822 



si'mmauv OF ci-i;i;r.XT researches relating to 



Washing and Dehydrating Apparatus.* — By means of the appa- 

 ratus devised by B. Romeis (fig. 102) such processes as the washing, dehy- 

 dration, or decalcifying of fixed preparations may be carried out without 

 trouble and without undue manipulation. The supply tube A, connected 

 with a water-supply, leads to the cylinder C. This cylinder is drawn out 

 al its lower end, and contains a perforated porcelain disc which rests upon 

 the narrowing part. This cylinder has a twofold purpose : it may be used 

 for washing tissues which can stand rough treatment, or, by the obstruc- 

 tion of perforations in the porcelain disc, it may serve to regulate the 

 flow in the distal portions of the apparatus. By means of the tube E 

 the cylinder communicates with the funnel-shaped vessel F, which con- 

 tains a series of perforated trays. This vessel is closed at the top with a 

 stopper, pierced by the outflow tube G. A perforated porcelain disc is 



B 



faH 



A 



E 



G 



-\ 



w 



=c:, 



Fig. 102. 



placed below this stopper. Objects to be treated are placed in these 

 trays. When washing is complete, and dehydration is to begin, the 

 tube B is disconnected from the water supply and linked up successively 

 with flasks of mounting alcohols. Decalcifying is carried out in an 

 analogous manner. 



(4) Staining- and Injecting. 



Injection of Fusible Alloys in Microscopical Anatomy. f — L. 

 Vialleton and A. Juillet find that Wood's alloy gives excellent results 

 when injected into respiratory tubes or blood-vessels. It is fusible at 

 70°, and is composed of : bismuth 7, lead in sticks 2, tin in sticks 2, 

 cadmium 2. The bismuth is pounded up and then melted in an iron 

 crucible ; a stick of lead held with iron tongs is heated by means of a 

 blow-pipe, and the molten metal allowed to drop into the bismuth. The 

 tin is treated in a similar manner, and then the cadmium is thrown in. 

 The alloy is vigorously stirred with an iron rod, and the mixture kept at 

 a temperature of 120°, for if over-heated the cadmium becomes too much 

 oxidized. To inject the alloy, say into a bronchial tree or pulmonary 

 artery, a copper funnel with a capacity of about GO c.cm., the tube being 

 2 • 5 mm. in diameter, is used. To the end of the tube metal cannulas 



* Zeitschr. wiss. Mikrosk., xxviii. (1911) pp. 12-17. 

 t CR. Soc. Biol. Paris, lsxi. (1911) pp. 249-51. 



