274 MICRO-CHEMICAL REAGENTS. 
exerted. Thus under glycerin the gradual swelling of mem- 
branes affording mucilage and the disintegration of tissues con- 
taining oil may also be conveniently observed, and by the addi- 
tion of water accelerated at will. 
14. Absolute Alcohol is of service, for example, in rendering 
mucilage visible, which would be washed away by water or would 
form a clear mixture with glycerin. The volatile oils and 
resins are dissolved by alcohol. 
Fats and wax are but slightly soluble in cold alcohol, but, for 
the most part, can be brought into solution by boiling. 
Protoplasm is killed and hardened by alcohol. Since the lat- 
ter has adehydrating action, its application, either alone or with 
the addition of glycerin, effects a separation of the protoplasm 
from the membrane. 
The tissues can be freed of air by means of alcohol, since the 
latter more readily penetrates into the intercellular spaces, and 
is also capable of absorbing more air than water. 
By placing the respective organs in alcohol, inulin (page 124) 
as also hesperidin (page 143) are obtained in sphero-crystals. 
Indeed, by means of alcohol, even asparagin and sugar may be 
made to crystallize in organs which are particularly rich therein. 
15. Aleohol of 85 per cent by weight, having a specific 
gravity of about 0.830, the ordinary Spirit of Wine, accomplishes 
in most cases the some purpose as absolute alcohol. 
16. Aleohol of 60 per cent, besides dissolving the resins, 
also dissolves the different sugars in considerable amount. 
17. Ether is applied for the removal of solid and liquid fats, 
whereby resins and yolatile oils are dissolved at the same time. 
18. Benzol (C,H,) serves the same purpose as ether, but, 
since it boils at 80° C., it admits of gentle warming (with care!), 
which is often very useful. The same may be said of chloro- 
form. 
19. Chloroform. Resins, fats, wax, and volatile oils dissolve _ 
_ inether, benzol, and chloroform. These liquids, as arule, are not 
_ allowed to flow upon the preparation (under the glass egverd = 
_ the slide). It is preferable to place the sora in a eines ae 
soak filled with the reagent. : 
