Abstract
Objects of Method: (1) to be able to observe the growth of tissue using high power microscopic objectives, as in the original cover slip method of Maximow; (2) to secure quantitative growth as has been made possible to a certain extent by the Carrel flask;∗ and (3) at the same time to retain the advantages of the cleverly devised Borel flask in which the bottom is detachable, so that the tissue can be fixed and stained without distortion, and thus retained as a permanent record of the tissue grown. The present method is a simplified adaptation and combination of all 3 of these techniques.
The simple apparatus consists of but 3 parts: (1) A glass ring 3 inches in diameter, 5-6 mm. in height, with parallel, flat, ground surfaces, 2-3 mm. in thickness. These are made from heavy pyrex tubing. (2) Two thin sheets of mica 31/4 inches in diameter. (3) An ordinary 4 inch petri dish.
Method: Absolute cleanliness of the glassware is essential We sterilize the glass ring within a petri dish, and sterilize the mica sheets separately in another petri dish for convenience in handling them. Working preferably in a sterile bacteriologic transfer room, to one edge of the sterilized glass ring is applied a rim of vaseline (1% paraffin) by means of a sterile wide mouthed pipette. One of the sterile mica sheets is placed upon it and pressed down. This is then turned upside down within the petri dish where it forms a chamber, the cover being the bottom, and the ring its wall. This is now ready to receive any medium, solid or liquid, and the tissue for culture. As the entire chamber is readily accessible by simply removing the cover of the petri dish, the fragments of tissue can be arranged and grouped as desired.
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