858 RECORD OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



specimens cannot be mounted in balsam, but may be mounted in 

 glycerine. 



Carbolic Acid for Mounting. — The process described at p. 693 

 bas been received with considerable favour by English microscopists, 

 and we therefore print the following paper, also from Victoria,* which 

 contains a full account of the process by Mr. J. R. Y. Goldstein, the 

 Hon. Secretary of the Microscoj)al Society of Victoria. 



" The mounting of objects in Canada balsam by means of 

 turpentine has long since been a serious difficulty to students, and a 

 nuisance even to practical hands. Turpentine evaporates so slowly 

 that the hardening or baking and finishing of slides becomes a 

 serious obstacle where time is concerned, while the previous pre- 

 paration of objects saturated by water is exceedingly troublesome, 

 and a general characteristic of mossiness pervades the whole oper- 

 ation. 



The members of this society have for some years adopted with 

 advantage a method suggested by the President, Dr. Ralph, in 1874, 

 by which the unpleasantness of mounting in balsam is avoided, and 

 the time occuined considerably shortened. Now that the process 

 has stood the test of years and has proved so decidedly beneficial, 

 it is considered advisable to publish in the Journal of the Society 

 a detailed description of it, in order that microscopists generally 

 may know and use what may properly be called ' Ralph's Carbolic 

 Process.' 



When first calling attention to the subject Dr. Ralph suggested 

 the use of glycerine as a means of withdrawing water from objects 

 before using the acid, but experience has shown that this is not 

 necessary, as by the use of heat carbolic acid will readily absorb, and 

 eventually replace the water in any object saturated therewith. 



The carbolic acid used should be the purest that can be obtained, 

 and it will be as well to keep the greater portion as stock in a dark- 

 blue glass-stoppered bottle, so as to prevent it being discoloured by 

 exposure to light. From this can be transferred as required a small 

 quantity to a working bottle of about two drachms capacity. If the 

 acid is so pure as to be crystallized, melt what is in the smaller 

 bottle and add a few drops of spirits of wine, which will easily mix 

 with the acid if held for a few minutes over the spirit-lamp. The 

 acid will then be less likely to crystallize and the small quantity of 

 spirit used will not affect the process. Should there be any diffi- 

 culty in procuring stock of perfectly clear acid, the ordinary coloured 

 acid of the shops, if in crystals, may be used without fear. As will 

 be noticed presently, we drive off" all the carbolic acid used, replacing 

 by clear balsam or dammar, therefore the coloured acid can do no 

 harm. Perfectly clear acid soon becomes discoloured by exposure to 

 light, and heat lias a similar effect; when we boil objects in acid 

 and allow them to remain for a few days, the acid will then have 

 changed to a rich brown, but as this does not affect the object steeped 

 therein, it need not trouble us further. 



* ' Jonra. Micr. Soc. Vict.,' i. (1880) p. 50. 



