Cat lip

Differential interference contrast (DIC) micrograph of a section of cat lip. This sample is from a vintage prepared slide from the period pre-1900. Blood vessels were injected with dye (carmine; red) before fixing and sectioning the tissue in order to visualise the capillaries in the tissue. This was a newly developed technique at that time. The capillary bed seen here supplies the hairs and whiskers. Composite of 12 individual images. Horizontal width of image is approximately 100 micrometres. For related image see B0009730.