SECTION TWO 



dilution as well as providing adequate amounts of diluted blood 

 for duplicate counts when required. 



(e) The addition of the ammonium-potassium oxalate solution 

 to the diluting fluid (solution F) had been found suitable, by the 

 author (Boseila), for keeping the diluted blood in the fluid state. 



(/) The diluting fluid (solution F) is a modification of Moore 

 & James' (1953) diluting fluid (see page 446). 



(g) For more detailed information and photomicrographs, the 

 original paper should be consulted. 



Reference: Boseila, A. W. A. (1959). 



TOLUIDINE BLUE - EOSIN 



A simple method for the identification and rapid counting 

 of mast cells in tissue sections 



Solutions required: 



A. Formaldehyde, 40% . . . . 10 ml. 



Alcohol, 95% 90 ml. 



Calcium acetate . . . . . . i gm. 



B. Toluidine blue, 0-25% in 70% 



alcohol . . . . . . . • 100 ml. 



Hydrochloric acid, cone. . . 0-5 ml. 



C. Alcohol, 95% 99-5 ml. 



Hydrochloric acid, cone. . . 0*5 ml. 



D. Eosin yellowish, o-oi% in 95% 



alcohol 



Technique: 



1. Fix slices of tissue, not more than 3-5 mm. thick, in solu- 

 tion A for eighteen to twenty-four hours. 



Note: Specimens may be left in this solution for at least a week 

 without any apparent harm. 



2. Wash for one hour in each of two changes of 95% alcohol. 



3. Dehydrate; clear; embed in paraffin wax and cut sections at 

 8-1 2/X. 



4. Mount sections on slides; dewax with xylol; wash in absolute 

 alcohol followed by 95% alcohol. 



445 



