xlvi Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



The stain is essentially an acid solution of " Patentsaures Rubin," 

 as furnished by the " Berliner Anilinfarben Actiengesellschaft." The 

 formula recommended, in case an aqueous solution is desired, is as 

 follows : 



2 per cent acetic acid, lOO parts. 



" Patentsaurem Rubin," 0.25 parts. 



Saturated picric acid solution in water, lOO parts. 



The staining requires but a few seconds, after which sections are 

 washed in 96 per cent alcohol. The rubin is almost insoluble in al- 

 cohol. Washing in water is to be avoided. If overstained, there is 

 differentiation of neuroglia from nerve cells, the latter staining yellow- 

 ish red, the former red-violet. An alcoholic solution of the rubin (100 

 parts 96 per cent alcohol and 3-5 ccm. of the above solution) is also 

 recommended, but it stains very slowly. 



Anatomical Nomenclature. 



In a recent paper^ Howard Ayres remarks as follows : "As the 

 years go by the movement for a thorough and scientific revision of 

 the biological nomenclature gains in depth and strength, and we have 

 every reason to believe that great and lasting benefits will accrue to 

 science as a result of these attempts to nicrease the precision and fit- 

 ness of our scientific language." " No broad-minded anatomist will 

 desire to retain names in human anatomy that are inapplicable to all 

 other vertebrates possessing the homologous arrangement of the parts 

 under consideration." To these statements we heartily agree. It 

 becomes the duty of every one employing the language of science to 

 select from the many candidates for favor those terms which are nei- 

 ther ambiguous nor morphologically inaccurate. The great reform 

 which has practically prevailed in the terms of direction in anatomy 

 during the last few years is an evidence that the movement is a gen- 

 eral one. Although well aware that such a course would expose us to 

 criticism and alienate much needed support in some direction, this 

 Journal has from the first, striven consistently to employ the briefer 

 and more accurate terms ventral, ventrad, caudal, caudad, ventral 

 ventrad, mesal, mesad, etc., and such of the topographical mononyms 

 as seemed unambiguous and likely to survive. We are conscious of 

 many inaccuracies and irregularities but trust that our motives may 

 not be misconstrued or misinterpreted and that the result in the long 

 run may compel the respect of even the unwilling reader. 



^Science, XVI; 531; Apr. 7, 1837. 



