5. =Teasing.= A small bit of the tissue is cut out and placed upon the slide or in a staining-dish and covered with physiologic salt-solution. It is then teased with fine needles until divided into its ultimate elements. Hard tumors (mature connective-tissue tumors, fibrosarcomata, etc.), muscle (examination for trichina), nerve-trunks, etc., are best examined in this way. 6. =Maceration.= In the case of some tissues the ultimate histologic elements are so firmly held together that they cannot be separated without the aid of a _macerating-_ or _dissociation-fluid_. (See below.) =Digestion= is also used for the same end. The tissue should be as fresh as possible and cut into small bits, which are placed in the maceration-fluid in watch-glasses or staining-dishes for twenty-four hours or longer. The macerated bits are then teased until the finest elements are separated. In the case of very minute elements the teasing may be carried on under a hand-lens or the stereoscopic binocular microscope. During the process of maceration all parts of the macerating tissue must be kept covered with the macerating-fluid, or the uncovered portions will become hardened. 7. =Section-cutting.= Sections of fresh tissue may be made with the _curved shears_, _simple razor_, _double-bladed razor_ and the _freezing-microtome_. _a._ _Curved Shears._ The tissue is put upon a stretch, and from the surface a thin, flat section is cut out with the scissors. With care a fairly thin section may be obtained in this way. It may be examined by pressing it upon a slide beneath a cover-glass, or it may be treated as a frozen section. _b._ _Simple Razor._ As a part of their required laboratory training medical students should learn how to make working sections with a simple razor. Such a technical knowledge is sure to be of practical use at some time or other. With a little practice sections sufficiently thin for ordinary diagnostic work can be cut. If the piece of tissue is large it may be held in the hand; but when small or soft it may be placed in a matrix of hardened liver, pith, potato, apple, firm lard or butter, paraffin, etc., and cut at the same time with the latter. Both blade and tissue should be wet with physiologic salt-solution. The blade, which must be very sharp, should be _drawn_ through the tissue by a shoulder movement, with the wrist-joint fixed. As the sections are cut they are floated off of the razor-blade into physiologic salt-solution, and thence treated as desired.