188 THE MICROSCOPE AND ITS REVELATIONS. 



ments used in operations upon the eye, however, will commonly be found' 

 most suitable. A pair of delicate scissors, curved to one side, is extremely 

 convenient for cutting open tubular parts; these should have their 

 points blunted; but other scissors should have fine points. A pair of 

 very fine- pointed Scissors (Fig. 131), one leg of which is fixed in a light 

 handle, and the other kept apart from it by a spring, so as to close by the 

 pressure of the finger and to open of itself, will be found (if the blades 

 be well sharpened) much superior to any kind of knives, for cutting 

 through delicate tissues with as little disturbance of them as possible. 

 A pair of small straight Forceps with fine points, and another pair of 

 curved forceps will be found useful in addition to the ordinary dissecting 

 forceps. 



182. Of all the instruments contrived for delicate dissections, however, 

 none are more serviceable than those which the Microscopist may make 

 for himself out of ordinary needles. These should be fixed in light 



. I3L FIG. 133. 



Spring-Scissors. Curved Scissors for Cutting thin Sections.- 



wooden handles 1 (the cedar sticks used for camel-hair pencils, or the- 

 handles of steel-penholders, or small Porcupine-quills, will answer ex- 

 tremely well), in such a manner that that their points should not project 

 far, 2 since they will otherwise have too much ' spring;' much may be done 

 by their mere tearing action; but if it be desired to use them as cutting 

 instruments, all that is necessary is to harden and temper them, and then 

 give them an edge upon a hone. It will sometimes be desirable to give a 

 finer point to such needles than they originally possess; this also may be 

 done upon a hone. A needle with its point bent to a right angle, or 

 nearly so, is often useful; and this may be shaped by simply heating the 

 point in a lamp or candle, giving to it the required turn with a pair of 

 pliers, and then hardening the point again by reheating it and plunging 

 it into cold water or tallow. 



183. Section-cutting. The young Microscopist will do well to practise 

 the cutting of thin Sections of soft Vegetable and animal substances with 

 a sharp razor: considerable practice is needed, however, to make effect- 

 ual use of it; and some individuals acquire a degree of dexterity which 



1 The handles of ladies Crochet-needles have been recommended for this pur- 

 pose; and although they afford the facility of lengthening of shortening the act- 

 ing point of the needle at will, and also of carrying a reserve store of needles at 

 the other end, yet the Author would decidedly recommend the use of the wooden 

 handles, of which it will be found convenient always to have several at hand, 

 mounted with needles of different sizes. 



2 The following is the mode in which the Author has found it convenient to 

 mount his needles for this and other purposes : The needle being held firmly in 

 a pair of pliers grasped by the right hand, its point may be forced into the end of 

 a cedar or other stick held in the left, until it has entered to the depth of half an 

 inch or more; the needle is then cut off to the desired length (the eye-end being 

 thus got rid of); and being then drawn out of the stick, the truncated end is forced 

 into the hole previously made by the point, until it cannot be made to penetrate 

 farther, when it will be found to be very securely fixed. The end of the handle 

 "which embraces it may then be bevelled-away round its point of insertion. 



