'■^184 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



ing the back on the thumb and fingers of the left hand, the edge entering the 

 specimen. Do not try to cut a full sized section. Cut a number of sections, 

 endeavoring to get them very thin. The specimen and razor must be kept wet 

 with 85 per cent, alcohol. Transfer the sections to a watch-glass of 85 per cent, 

 alcohol, selecting only the thinnest ones to stain. 



Staining. After the sections are cut they should be stained to better show 

 the elements. Double staining with haematoxylin and eosin is simple and gives 

 good results. Transfer the specimen from S5 percent, alcohol to distilled water 

 to remove the alcohol. Pour this off and stain them for five to ten minutes in 

 Delafield's haematoxylin which has been diluted with two volumes of distilled 

 water. Be careful not to overstain with the haematoxylin. Remove and 

 wash thoroughly in well or tap water and immerse in eosin solution made 

 by adding eosin to water until it is of a decided pink color. Stain till the 

 specimen is pinkish in color, wash with water and transfer to 95 per cent, 

 alcohol (not absolute) to which a trace of eosin should be added. After the alcohol 

 has removed the water transfer the sections to a clearing oil, as beechwood, creo- 

 sote, oil origanum, oil of cedar wood, or better to the following mixture : oil of 

 cedar wood, carbolic acid crystals and oil of bergamot, equal parts. When the 

 section is clear and transparent transfer it to a clean slip, blot up the excess of 

 clearing oil with filter paper, which may be pressed on the section and removed 

 by rolling it back from one end. Apply a drop of balsam and a clean cover 

 glass. The result is a permanent preparation ready for examination under the 

 microscope. The washing, staining and clearing of the sections may be carried 

 on in Syracuse watch-glasses. A section lifter should be used for transferring 

 from one solution to another and from the clearing oil to the slip. 

 Harvey Medical College. WiLLIAM H. Knap. 



A Method of Collectin(; Amceb^. — The author of this note, being in the 

 habit of collecting the surface ooze from the bottom of a spring hole, and putting 

 it into pint fruit jars, noticed that as soon as the ooze settled, amoebae were 

 found on or near its surface. It was thought that if taller vessels of the same 

 capacity were used so as to make the surface of the ooze in them comparatively 

 smaller, the animals would be found in proportionately larger numbers. There- 

 fore the ooze was collected in pint jars, and after it had thoroughly settled the 

 surface of the ooze in the jars was lifted with a large pipette and put into test 

 tubes, and again allowed to settle. In this way amcebae were concentrated to 

 such an extent that as many as fourteen were found in a single drop taken from 

 the surface of the ooze in the test tubes, while usually several drops taken from 

 the surface of the ooze in the jars had to be examined to find a single animal. 

 If the animals are not to be used at once, it is well to put a few fibers of 

 spirogyra or some other aquatic plant into each test tube. By so doing amoebae 

 were kept in good condition for over a week. — S. O. Ma.st, School Science. 



