'Eyw rpwvry OiWTO EV Tli E(}'rllup JOHN, J, 23 A SURVEY OF THE PRINCIPAL WORKS on histological technique that have th appeared since the end of the 19 century shows such a diversity of concept and directive ideas, in spite of the fundamental unity of subject, that the choice of the underlying orientation was perhaps the most difficult problem facing me when MM. Masson & Cie, requested me to write this book. A classification of these works based on their particular orientation and carrying the excess inherent in all that is schematic would lead to the definition of three types of books. Some are handbooks or treatises on "microscopy". They are tacitly limited to the biological applications of the microscope, all of which are reviewed, and include in the same volume the techniques of histology proper along with those of bacteriology, botany and embryology. Such a work, on the scale of an encyclopaedic treatise contributed by specialists from a number of discip- lines and meant to be consulted as a dictionary, may have a certain value if it is really exhaustive and periodically revised. But it is no longer possible on the scale of a handbook. A single person, however gifted, cannot have acquired sufficient mastery over all the techniques of the above disciplines to be able to speak from personal experience.

Table of Contents:
Foreword.- Note concerning textual conventions.- Histological research and diagnostic histology.- Automatic, easy, difficult and capricious technique.- Choice of a technique.- Conclusion of technique.- one General Principles of Histological Technique.- 1. — Vital examination.- 2. — Vital Staining.- 3. — Fixation.- 4. — Embedding and preparatory operations.- 5. — Cutting and sticking sections.- 6. — Staining and mounting microscopical preparations.- 7. — The examination of histological preparations.- two General Methods.- 8. — Topographical fixation.- 9. — Topographical staining.- 10. — Decalcifying and softening very hard tissues.- three Histochemical Methods.- 11. — General introduction to the study of histochemical techniques.- 12. — Histophysical methods.- 13. — Histochemical detection of mineral substances.- 14. — Histochemical detection of properties common to several radicals and functional groups.- 15. — Histochemical detection of aldehydes and ketones.- 16. — Histochemical detection of phenols and naphthols.- 17. — Histochemical detection of carbohydrates.- 18. — Histochemical detection of fats and related compounds.- 19. — The histochemical detection of amino-acids and proteins.- 20. — Histochemkal detection of nucleoproteins and metalloproteins.- 21. — Histochemkal detection of some products of protein metabolism.- 22. — The histochemkal detection of the principal enzymes.- Four The Methods of General Cytology.- 23. — Introduction to the techniques of general cytology.- 24. — Techniques for studying the nucleus.- 25. — Techniques for demonstrating the golgi apparatus.- 26. — Techniques for demonstrating the chondriome.- 27 — Techniques for demonstrating the ergastoplasm and related structures.- 28. —Techniques for studying the centrosome and fibrillar differentiation of the cytoplasm.- 29. — Techniques for demonstrating secretory granules.- Five Histological Examination of the Principal Tissues and Organs.- 30. — Techniques for isolation and maceration and the demonstration of cell boundary.- 31. — Techniques for the histological study of the integument and of its outgrowths.- 32. — Techniques of the histological study of blood and of haematopoietic organs.- 33. — Techniques of the histological study of the connective tissue.- 34. — Techniques for the histological study of cartilaginous, bony and dental tissues.- 35. — Techniques for the histological study of muscles and tendons.- 36. — Techniques for the histological study of the circulatory apparatus.- 37. — Techniques for the histological study of the digestive apparatus.- 38. — Techniques for the histological study of the respiratory system.- 39. — Techniques for the histological study of the excretory system.- 40. — Techniques for the histological study of the nervous system.- 41. — Techniques for the histological study of sense organs.- 42. — Techniques for the histological study of the endocrine glands.- 43. — Techniques for the histological study of the reproductive system.- Appendix IX. — The mass production of histological preparations for teaching purposes.- By way of bibliography.- Index of subjects.