122 PREPARATION AND MOUNTING 



separated. Large pieces should be therefore immersed in equal 

 parts of spirits of wine and water, or glycerine, which some think 

 better still, and thus preserved in bottles until time can be given 

 to a closer examination. 



20. In operating upon large subjects, entire animals, &c., the 

 constant pressure required by the piston of the syringe grows 

 wearisome, besides occupying both hands, which is sometimes in- 

 convenient when working without assistance. To obviate this, 

 another way of driving the syringe was published in the " Micro- 

 graphic Dictionary " which I will quote here : " We have there- 

 fore contrived a very simple piece of apparatus, which any one 

 can prepare for himself, and which effects the object by mechani- 

 cal means. It consists of a rectangular piece of board, two feet 

 long and ten inches wide, to one end of which is fastened an in- 

 clined piece of wood (equal in width to the long board, and one 

 foot high). The inclined portion is pierced with three holes, one 

 above the other, into either of which the syringe may be placed 

 the uppermost being used for the larger, the lowermost for the 

 smaller syringe; and these holes. are of such size as freely to ad- 

 mit the syringe covered with flannel, but not to allow the rings 

 to pass through them. The lower part of the syringe is supported 

 upon a semiannular piece of wood, fastened to the upper end of an 

 upright rod, which slides in a hollow cylinder fixed at its base to a 

 small rectangular pieceof wood ; and by means of a horizontal wood- 

 en screw, the rod may be made to support the syringe at any height 

 required. The handle of the syringe is let into a groove in a stout 

 wooden rod connected by means of two catgut strings with a 

 smaller rod, to the middle of which is fastened a string playing 

 over a pulley, and at the end of which is a hook for supporting 

 weights, the catgut strings passing through a longitudinal slit in 

 the inclined piece of wood." When in use the syringe is filled 

 with injecting fluid, and passed through one of the three holes 

 which is most suitable. The object being placed so that the pipe 

 and syringe can be best joined, the rod and strings are set in or- 

 der, and a weight placed on the hook. The stopcock must then 

 be opened gradually, w r hen the operator will be able to judge 

 whether the weight is a proper one or not : if the piston is driven 

 with any speed, there is danger of injuring the subject, and 



