456 MANIPULATION. 



CHAPTEK XIX. 



METHODS OF EXAMINING MORBID STEUCTUEES, ETC. 



Methods of Examining Specimens of Morbid and other Struc- 

 tures. — Those who devote their attention to the examination 

 of morbid structures, viz., members of the medical profession, 

 are, perhaps, by far the most numerous class of microscopic 

 observers, and certainly the advancement of the healing art 

 is the noblest of all uses to which so powerful an auxihary 

 as the microscope can ever be applied. It has, therefore, 

 been thought advisable to give a few practical hints on the 

 best methods that are now usually adopted of examining any 

 fluids or solids, whether morbid or otherwise. For the purpose 

 of making a correct microscopic analysis of many fluids, certain 

 chemicals will be required ; these should consist of liq. potassae, 

 ammonia, sether, and alcohol, acetic, nitric, hydrochloric, and 

 sulphuric acids, both in the concentrated form and diluted, 

 together with a few test tubes and watch glasses, and other 

 equally simple apparatus, in addition to the curved and 

 straight tubes represented by fig. 86. In the case of solids, 

 the various kinds of scalpels, dissecting needles, and the 

 Valentin's knife, will all be required. 



If the subject for examination be of a fluid nature, such as 

 blood, pus, mucus, &c., the plan generally adopted is to take 

 out of the containing vessel a very small quantity of the fluid 

 by means of one of the tubes shown at fig. 86, or any other 

 convenient instrument, and to lay the same upon a slide 

 wiped perfectly clean, and to cover it with a piece of thin 

 glass; if there be any sediment in the fluid, it should be 

 allowed to subside before the examination takes place, and the 

 tube should then be carried to the bottom of the vessel before 

 the finger, as shown in fig. 86, is taken off the end ; the sedi- 

 ment can then be transferred to the slide. If it should be 

 necessary to apply any re-agent to the fluid or solid under 

 examination, a small quantity may be brought in contact with 



