TRANSACTIONS. 
O71 a Section and a Mounting Instrument. 
By Mr. James Smith. 
(Read June 29th, 1859.) 
The Section Instrument. 
Drawing No. 1 represents a partial section of the instru- 
ment. No. 2 a full section, and No. 3 the top of it. 
As shown in sketches No. 1 and 2, it consists of an outer 
tube (a), the upper part of which screws into the lower, and 
has at the top a flat circular plate (e, No. 3), which forms 
the cutting-table. Firmly fixed to the lower part of the tube 
A, and extending throughout its whole length, is the inner 
E . -' / E ^ E ^ ' ^ 
tube B, which forms, with the moveable bar d, a holding for 
the specimen to be cut, while, at the same time, it supports 
the upper part of the tube a, and gives it greater firmness in 
screwing up and down. The bar d moving backwards and 
forwards in the tube by means of the screws cc, serves, in 
conjunction with the points ff, to fix the specimen to be cut, 
which is effected as follows : 
The cutting -surface e being slightly screwed up, as shown 
in the drawing, and the bar d being drawn back a sufficient 
distance, the specimen to be cut is placed in the instrument, 
and firmly fixed by turning the screws cc ; it is then cut level 
VOL. VITI. b 
