284 
A TREATISE ON ELEPHANTS. 
cotton wool. Thick slides and those that are packed film to film are 
no use for blood examination [see Diagram). 
To prepare cover-glass specimens, a minute quantity of blood, 
or pulp from the spleen or other organs, or jelly-like diseased 
material is taken on the point of a needle which has just previously 
been heated in a flame. The material is placed between two 
cover-glasses, which are to be pressed gently together in order 
to expel any excess of material, and to leave a very thin layer 
between them ; they are then to be separated by sliding them gently 
one over the other and allowed to dry under a watch or wine-glass 
to exclude dust, or the layer may be fixed by taking the cover-glass, 
coated surface uppermost, between the finger and thumb [see Diagram), 
and passing it rapidly two or three times over the flame of a spirit 
lamp. When dry, they should be carefully packed separately in 
cotton wool with slips of paper intervening and placed in a small 
wooden box, and for extra protection this box should be again packed 
inside a tin one. About half a dozen specimens should be sent. All 
cover-slips, also slides, should be boiled and cleaned and kept in 
spirit. 
