CH. XI] PREPARATIONS BY THE PARAFFIN METHOD 



38S 



is xylene. Benzine, gasoline, and even kerosene are used, but xylene 

 is a powerful solvent of paraffin, does not injure the tissue, and is 

 not very inflammable, due to the large amount of carbon in its 



Slides 



Fig. 231. Fig- 232. 



FIG. 231. SLIDE BASKET OR RACK FOR HANDLING SERIAL SECTIONS. 



FIG. 232. GLASS STOPPERED SPECIMEN JAR WITH A SLIDE BASKET OR RACK 

 WITH A SPECIMEN IN PLACE. 



molecule (see 552) and the consequent high boiling point, 136 C. 



It requires only a few minutes to dissolve paraffin from the sec- 

 tions, but a day or more in the xylene does no harm. 



