94 
Transactions of the 
PMonthly Microscopical 
L Journal, Feb, 1, 1869. 
III. — Notes on the Mounting and Tinting of Sections of Animal 
Tissues for Microscopical Examination. By H. Charlton 
Bastian, M.D. Lond., F.E.S. 
{Read hefore the Eoyal Mickoscopical Society, January 13th, 1869.) 
HAViua made a somewhat extensive series of experiments with the 
view of ascertaining the best methods of mounting sections of 
hardened animal tissues for microscopical examination, I now com- 
municate the results of my experience to the Society, together with 
some notes as to the tinting of such sections, in the hope that this 
information will prove useful to a certain section of working 
microscopists. 
In the ' Journal of Anatomy and Physiology ' for November, 
1867, I published an account of some methods of mounting sections 
of brain and spinal cord, which I hoped might facilitate the inves- 
tigations of those who were working at the anatomy or pathology 
of these organs. These methods were easy of application and re- 
quired no special practice for their successful execution. Specimens 
could be mounted in either of these ways in less than one-third of 
the time that was required by the most practised person for the 
mounting of similar specimens by Lockhart Clarke's methods, 
whilst the results (including the preservation of the tissue, and the 
degree of distinctness produced) seemed to be equally good. Since 
this period I have pursued my experiments in respect of the dif- 
ferent methods of mounting sections of hardened organs, with the 
view of finding out, on the one hand, methods which might in 
a measure supersede the use of glycerine for the preservation of 
sections of kidney, liver, &c., on account of their more permanent 
and complete power of preserving these ; and, on the other, of 
ascertaining additional processes for the mounting of sections of 
brain and spinal cord, which, whilst capable of being executed with 
equal ease and rapidity, might surpass the others, either as 
regards completeness of permanent preservation or as regards the 
quality of effect produced upon sections of nerve-tissue. In all 
these directions the experiments have, I think, yielded results of 
some value ; and I hope more especially that, with the aid of the 
methods which I introduce for the examination and preservation of 
sections of the brain and spinal cord, the study of these organs may 
be much facilitated. Certainly it will now require no more special 
skill to make and mount a section of brain or spinal cord than it 
does to manipulate in the same way with portions of liver, kidney, 
or any other organ of the body, and the whole art of performing 
the necessary processes may be acquired in an hour or less. I do 
not mean to say that the method of mounting sections of nerve- 
