2314 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



blue greens, is to mix the algte with the nutrient solution before adding it to 

 silica jelly; then, after a thorough shaking, the jelly is poured into shallow 

 dishes to harden. The methods given by Ward, involving the use of plaster of 

 Paris, and also a solution of lime water, which is precipitated by carbon dioxide 

 and the calcium carbonate poured out, are decidedly too severe for the more 

 delicate algae one usually wishes to cultivate. It is generally much better to 

 make a large number of cultures after repeated dilutions than to depend upon 

 getting a pure culture from which to inoculate by plating out in one of the ways 

 mentioned. 



As was said in the first place, it is impossible to give any one formula that is 

 equally well adapted for growing all algee, and it is necessary to experiment in 

 order to discover just the combination of salts, together with their strength, that 

 will give the maximum results for the particular form under investigation. Still, 

 it is often desirable to have a stock medium that will give fair results without 

 requiring too much manipulation, and for this purpose there seems to be nothing 

 quite so satisfactory as the modified Beyerinck's solution, using ammonium 

 nitrate, and adding about 2 per cent, glucose. Other sugars are of benefit, but 

 glucose seems best adapted for most unicellular algae. This solution may be 

 used with silica jelly, but is fully as satisfactory as for general cultures when 

 hardened with from ^ to 1 per cent. agar. George T. Moore. 



Bureau of Plant Industry. 



A Substitute for a Microtome. 



A short time ago a small piece of tissue was sent to me for diagnosis by a 

 physician. The case was one of suspected malignant disease, which, if it proved 

 to be such upon microscopic examination, should be operated upon immediately. 



The piece was small, so I put it in 95 per cent, alcohol, changed the alcohol 

 once and cut it the next day. As I have no microtome I intended to cut the 

 sections free hand, but happened to think of a pair of straight, smooth compres- 

 sion forceps among my surgical instruments. By firmly holding the tissue 

 about midway between the two ends of the forceps and letting the razor glide 

 over the forceps I cut off the rough edge of the tissue. After this I carefully 

 elevated the tissue very slightly above the forceps and found that I could cut a 

 very creditable section. By exercising care several good sections were made. 

 They were stained, cleared with clove oil and examined in the oil. 



The diagnosis was made without any of the ordinary embedding materials, 

 microtome or section razor. The only reagents and instruments used were 

 alcohol, staining solutions, clove oil, an ordinary shaving razor, compression 

 forceps and microscope. Raymond C. Reed. 



Elmira, N. Y. 



