1884.] Microscopy and Histology. 653 
NOTES ON THE USE OF THE FREEZING MicroToME.—The ten- 
dency at the present time is to make all microscopic sections by 
the dry method after paraffin infiltration and imbedding ; but no 
doubt there is a place, and an important one, for the freezing 
microtome in practical histology, and in this note I would like to 
call the attention of the readers of Science Record to what seem 
to me improvements in its use. Disliking greatly the disagree- . 
able “muss” made by ice and salt, it occurred to me to take 
advantage of the device of plumbers to thaw out water and gas 
ipes, to use strong alcohol with the ice or snow instead of salt. 
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for cutting, but this is not lost, as little evaporation takes place 
the dilution does no harm for many purposes, hence the 
Method is not wasteful, while it is much more pleasant and expe- 
_ ditious than with salt. 
ang linarily tissues are infiltrated with thick gum before freezing, 
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Ba ction cutting, and then soaking in water to remove any 
> ution of very clean gum arabic. When ready to make the sec- 
the the Well of the microtome is filled with the thick gum and 
| th nssue introduced at the proper time as usual. Before cutting 
l a tga 'S cut away from the tissue, as in sharpening very bluntly 
| direct] Pencil, then as the sections are cut they are transferred 
y to the slide. After several slides are filled, a drop of 
pe at a ha to each section and the cover-glass applied. 
ically mounting in Farrant’s solution. 
instead of using gum ery Professor Sollas? recommends 
88 desc Prepared as for glycerine jelly. This is used in every way 
sli sigs for the thick gum, and the sections are placed upon 
In this and covered with glycerine and the cover-glass applied. 
nes yodification the sections are practically mounted in gly- 
Way for Y. The cover-glass may be sealed in any approved 
nel y. her of the methods just described.—S. H. Gage, Cor- 
"versity, March r, 1884. 
ENE Ce Er 
"From a 
Profas tence Record, No. 6, April, 1884. Sk 
tome, Q J. Sollas. An Sidi adas in the method of using the freezing micro- 
Ly Journal of Microscopical Science, Jan., 1884, p- 163. 
