ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. Ill 



physiologists and pathologists, as it is the first work in the English 

 tongue which has treated the practice and theory of fixation and staining 

 in a thorough and scientific manner. Its contents will well repay a 

 careful examination, and the volume will, no doubt, soon be found in 

 every well appointed laboratory. The first nine chapters deal with the 

 various aspects of fixation. These are followed by others describing the 

 methods of bleaching, decalcifying, injecting, and of obtaining sections. 

 In chapters fourteen to twenty, dyes and staining are treated of. To 

 these succeed impregnation methods, the chemistry of some tissue-con- 

 stituents, and microchemical reactions. In chapter xxiv. the theory 

 of staining is discussed at considerable length and with much erudition 

 and knowledge. 



In the last chapter are described the methods for rendering prepara- 

 tions permanent. The book concludes with an appendix in which the 

 chemistry of dyes is dealt with in much detail, and with a note on micro- 

 anatomical reaction. 



In conclusion, we may say that the author has succeeded in pro- 

 ducing a work of considerable merit, which is marked throughout by 

 accurate knowledge of the theory of the subject and by practical ex- 

 perience of the methods discussed. It is the work of one in authority, 

 and quite unlike many compilations which profess so much. 



' Modern Microscopy.' *• — This useful handbook, which this year has 

 reached its third edition, is the outcome of the knowledge and expe- 

 rience of M. I. Cross and M. J. Cole, by whom the text has been en- 

 tirely revised and considerably enlarged. The information regarding 

 the Microscope and microscopical technique has been brought up to 

 date and much extended in scope. A new feature of the present 

 edition is a chapter on the choice and use of microtomes. The general 

 get-up of the volume, which is freely illustrated, is very good. 



Microscopic Examination of Paper Fibres.f— W. R. Whitney and 

 A. Gr. Woodman, in a very useful communication, give an account of 

 the procedure they adopt for examining paper fibres microscopically. 

 As a rule, a magnification of 60 diameters only is required, but higher 

 powers are at times useful. The Microscope must be fitted with ap- 

 paratus for viewing objects with polarised light. The paper to be 

 examined is torn into small bits, and these are boiled for a few minutes 

 in a 1 p.c. solution of caustic soda ; then the pulpy mass is poured on a 

 fine sieve (about 100 meshes to the linear inch) and washed with water 

 until practically free from alkali. The pulp is transferred to a bottle 

 half filled with water, and shaken vigorously to break up any lumps. 

 It is not advisable to use glass beads or garnets to assist in the dis- 

 sociation, but it may be necessary, in order to separate the fibres, to 

 fray them gently in a mortar. The fibres may be inspected in water or 

 glycerin and water, and permanent mounts made in agar, glycerin-jelly, 

 or Canada balsam. Several should always be prepared, in order to be 

 sure that examples of the various cell-forms may be obtained. The 

 slides are to be examined by direct, and by polarised light, and their 



* Bailliere, Tindal & Cox, London, 1903, xvi. and 292 pp. and 77 figs. 

 t Technology Quart., xv. (1902) pp. 272-307 (94 figs.). 



