304 MANIPULATION. 



slide, whilst in the lower part of the figure it is seen in section. 

 The entire instrument is composed of wood, with the ex- 

 ception of the end piece, a, which should be of brass. For 

 holding small slides, it may be of the same size and shape as 

 that shown in the figure, but for the larger slides, viz., those 

 three inches long and one inch-and-a-half broad, it should be 

 much stronger ; the two flat plates or blades consist of any- 

 elastic wood, and are of equal dimensions, a represents a piece 

 of brass, bent at right angles, the inner part is wedge-shaped, 

 and the two pieces of wood are firmly rivetted to it, and by 

 this wedge the ends of the blades are brought more accu- 

 rately together. The opposite ends of the blades are cut in 

 the manner shown in the lower figure, in order to hold the 

 slide firmly, whilst two wooden studs, h c, serve to separate 

 the blades one from the other. When these studs are pressed, 

 the blades open, and a slide can then be placed between them. 

 The method of using the forceps is as follows : — After a sHde 

 has been cleaned and made ready to receive the Canada bal- 

 sam, it is to be placed in the forceps, and after the balsam has 

 been dropped on, the slide may be warmed over the spirit 

 lamp, and should it then require cooling, the forceps may be 

 placed on the table for the purpose; the piece of brass, a, and 

 the stud, c, form the supports by which the slide is kept per- 

 fectly horizontal, and at the same time raised some little dis- 

 tance above the table itself. 



Metal Forceps. — For the piirpose of handling delicate ob- 

 jects that are to be mounted in balsam, the metal forceps 

 figured at page 135 will be found very convenient, or any 

 of the others presently to be described with the dissecting in- 

 struments ; in use they are certain to get balsam about their 

 points, this should be cleaned off by allowing the points to 

 soak for a short time in turpentine. No forceps employed 

 for taking up delicate structures should have teeth at their 

 extremities, but should be ground to as fine points as possible, 

 as the teeth are apt to mark the specimens that are held 

 by them. 



Needle Point. — For the purpose of destroying air bubbles, 

 or moving about the preparations after they have been placed 



