| Abstract: | Stimulated by the paper describing an apparatus for continuous dehydration by Evans (1966) we have developed an apparatus of our own. The chief differences between this and that mentioned above are: (1) The use of a hypodermic needle which assures an absolutely constant flow of dehydrating fluid. Any given speed is reproducible by a simple change of needle and is not influenced by normal changes of temperature or by the quantity of liquid in the reservoir. (2) The elimination of a stirrer shaft, whereby space is gained and the use of one large basket is made possible. (3) The apparatus can be connected to a vacuum pump for fixation, or to a water tap for rinsing. (4) The apparatus can be placed in an oven. One of our aims was to eliminate handling of the specimens as far as possible. The apparatus, which has now been successfully in use for over a year, allows us to leave the specimens untouched from the fresh state right up to the transfer to paraffin. |
