Journal of Applied Microscopy. 231 



The Preparation of Nucleated Blood in Bulk. 



Chloroform the animal, open the thorax, puncture the aorta, and allow the 

 blood to flow directly into a small glass jar, with ground stopper, containing a 

 one per cent, aqueous solution of osmic acid. 



The solution should be largely in excess of the amount of blood, at least fifty 

 times as great. The vessel is now closed ^nd set aside in the dark for several 

 hours. The blood cells will in this time have become thoroughly fixed and har- 

 dened and have settled in a thin layer at the bottom. Decant the supernatant 

 fluid and addj distilled water, gently agitating ^the vessel until the blood is 

 thoroughly mixed with the water. Again decant after sedimentation has taken 

 place, or filter rapidly through very thin filter paper and wash off the filtrate in 

 a small quantity of distilled water. Next, add Bhomer's haematoxylin, diluted 

 with one-half its bulk of distilled water. Use no more of this mixture than enough 

 to promote quick and thorough admixture with the water containing the blood. 



After a few moments' staining, filter as before, wash the filtrate from the 

 paper by agitating in a dish of distilled water. 



A considerable quantity of water is now added, and the vessel set aside for 

 at least an hour, in which time the nuclei of the cells will be well dift'erentiated. 



Dehydration is now accomplished by running the blood through various 

 strengths of alcohol, beginning with seventy per cent, and ending with absolute ; 

 filtration or decantation being practiced each step. Care must be taken not to 

 use too small quantity of alcohol, or the cells will not be well dehydrated. Clear 

 in carbol-xylol (carbolic acid one part, xylol two parts), allow the blood to settle 

 in a large test tube or conical glass, draw off as much as possible of the fluid 

 with a large bulb pipette, and add thin xylol balsam. 



The blood will keep indefinitely, and it is only necessary to put a small drop 

 of the balsam upon a slide and cover with a cover glass to obtain a beautiful and 

 permanent mount. 



It is probable that a two per cent, aqueous solution of formalin will answer 

 as well as the osmic acid.* T. E. Oertel. 



University of Georgia. 



*Kizer, E. I. Formalin as a Reagent for Blood Work. Jour. App. Micros. 1 : 189, 1898. 



Some Improvements in Laboratory Tables. 



Up to the present year, oak tables have been used in this laboratory. They 

 have not proved entirely satisfactory, for two reasons : first, when cultures are 

 spilled, it is impossible, on account of the absorbing qualities of the wood, to 

 thoroughly disinfect; secondly, drops of stain, which are not easily removed, 

 soon give the tables a very untidy appearance. Also, a few slate tops have been 

 used by way of experiment. While slate is better, in some respects, than oak, 

 yet it is not desirable, for it continually soils the hands and clothes of the worker. 

 At the opening of the present college year, the laboratory was fitted out with glass 

 top tables. The table is covered with corrugated rubber matting, which is of 



