Hand-book of the Clinical Research Association, Limited.

  • Clinical Research Association.
Date:
[1895]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hand-book of the Clinical Research Association, Limited. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    19/46 (page 17)
    Bacteriological investigations. As the precautions neces- sary to obtain trustworthy results require to be carried out carefully, it is requested that the Secretary be informed ot those which have been taken. If desired, instructions will be sent for the conduct of the preliminary stages on the character of the required investigation being explained. HISTOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS. Tumours and other Tissues for Histological Examination.—Place in the bottle of preservative fluid provided for the purpose a piece of the affected tissue, not exceeding one inch in le7igth and half-an-inch in thickness. In the case of tumours, select from the edge o the new growth, and where possible include the adjacent healthy structure in the section. Those parts of a tumour in which caseous or other degenerative changes exist should be avoided. The most suitable fluid for such specimens consists of equal parts of methylated spirits and water. When an immediate report of the nature of a tumour is required, a portion of the growth in its fresh state should be sealed up in gutta-percha tissue or wrapped in lint wetted with water, placed in an empty bottle, and tightly corked. It can then be examined by fresh sections, or rapidly hardened, cut, and stained. Though this method serves a very useful purpose for speedily detc~ mining the nature of a suspected growth, yet it must be remembered that the results are never so satisfactory as when the tissue has been slowly fixed and embedded—a process that involves a delay of at least ten clear days. It is particularly requested that when a rapid examination is desired, a statement to that effect be made on the label of the bottle, in the absence of which the longer method of hardening will be adopted. Delicate tissues such as brain or spinal cord should not 3