CHAPTER VI 
FREEHAND SECTIONS 
Sections which may be cut without imbedding, whether they are 
really cut freehand or with the aid of a microtome, will be considered 
here. The chapter will also deal with other small or thin objects 
which may be treated like freehand sections. 
The beginner is advised to start with the freehand section, because 
the processes are rapid, and it is comparatively easy to find the causes 
of imperfections and failures. In the paraffin method, where the 
processes are more complicated, it is often difficult, or even impossible, 
to determine the exact cause of a failure. 
As a matter of fact, real freehand sections, cut by holding the 
object in one hand and the knife in the other, are becoming less and 
less frequent in well-equipped laboratories. However, the laboratory 
is no place for one who is awkward with the hands; a certain amount 
of manual dexterity must be acquired if there is to be any success in 
morphological studies which demand critical preparations. Although 
we know the student will turn at once to the microtome, we venture 
a few remarks in regard to real freehand sections. 
A sharp razor is a necessity. For cutting sections of twigs, roots, 
rhizomes, and similar objects, a razor like the one shown in Figure 8 A, 
should be used; while for sections of soft tissues, like young aspara¬ 
gus stems, young ovaries of plants, most leaves, and such things, the 
type of razor shown in Figure 8 B, is much better. In cutting, brace 
the forearms against the sides, hold the object firmly in the left hand 
and cut with a long, oblique stroke from left to right. The edge of the 
razor and the direction of the stroke should be toward the body, 
not away from it as in whittling. If the material is fresh, the object 
and the razor should be kept wet with water, the razor being dipped 
in water for every stroke. For hard objects, like twigs of oak or 
maple, the razor will need sharpening after cutting a dozen sections. 
It is a waste of time to put off sharpening until the razor has become 
noticeably dull, for all sections except those cut when the razor is 
perfectly sharp are sure to be inferior. With softer material the 
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