106 PREPARATION AND MOUNTING 



particular study, but merely made use of the instrument when an 

 object to be operated upon turned up accidentally. The ordinary 

 form is much improved for this purpose, by having two wooden 

 rests placed at the sides of the microscope, upon which the hands 

 may be supported when working upon the stage. These should 

 be weighty enough to be free from danger of moving. These sup- 

 ports will also be found to be a remedy against much of the weari- 

 ness which inevitably arises from having to sustain the hands as 

 well as work with them. The erector, as I before observed, is 

 necessary to a young student ; but with a little practice he may 

 work very well without it. 



We will now notice some of the instruments which are most 

 useful in dissection. Two or three different sizes of ordinary scis- 

 sors should be possessed, but the shapes must be modified in 

 others for many purposes, as those used by surgeons : a pair with 

 the cutting parts bent in a horizontal direction, and another pair 

 slightly curved in a perpendicular ; so that parts of the substance 

 operated upon may be reached, which it would be impossible to 

 touch with straight scissors. One point of these is sometimes 

 blunt, and the other acute, being thus made very useful in open- 

 ing tubular formations. Another form of these is made, where 

 the blades of the scissors are kept open by a spring, the handles 

 being pressed together by the fingers. Where it is desirable, one 

 or both of these handles may be lengthened to any degree by the 

 addition of small pieces of wood. 



THE KNIVES which are most useful are those of the smallest 

 kind which surgeons employ in very delicate operations. These 

 are made about the length of an ordinary penknife, and are fixed 

 in rather long nattish handles ; some are curved inwards, like the 

 blade of a scythe, others backwards ; some taper to a point, 

 whilst others again are broad and very much rounded. Complete 

 boxes are now fitted up by the cutlers, of excellent quality and 

 surprisingly cheap. 



NEEDLES. These are very useful, and should be firmly fixed in 

 handles as recommended in Chapter I. It is convenient to have 

 them of various lengths and thicknesses. If curved by heating 

 and bending to any required shape they may be re-hardened by 

 dutting them whilst hot into cold water. Dr. Carpenter also 



