The arrangement made for cutting and embedding sections consists of a cylindrical tube ([Fig. 235]a) fitting into the principal well of the microtome, within which is a hinged plate, upon which the screw acts, as in an ordinary vice. To bring this into use the freezing apparatus must be first removed, and the embedding tube placed in the well, and firmly pressed into place.
Staining Animal Structures.
Specific stains are chiefly employed to assist the eye in distinguishing one elementary tissue from another. It is therefore necessary to stain all structures, as certain parts are seen to have a special affinity for one colouring agent rather than another, whereby they become more deeply stained, and consequently more clearly differentiated. For staining animal structures, borax, carmine, and hæmatoxylin are more frequently employed than others. The formulæ for each will be found in the Appendix “Formulæ and Methods.”
Staining Process.—Place the section in distilled water to wash away the alcohol; place a little of the carmine in a watch glass, and immerse the section in it for four or five minutes; then remove it to a solution composed of methylated spirit five parts, hydrochloric acid one part; shake well together. This solution should be kept ready for use. Immerse the section in this solution and leave it to soak for about five or ten minutes if over-stained, until the desired tint has been obtained. Sections of skin and fibrous tissue may be left until nearly all colour is removed, the glands and hair follicles will then be brought out more clearly. The section must be transferred to methylated spirit to remove all traces of acid, then to oil of cloves contained in a watch glass, lift the section from the methylated spirit by one of the lifters ([Fig. 250]), and carefully float it on the oil, in which it should be allowed to remain for about five minutes. This is the clearing process, the object of which is to remove the spirit and prepare the section for mounting in Canada balsam. First, however, place the section in filtered turpentine to wash away the oil of cloves; this is found to answer better than another plan adopted, that of removing the section from the oil of cloves and mounting it in balsam direct. The oil, however, has a tendency to darken the balsam.
Logwood or Hæmatoxylin Stains ([see Appendix] for the several formulæ). Staining by this agent is effected as follows:—
After the specimen has been hardened in any of the chromic acid solutions in use, transfer it to a seven per cent. watery solution of bicarbonate of soda for about five minutes, then wash well in distilled water. Spirit prepared preparations do not require to be transferred to the soda solution, but all sections must be washed before they are transferred to the logwood stain. To a watch glass nearly full of distilled water add ten or twenty drops of the logwood stain, in which it should remain for twenty or thirty minutes. Wash well with the ordinary tap water, which will fix the dye and cause it to become blue. Dehydrate in methylated spirit, clear in clove oil, and mount in dammar or Canada balsam.
Double-staining with Hæmatoxylin and Rosin.—Stain the section as directed above, then place it in an alcoholic solution of rosin, about one gramme of rosin to an ounce of methylated spirit, and let it soak for a few minutes; wash well in methylated spirit, clear in oil of cloves, and mount in balsam.
Canada balsam should be prepared for use as follows:—One ounce of dried balsam to one fluid ounce of pure benzole; dissolve, and keep in an outside stoppered bottle. Clear the section in clove oil, and place it in turpentine, clean a cover-glass and slide, place a few drops of balsam on the centre of the latter, take the section from the turpentine on a lifter, allow the excess of turpentine to drain away, and with a needle-point lift the section on to the balsam slide. Now take up the cover-glass with a pair of forceps ([Fig. 236]), and bring its edge in contact with the balsam, ease it down carefully as shown in [Fig. 237], so that no air bubbles are enclosed, and with the needle point press the surface of the cover until the section lies quite smoothly and flat, and the excess of balsam is pressed out. The slide should now be transferred to the warm-chamber, and there allowed to remain for a day or two, or until set and hardened.
Fig. 236.—Forceps for Mounting.