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riDicroscopical ^ccbnique. 



Storax as a Mounting Medium.— Permanent preparations can 

 be mounted in storax, according to Dr. J. H. Piffard (Medical 

 Record, 1895, P- 547)' ^^ i^ t)e prepared as follows : — The storax is 

 liquified on a water bath, then filtered through two or three thick- 

 nesses of cheese cloth, on a hot-water funnel, and when cold mixed 

 with an equal weight of xylol. Shake well several times daily for 

 at least two weeks, then filter two or three times through absorbent 

 cotton or Swedish filter-paper, and evaporate at a gentle heat to 

 the consistency of treacle. Finally, to each two parts of the fluid 

 add three parts of naphthaline monobromide, and heat gently 

 until a clear amber-coloured fluid is obtained. Preferably, the 

 refractive index of the medium should be brought to i'62 5, by 

 adding more of the ingredient that may be found deficient, and 

 the product will then be found suitable for work with the highest 

 powers. — Phar?naceuiical Journal. 



Brown Cement, suitable for microsco ic wor —The Chemist 

 and Druggist recommends either a thick solution of shellac in 

 vegetable naptha, or of gutta-percha in chloroform or bisulphide 

 of carbon. 



To find Micro. Objects.— It may not be generally known to 

 those who mount their own slides that much good material can be 

 found during the winter by examining the stems of any dried 

 plants in the hedgerows, as, e.g., Nettle, Cock's-foot Grass, etc. 

 In this manner various and often rare insects can be taken in fine 

 condition The most productive stems are those 7wt in a vertical 

 position, as when standing at all upright the rain can enter, which 

 makes it too uncomfortable for insects to take up their winter 

 quarters there. It is a good plan, when the day is very cold, to 

 take the stems home in a paper bag, and examine them over a 

 sheet of white paper. Moss collected in the woods will also yield 

 good results, especially in the beetle tribes. C. J. Watkins. 



