134 



ANATOMICAL TECHNOLOGY. 



latter may be poured off, and a small amount of strong alcotol left at tlie bottom of the 

 jar. 



In this case, however, if water or the wetting liquid has been applied to the specimen, 

 a little alcohol should be poured over it whenever it is returned to the jar, or that which 

 is already at the bottom may be shaken up so as to moisten the surface. 



§ 299. Methyl Alcohol. — This is more often called wood spirit or wood naphtha. Its 

 odor is unpleasant, and it is not used as beverage. In England it is said that no tax is 

 imposed upon a mixture containing 11 per cent, of methyl alcohol. In this country it is 

 not subject to tax, but costs about $1.50 per gallon. According to Giinther (A, 697), it is 

 less efficient than ethyl alcohol as a preservative, at least for fishes. Hence, when ethyl 

 alcohol can be had free of tax, there is no object in using the methylic variety ; even when 

 the former costs its full retail price, unless large quantities were wanted, the saving in 

 cost would hardly compensate for the unpleasant smell of the wood spirit. 



§ 300. Wickersheimer's Liquid. — Several formulae for making 

 this preservative have been published in this country, as, e. ^., in 

 "The Popular Science Monthly," March, 1880, p. 717 ; " The Med- 

 ical Record," April 17, 1880, and April 30, 1881, p. 501. 



In the last named, it is stated that the original formula has been altered, and that 

 Messrs. Poetz & Flohr of Berlin prepare two kinds, one intended for injections, and the 

 other for immersing bodies. Their composition is as follows : — 



Arsenious acid 



Sodium chloride. . . . 

 Potassium sulpliate. 

 Potassium nitrate. . . 

 Potassium carbonate 



Water 



Glycerin 



Wood naphtha 



According to the previous article in the " Record," the various salts are to be dissolved 

 in the boiling water, and the solution is to be cooled and filtered before the other two 

 liquids are added. It is probable that the cheaper glycerin will answer, and that ordinary 

 (ethyl) alcohol is to be preferred to the methylic variety which is specified. 



Application. — Preparations that are to be preserved dry are immersed in the liquid for 

 6-12 days according to size, and then dried in the open air. 



Hollow organs, like the lungs, must be filled with the liquid, then laid in a vessel of 

 the same, and afterward distended with air and dried. 



Our own experience with this liquid does not enable us to give a decided opinion as to 

 its merits. We are disposed to think that it will answer a good purpose with prejiarations 

 of the ligaments, and of hollow viscera where flexibility is desired. With dry inflated 

 preparations, the cheaper and simpler arseniate of soda is equally efficacious, while all 

 ordinary "wet preparations" are, in our opinion, more surely and conveniently preserved 

 by alcohol. 



§ 301. Chloral Hydrate. — A solution of this substance has been used by Dr. W. W. 

 Keen and some other anatomists. The results seem to be satisfactory in most respects 



