242 THE MICROSCOPE 



Safranine. — This colour is useful' for the detection of amyloid 

 degeneration. A i per cent, solution is made with distilled 

 water and filtered. The sections must be left in the stain for 

 half-an-hour, and then washed well in water ; then placed in 

 methylated spirit, and washed until the colour comes away very 

 slowly. A little practice is required to do this properly, as if they 

 are left too long all the colour will come out, and if they are not 

 washed enough in the spirit, they have an opaque and blurred 

 appearance. 



Vesuvin. — A lo per cent, aqueous solution may be made and 

 diluted ; it is a pleasant stain to the eye, and differentiates fairly 

 well. 



Chrysoidin is used as a ground-stain with sputum containing 

 Tubercle Bacilli. It is of no use for tissues, as it fades very 

 quickly on exposure to light. Add a crystal of thymol, dissolved 

 in alcohol to an aqueous solution. 



Rosein is soluble in spirit. It is useful for double-staining 

 when sections are to be mounted in dammar, and is also useful 

 for staining retina, etc. 



Bismarck-Brown.— Make a watery solution of 2 grains to the 

 ounce ; heat and filter ; soak in the solution about three minutes ; 

 set the colour with 4 per cent, of glacial acetic acid for half a 

 minute. After dehydrating with alcohol, mount in dammar 

 varnish. 



To Combine Bismarck-Brown with Eosin.— Put the sections 

 in a strong aqueous solution of Bismarck-brown ; remove after 

 about two minutes to 4 per cent, acetic acid ; then place in 

 a weak alcoholic solution of eosin, and then again in the 

 acetic acid solution (Satterthwaite). Bismarck-brown is invalu- 

 able for staining sections of bone and young granulation tissue. 

 For this purpose take of aniline brown, i part ; anhydrous 

 alcohol, 10 parts; distilled water, 100 parts. The sections 

 must stain slowly, and the water in which the staining fluid 

 is suspended must contain about 10 per cent, of methylated 

 spirit. Make a straw-coloured solution, and allow the sec- 

 tions to remain in this for several days. Mount in Canada 



