340 APPENDIX, 



APPENDIX. 



2O?a. On the use of Borax and Boracic Acid. Professor Ernst 

 Briicke, of Vienna, has recently discovered that solutions of pure 

 borax and boracic acid exhibit peculiar reactions upon albuminous 

 substances. A 2 per cent, solution of boracic acid unlike most 

 dilute acids does not retard the coagulation of the blood. In a 

 solution of three parts by weight of pure melted boracic acid in 200 

 of water, muscular tissue removed from a recently killed animal will 

 retain its contractile power for a much longer time than if immersed 

 in pure water. In some experiments Briicke found that the muscles 

 retained their contractility for twice the length of time. The muscles 

 from the large water beetle continued to contract under the micro- 

 scope for upwards of a quarter of an hour after removal. Briicke 

 also employs a 2 per cent, solution of boracic acid for studying the 

 structure of the red blood corpuscles. This acid has not yet been 

 much employed by microscopical observers, but it is one which is 

 likely to be useful in the preparation of many specimens. " Uber 

 das Verhalten lebendiger Muskeln gegen Borsaurelosungen.'' " Uber 

 das Verhalten einiger Eiweisskorper gegen Borsaure." " Uber den 

 Bau der rothen Blutkorperchen," von Ernst Briicke, Band LV und 

 LVI der Sitzb. d. k. Akad. d. Wissensch., April, Mai, Juni, 1867. 



322a. New Colouring Matter developed by Living Organisms, and 

 giving very peculiar Spectrum Bands. Mr. Sheppard (see lettter to the 

 Rev. J. B. Reade, Microscop. Journal, July, 1867, p. 64) discovered 

 that a velvet-like film found on stones lying beneath the surface of 

 water, containing oscillatorise, confervoideae, and other forms, deve- 

 loped a bright red tint after it had remained for twenty-four hours 

 upon a piece of greasy paper. Upon further investigation it was 

 discovered that a portion of the film when mixed with white of egg, 

 diluted with a little water and left to stand for a night, gave rise to a 

 solution of the colour of magenta dye. 



This remarkable colour is due to the action of some living 

 organisms upon the albumen which becomes less tenacious in con- 

 sequence. The colour is not developed when the vegetable 

 organisms have become stale. Moreover the colour disappears when 



