26 II. FOOD RESERVES IN SITU. 



but rather to lay the razor on the cut surface, as thus a far 

 firmer support is obtained for getting a thin section. 5. In order 

 to get a really good section, that is one in which the individual 

 elements of the tissue are not torn, the razor must not merely be 

 pressed with its edge against the object, but at the same time 

 drawn across it. It is well, therefore, in order to cut as freely as 

 possible, to accustom yourself not to rest the thumb of the cutting 

 hand upon the other hand. Instead of this, both hands can with 

 advantage be rested against the breast, because lateral movement 

 of the cutting hand is not hindered thereby. The side of the 

 razor-blade should be laid on the index-finger of the hand 

 supporting the object. 6. As it is difficult to hold so small an 

 object as a half pea, especially when it is also so hard, sufficiently 

 firmly between the fingers, it is recommended to use for the 

 purpose the small hand-vice described in the Introduction. The 

 half pea is therefore fixed sufficiently deeply in this. 7. It is 

 not advisable to be satisfied with a single section, but to take a 

 considerable number, in order to make choice of the best. The 

 razor must be stropped from time to time upon a suitable strop. 

 Those with a firm backing are preferable to the loose strap- shaped 

 ones. The mode of sharpening razors upon a stone would be best 

 learned from an instrument maker. It is, however, of great 

 importance to bear in mind that the " hollow-ground " razors so 

 much used should taper off uniformly to the edge, and that the 

 grinding of a supplementary facet upon this edge should never be 

 permitted. Barber-sharpened razors are very liable to this. 1 f 



1 A few more practical hints on the subject of section-cutting by hand 

 may be of use to beginners. The object to be cut should be held pretty 

 firmly between the thumb and index-finger of the left hand, the index-finger 

 being held as nearly as possible horizontally, and slightly bent, the thumb 

 likewise very slightly bent, and with the joint depressed below the level of the 

 finger, in order to ensure its safety should the razor slip. In holding the 

 object to be cut, the side of the tip of the index-finger should be rather higher 

 than that of the tip of the thumb ; the razor being then grasped firmly but 

 not stiffly, the blade held quite flat and horizontal, the edge towards the 

 body ; the index-finger of the left hand will serve as a table, on which the 

 blade will lie, and thus be greatly steadied. The section should be cut by 

 a single forward and lateral movement of the blade. With all objects which 

 will bear it, the razor-blade may float with alcohol on its upper side, and the 

 object should be similarly wetted ; otherwise the object, as here, may be kept 

 moist with water, or hard objects with glycerine. For this purpose two 

 "wash-bottles" are a saving of time one for distilled water, the other for 

 alcohol. [ED.] 



