and Laboratory Methods. 1639 



be practiced, clearing may be brought about by blotting sections on fine blotting 

 paper during the transfer from differentiating alcohol to " absolute " alcohol, or 

 from absolute alcohol to xylol, care being taken not to let section dry. Mount 

 (from xylol) in xylol balsam. 



Alcohol in which sections are decolorized and differentiated is discarded 

 when the stain no longer seems to mix with it, but clouds the fluid. Alcohol 

 and xylol for clearing work better when fresh. When the methylen blue solution is 

 not sufficiently alkaline, or when the eosin solution is not of sufficient strength, 

 purple stained sections with little differentiation will be produced ; too much 

 emphasis therefore cannot be laid upon the necessity of following the details of 

 the process. 



This method possesses the following values : 



1st. Many sections may be stained at the same time (one hour and a half 

 being a sufficient length of time for decolorizing, clearing, and mounting twenty- 

 four sections). 



2d. Bacteria are stained if present. 



3d. Uniformly stained sections are obtained. 



The only objection to this, as to all anilin stains, is that the sections lose 

 their brilliancy after five or six years. Sunlight fades them rapidly. 

 Laboratory of Connecticut Hospital for Insane. ROLLIN H. BuRR. 



LABORATORY OUTLINES. 



For the Elementary Study of Plant Structures and Functions from 

 the Standpoint of Evolution. 



INTRODUCTORY SUGGESTIONS. 



The following outlines are designed for those who have access to little appa- 

 ratus outside of a go )d microscope, like the BB4. Although the course will not 

 cover as much ground as the author believes should be given to such work, it 

 will probably be more than sufficieYit for the time usually allotted to such courses 

 in most of our colleges. 



Whatever may be the individual opinion in regard to the first course in botany, 

 it is the writer's belief that the second course should be largely carried on with 

 the use of the compound microscope ; and should cover, in a general way, the 

 whole plant kingdom, so that the idea of the evolution of plants and their natural 

 relationships will be made prominent. The student should have a general grasp 

 of the plant kingdom as a whole, and to accomplish such a result a large number 

 of forms must be studied. Along with this general idea, a considerable knowl- 

 edge of morphology and physiology may be acquired, since the study should 

 have to do largely with living material. After such a course the student is well 

 fitted to take up the various departments of advanced work. He will have ac- 

 quired a sufficient knowledge of biology to carry on intelligently whatever special 

 studies he may later choose to pursue, as anatomy, histology, cytology, physiol- 

 ogy, ecology, taxonomy, or advanced work in special groups. 



