ODG EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



have not sufficiently recognized the very considerable power of change of form that 

 the organism possesses. The essential difficulty, which needs further study, is not 

 the morphology but the physiology of the organism. 



Circulars of the live stock sanitary board ( Pennsylvania Depi. Ayr. lipt. 1896, pp. 

 43^-447). — Four circulars on directions for inspecting herds for tuberculosis, for dis- 

 infecting stables, and on precautions and measures to be observed to prevent the 

 reintruduction and redevelopment of tuberculosis in inspected herds and questions 

 and popular answers relating to tuberculosis in cattle. 



Report on rabies in central Pennsylvania. U. G. HOUCK (Pennsylvania Dept. 

 Ayr. L'pt. 1896, pp. 458-465). — A more or less detailed account is given of attacks of 

 rabies, in several cases embracing dogs; cows, horses, and man. 



A summary of clinical bacteriology, R. YVirtz (Precis de Bacteriologie Clinique. 

 Paris: Masson et Cie., pp. 544, fiys. 57). — This is a laboratory compendium for the 

 worker in clinical bacteriology. A description is given of material and of local 

 manifestations of infectious diseases, their bacteriology and the general bacteri- 

 ology of microbic diseases discussed. 



A revision of the adult tapeworms of hares and rabbits. C. W. Stiles (Proe. 

 U. S. Xat. Mus., 19 (1896) pp. 145-235, pis. 26; abs. in Zool. Cental, 4 (1S97), Xo. 

 18-19, pp. 617-619). — Analytical keys and specific descriptions are given. The 

 author is disposed to recommend that type specimens should be deposited in the U. S. 

 National Museum and that they should be preserved as balsam mounts. The known 

 leporine tcstodes belong to 5 genera: Anoplocephala, Andrya, Bertia, Cittotsenia, 

 and Davinea. The first and the last two are thought to be perfectly valid. The 

 second and third are thought to be of uncertain validity, although the author is of 

 the impression that they will finally prove to be valid. In the future more attention 

 must be paid to minute anatomical details in determining genera and species and 

 the principle of homoplasy must be recognized. 



Embedding tissue without hardening in alcohol, A. Dollken (Ztsch. Nuki.,14 

 (1S97), pp. 32-35; ahsl. in Jour. Pay. Micros. Soc. [London], 1S97, Xo. 5, pp. 44S, 449).— 

 Where animal or vegetable tissues contain substances soluble in alcohol or ether 

 ami thin sections are needed, they may be fixed in chrome-osmium acetic acid and in 

 picric acid solution, after which they may be embedded in gum and exposed for 24 

 hours to the action of aceton vapor at ordinary temperature. Thinner sections than 

 those obtainable by this method may be obtained according to the following method: 

 Small pieces of tissue lixed in 10 to 20 per cent formalin are placed iu a capsule to 

 which some resorcin and glycerin are added. The mass stiffens in a short time and 

 is capable of being sectioned in a few hours. It may be fixed to the block of the 

 microtome with water glass or syndetikon. aud should be sectioned at once, as it 

 soon becomes very hard. 



The author also obtained good results by embedding in soap made as follows: 

 Castor oil or stearic acid, with 20 to 30 per cent of caustic soda, is boiled for a while, 

 and, after cooling the alkali, removed by pressure, dilution, or by frequently dissolv- 

 ing the soap. A piece of tissue about 1 cc. high is transferred from the formalin to 

 a 3 tn 5 p<r cent solution of soap made with distilled water, and allowed to remain 

 in it 30 to 72 hours iu a covered vessel. Solidification is brought about by evapora- 

 tion or by means of powdered Glauber salts. The block is then lixed to the micro- 

 tome with water glass and the sections are cut dry. They roll somewhat, but may be 

 straightened in water. The soap must be washed out before staining. The addi- 

 tion of 5 cc. of glycerin and of alcohol to each 55 cc of the soap solution greatly 

 aids iu orientation. 



