section) are also convenient to transfer 

 sections from one dish or bottle to another in the staining 

 process, the section being allowed to wrap itself round the rod. 

 When a section is being treated in strong Alcohol or any liquid 

 which tends to make it shrink or curl, it should be allowed 

 to remain wrapped round the rod, which prevents any change 

 of shape. In transferring a section from the rod to a slide, 

 it is only necessary to place on the slide a drop or two of the 

 liquid from which it is being removed. Lay the rod with the 

 adhering section on the wetted slide, and roll the section off 

 the rod flat on to the slide. Very delicate sections can be 

 manipulated in this way after a little practice. 



Vegetable sections are usually thicker than Animal sections, 

 and can be manipulated with a lifter, or a pair of bent forceps 

 the ends of which are broad and flattened. 



Washing sections in Alcohol, dehydrating, and clearing, 

 are conveniently performed in small wide-mouthed bottles. 



