Loxogenes arcanum Nickerson. 287 



employed was as follows. One of the pjioric cyst worms which had 

 been fixed in Gilson's fluid and preserved in 80% alcohol was 

 sectioned, after paraffine imbedding-, and the sections spread out on 

 several different slides. Each slide was then submitted to the action 

 of a reagent whose action it was desired to study, after which it 

 was carried up into xylol balsam in the usual manner. 



The first fact to be noted is that the various alcohols and oils 

 used in the technicque do not produce any visible effect upon the 

 structure of the material. The inference from this fact is that it 

 is not a fat. To test this point still further sections were exposed 

 for ten minutes to the action of sulphuric ether, but this too did not 

 produce any change in these cells. 



Sections were exposed for fifteen minutes to the action of 

 a I'Vo aqueous solution of methylene blue, others for the same 

 time to the same strength of toluidine blue and others to acid- 

 fuchsin. The first two were deeply stained after fifteens minutes 

 but the acid-fuchsin did not act in so short a time and was left 

 for 24 hours, after which it was deeply stained. Sections were 

 submitted to the action of Mallory's connective tissue stain and 

 readily stained by it. All these slides were washed and carried up 

 into balsam. In all these the stuff in the cells was readily and 

 deeply stained. Sections were also readily stained with Mallory's 

 connective tissue stain. The various anilines used stain the sub- 

 stance readily. In contrast with their action is that of the iron- 

 haematoxylin, which, while it stains the cytoplasm faintly, does not 

 influence this substance. We may perhaps conclude that the stored 

 material is a coagulated nitrogenous substance possibly an albu- 

 minoid. 



My observations upon these peculiar cells and their product end 

 at this point. In seeking to explain this work of the cells, we recall, 

 in the first place, the fact that it is only in the sub-cuticula of the 

 cyst worms that it is found. Now there is a very decided difference 

 in the natures of the environments of the bladder and the cyst 

 worms. The bladder worms find themselves occupying a cavity 

 which communicates directly with the exterior, so that the excre- 

 tory products of their bodies need only to be discharged on the sur- 

 face to be sure of removal. The cyst worms on the other hand are 

 crowded into a cavity which is entirely closed and has no communi- 

 cation with the exterior. In their case consequently the excretory 

 wastes could not be discharged from the body without vitiating the 



