and Laboratory Methods. 1727 



made of the sHdes so that it is but a moment's work to find the one wanted. 

 When a number of sUdes have been used it is an easy task to return them to 

 their proper places, a thing which will be appreciated by every teacher. By 

 such a method an inexperienced laboratory assistant or student can readily find 

 any desired slide and return it to its proper place. 



The slide boxes may be used just as they are purchased, but it is desirable 

 that the lids should be hinged, for they will become exchanged and not fit well. 

 Brass hinges such as are frequently used on cigar boxes can easily be attached, 

 also a brass catch to keep the lid closed. I have hinged a number of lids by 

 simply glueing a strip of muslin to one edge of the lid and box. 



For all practical purposes this slide case answers well. It is compact ; the 

 slides are kept face up ; each slide can be numbered so that it may be quickly 

 found and is just as easily replaced ; the boxes are convenient for carrying the 

 slides from the case to the microscope ; and it is economical. The case here 

 described is made of oak, neatly paneled, and without the slide boxes cost $15.00. 

 Minn. State Normal School, Mankato. Ulysses O. Cox. 



Carbol Fuchsin in General Botanical Work. 



The desirability of students at least staining their own sections needs no com- 

 ment. The slow action of many of the most valuable stains makes this almost 

 impossible in cases where the time available for laboratory work is so lim- 

 ited that everything must be done under more or less pressure. Having had 

 occasion to search for a stain that would bring out the cell structure in the stem 

 of Capsella, I happened to try carbol fuchsin made by Ziehl's formula : 



Water - - - - - - 100 c. c. 



Alcohol 10 c. c. 



Carbolic acid ----- 5 gr. 



Fuchsin .----. 1 gr, 



and was surprised to find that after one or two minutes in the stain and subse- 

 quent rapid transfer through the alcohols and xylol into balsam, the specimen 

 showed a difi:erentiation almost as decided as that produced by haematoxylin and 

 safifranin. Lignified cells showed a red nearly as brilliant as those stained sev- 

 eral hours in saffranin, while cellulose walls are very clearly brought out in light 

 purple. 



I have since tried this stain with a variety of other stems, both mono- and 

 dicotyl, and the results have been in every case satisfactory. In addition to its 

 quick and good differentiating power, it is very transparent, even moderately 

 thick free hand sections being quite satisfactory in this respect. 



This stain may be in use in other laboratories for this purpose, but I do not 

 know of one in which it is so used, nor have I ever seen it referred to as a stain 

 of general value, except in bacteriological work. I regard it as a valuable addi- 

 tion to the stock of staining fluids suitable for a beginner in plant histology. 

 University of Georgia. JOHN P. CAMPBELL. 



