94 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Staining Elastic Fibres.* — Prof. C. Weigert has devised the follow- 

 ing solution for staining elastic fibres a blue-black colour : — 200 ccm. of 

 a mixture of 1 p.c. aqueous solution of basic fuchsin and 2 p.c. aqueous 

 solution of resorcin are heated to boiling in a porcelain vessel ; 25 ccm. 

 of liq. ferri perchlor. are added, and the mixture kept stirred for 2-5 

 minutes. After cooling it is filtered, and the precipitate on the filter is 

 boiled in 200 ccm. of 94 p.c. alcohol. When cold the solution is filtered 

 and brought up to 200 ccm. with alcohol, 4 ccm. of HC1 are then added. 

 The solution is now ready for use. The sections are immersed for 

 20-60 minutes, and then washed in alcohol and cleared up in pure xylol. 



Differential Stain for Connective-Tissue.t— Dr. F. B. Mallory has 

 found that the following method for staining connective-tissue fibrillar 

 and reticulum is very good, and though not absolutely perfect, gives 

 better results than any yet proposed for the purpose. (1) Fix in 

 corrosive sublimate or in Zenker's fluid ; (2) imbed in celloidin or 

 in paraffin ; (3) stain the sections in .}^ to T L of a 1 p.c. aqueous solu- 

 tion of acid fuchsin for 1-3 minutes ; (4) wash in water ; (5) place 

 in a 1 p.c. aqueous solution of phosphomolybdic acid for 1 minute or 

 longer, using platinum or glass needles; (6) wash in two changes of 

 water ; (7) stain in the following solution for 2-30 minutes or longer :— 

 anilin blue soluble in water 0*5, orange G 2, oxalic acid 2, water 100 ; 



(8) wash in water; (9) dehydrate in 95 p.c. alcohol; (10) blot on the 

 slide, and clear up in xylol or in oleum origani cretici ; (11) xylol 

 balsam. 



Staining Neuroglia Fibres with Phosphotungstic Acid Haema- 

 toxylin. | — Dr. F. B. Mallory recommends the following method : — 

 (1) Placo the sections in 0*5 p.c. aqueous solution of permanganate of 

 potash for 15-30 minutes ; (2) wash in water ; (3) 1 p.c. aqueous 

 solution of oxalic acid 15-30 minutes ; (4) wash in two or three changes 

 of water ; (5) stain in the following solution for 12-24 hours or longer :• — 

 hematoxylin 0*1, water 80, 10 p.c. aqueous solution of phosphotungstic 

 acid 20, peroxide of hydrogen 0*2. Dissolve the hematoxylin in a little 

 water by the aid of heat, and add it after cooling to the rest of the water 

 and the acid, then add the peroxide of hydrogen ; (6) wash quickly in 

 water; (7) dehydrate in 95 p.c. alcohol; (8) oleum origani cretici; 



(9) xylol balsam. The nuclei, neuroglia fibres, and fibrin stain blue ; 

 axis cylinders and ganglion cells pale pink ; connective-tissue deep pink. 



C5) Mounting-, including- Slides, Preservative Fluids, &c. 



Mounting in Glycerin. § — J. H. Schaffner recommends the following 

 procedure. The objects are taken from water to glycerin by adding the 

 latter gradually until pure glycerin is arrived at. They arc then placed 

 in a small drop of glycerin jelly on the slide, and a ring of Canada 

 balsam is run round the drop, after which the cover-glass is put on. 



Media for Mounting Diatoms. || — Dr. J. F. W. Tatham refers to his 

 experiences with different media of exceptionally high refractive indices 



* Oentralbl. f. allgem. Pathol, u. pathol. Anat., ix. (1S9S) pp. 289-02. 

 t Journ. Experim. Med., v. (1900) pp. 15-6. J Tom. cit., pp. 19-20. 



§ Journ. Applied Microscopy, iii. (1900) p. 9(!0 (1 fig.). 

 f| Journ. Quek. Micr. Club, vii. (1900) pp. 299-308. 



